took his money? Well, we found you sooner than I expected." Then the fatuity of his conduct revealed itself to Yaichi. In his foolish desire to tell a big story he had given an account of him self which now threatened to put an end to all his story-telling forever. But it was not too late to set himself right, it would be easy to tell just what had happened, and they would find the dog's carcass there to prove what he said. " Oh no," he cried, " it was all a mistake, your Honor; that story of mine was a foolish invention, a mere boast; what really happened was that a dog came up and attacked me, and I killed him on the spot; that is how the blood came on my clothes and my sword. I know nothing at all about this Sannosuke that you speak of." "Well," said Oka, "How are we to know that this dog story is not another in vention? It seems you arc well known for your inventions." " You will surely find the dog's carcass, your Honor, if only you will order a search in the Honcho ward," as serted the terrified Yaichi, now quite beside himself. So the prisoner was remanded un til the next day. III. Now Oka, during his colloquy with the unfortunate braggart, had made up his mind that the guilty person was not before him. The coward and the good-natured fellow, as well as the braggart, were revealed in Yaichi's face, in his tones, in his gestures, by marks which were almost unmistakable to one who owed his fame and his position to an unex ampled genius for character-reading; and Yaichi was immediately set down, in Oka's mind, for an innocent fool. But this did not mean that he could be released; for the dead man's family had accused Yaichi, and Oka must in some way show reasonable ground for discharging him; moreover the proofs, though circumstantial, were strong, and what added to their strength was that in the course of the day the detectives returned
without finding any trace of the dog which Yaichi asserted he had killed. So during the day Oka addressed himself to the examination of the deceased man's wife, who had been the first in the morning to bring the news of the murder. " Tell me now," he said, speaking with tones of sym pathy and consolation, " why your husband left his home last night, and how you learned of his death?" " My husband," she replied, "has for some time been in the habit of de positing his savings in a bank in the Honcho ward, and yesterday afternoon he went out to draw the full amount and pay a pressing debt. He probably stayed to supper with some friend and started home late in the evening. He did not return last night, and this morning early I told the neighbors. The news spread, and one of my intimate friends, named Monzo, came and told me that my husband had been murdered, and that a man named Yaichi had done it. This Yaichi had come home last night with a bloody sword, and said that he had killed a man in the Honcho ward." " Let me see," said Oka, " how old a man is this neighbor of yours, Monzo? and is he married?" " He is a very worthy man, sir; " replied the widow, " he is about fiftyfive years old, and has a wife and three children; I said he was my intimate friend, but of course I mean that he was a great friend of my dear husband also." She added this, for the woman fancied that she perceived a subtle insinuation in the inquiry of Oka re garding the age and condition of her friend Monzo. Oka sat for several moments without speaking. Then, " I am sorry for your affliction," he said, in a kind voice, " and I shall set aside a small sum of money for your support during the trial. It is not at hand now; so you will have to send for it to-morrow by some messenger. And let the messenger ask for me personally." The grateful widow thanked him with tears in her eyes, and little suspecting Oka's train of thought, withdrew to her home.
