Yes. Did you not meet Riki?

THE GAKI

Riki?

AOYAGI

Yes, my august lord.

THE GAKI

I pa.s.sed no one--except--a tall woman who was climbing slowly and singing a wonderful song--which I had heard once near the ferry at Ishiyama.

AOYAGI

But Riki just left me here. You must have pa.s.sed him on the way.

THE GAKI

The by-paths are many and the trysting places are secret--like this.

AOYAGI

Riki would take no by-path. My august lord needs no trysting place save this.

THE GAKI

I do not know. I saw no Riki.

AOYAGI

My lord needs no trysting place. I am here. He knows I am here--waiting.

[_The Gaki looks at her._

THE GAKI

Riki?

AOYAGI

He knows I am waiting--

THE GAKI

Riki?--Oh, yes the name--I heard it--once--at the ferry at Ishiyama. He has been there.

AOYAGI

Yes.

THE GAKI

A poet?

AOYAGI

Yes.

THE GAKI

He writes wonderful love-songs--they say.

AOYAGI

They?

THE GAKI

Yes,--the people at Ishiyama. I heard one.--It goes--let me see:

"b.u.t.terfly, b.u.t.terfly, alight upon the willow tree--"

AOYAGI

He did not speak that at Ishiyama. He made that for me.

THE GAKI

I heard it, strange to say, at Ishiyama. Perhaps they brought it from--where did you say?

AOYAGI

He made that for me only yesterday.

THE GAKI

And I heard it--yesterday--at Ishiyama. There the wonderful woman was singing. (_She looks at him_) The one I pa.s.sed just now.

AOYAGI

That is a mistake.--You are wrong.--I know my--Ah! what is it here--that hurts me, tears me, seems to choke me! Riki!--I am all in all to him--he told me that.--He can not make poems for another.

THE GAKI

I should not have told anything.--Forgive me.--I did not know.--To speak truth is deep in my heart.--I have no gracious subtleties.--I am sorry--

AOYAGI