Even at the same moment As the beginnings of her moanings Came a cat-call from the garden-- Then nearer--then ghostly paddings As of padded claws on matting, And an evil presence seemed hovering And lurking near in the darkness.

O Toyo gave a low scream--than all was silence.

Soon she came stealthily Through the shoji--cat-like her step-- Gla.s.sy her eyes-- Claw-like her hands-- Bent she over you with curled lips-- Then she turned, even as you have said, And, seeing a waking watcher, Left as she came.

RUITEN. [_Comes down._] The second night of Ito Soda's watching She threatened him in low words But he made as to stab her And she melted before him Laughing a little.

And he heard the rustle of her garments As she regained this room Though he saw not her pa.s.sage hither.

PRINCE. Thicker with each word the horror about me.

[_Turns away to R._] Doubts to beliefs--beliefs to actions-- Love unto hate. [_Turns to them almost pleadingly._]

Tell me it is not O Toyo.

BUZEN. I questioned her maid, Kashiku, And found that O Toyo's couch Was empty even at the time Of the weird visit to thee.

PRINCE. [_Overwhelmed._] So, it was O Toyo!

In the soul of a flower, a demon-- On the sweet lips, poison.

BUZEN. There is only one course--

RUITEN. The one road--

PRINCE. And I take it!

BUZEN. [_Moves toward door L._] The samurai are gathered.

PRINCE. Summon Ito Soda. [BUZEN _exits L._]

RUITEN. Hard is the fate of man Here on this dark earth.

Many the shapes and the shadows Stalking abroad.

Yet ever the gentle Buddha From the Lotus Fields watches And guards every life that lives.

PRINCE. [_Puts one hand on_ RUITEN'S _shoulder._] Priest, have not many Vampires bleeding them And dream it is another thing?

RUITEN. The soul is often a vampire to the body.

PRINCE. And that evil thing must we kill.

ITO SODA. [_Enters L., kneels before the_ PRINCE. RUITEN _takes up R. a little and_ BUZEN _re-entering after_ ITO SODA _goes up C._]

Honorable Prince, humbly I answer thy summons.

PRINCE. Rise, Ito Soda.

Faithful beyond words art thou, This know I as all hath been told me.

No longer call thyself a common soldier But a samurai of the Prince of Hizen.

And the two swords will I give thee on the morrow.

ITO SODA. On my knees I humbly thank thee. [_Rises._]

PRINCE. Now time presses.

O Toyo will be coming In from the garden.

As usual shall the hundred sleepy samurai Guard my couch. Let Ito Soda Remain here hidden and watchful.

When O Toyo rises to enter my chamber-- Your dirk is sharp, Ito Soda?

ITO SODA. [_Draws dirk._] As a moonbeam on a cold night.

PRINCE. And you know how to use it.

ITO SODA. I will place this screen, thus. [_Goes to screen L.

and opens it so as to form a hiding place between the sleeping mat and the door L._]

So will I wait the moment.

PRINCE. So be it. It is a good plan And on the one road. Let us about it. [_Exits L. followed by_ BUZEN _and_ RUITEN. ITO SODA _goes behind the screen._ O TOYO _is heard singing in the garden._]

O TOYO. [_Outside._] Moonlit convulvus Through the night hours Wan are their faces Ghostly sweet.

Richer by daylight Drinking of sunshine As thirsty souls drink At a shrine.

Fair are the faces Gla.s.sed in the quiet pools Maidens low-bending Vain ones.

[_The singing stops abruptly._] Kashiku, is not that a cat Stealing stealthily there?

She snarls--quick--[O TOYO _enters B. C. quickly and very frightened, turns and looks back, hurries_ KASHIKU _in._ KASHIKU _follows much less disturbed at any fear of a cat than over her mistress' fright._]

KASHIKU. [_Shuts the shoji R. C. and comes to_ O TOYO.] You are all atremble.

O TOYO. Quick, let me be safe in slumber. [_Crosses to dressing table._]

KASHIKU. [_Follows her and attends to her hair while_ O TOYO _kneels before the gla.s.s._] Several nights lately have I heard my lady moaning As though even in sleep were she troubled.

The worry over your honorable lord hath disturbed thee.

O TOYO. Your ears are over keen.

I am happy when I sleep.

How can I moan, being happy?

You are dull.

KASHIKU. Perhaps it was the wind or the echo of my lord's moaning.

O TOYO. Moaning or was it singing?

I would it were singing For singing is sweeter On the lips of those dying.

KASHIKU. Dying?

O TOYO. When those whom we love are pa.s.sing-- Even under our hands are pa.s.sing-- And our love weans them from life And our kisses suck out the blood-life, Then would we touch them no more, Then would we kiss them no more, But a power greater than we And a power that we fear Forces us on in our love-killing.

KASHIKU. There is in your voice a vibration, as even the winds in the pine-tops When, in the autumn, they echo the summer's death-song; There is in your eyes a strange light as if the soul of another Looked out from your curtaining lashes and dimmed the sweet light there abiding.

Oh, mistress, surely you are different than what you once were.

O TOYO. [_Crosses C. slowly._] Even now comes the hour and the struggle And I do the bidding of that which is in me.

How I hate the feel of his flesh Quivering under my lips And the loathsome taste of the blood-drops Thick on my lips that would soothe him and cannot.

KASHIKU. Can anything soothe more than thy lips, More than the lips that love him?

I cannot understand the words of your saying.

You are happy and tearful all in a moment, Your soul seems a sky full of sunshine and clouds.