Light and dark

[132]

TSUDA’S CURIOSITY was aroused. He thought he knew whom she meant. But a detour in that direction would be inimical to achieving his principal goal. It would be enough to uncover the relationship between O-Hide and Madam Yoshikawa, whose purpose in visiting him, beyond simply wishing him well, was certain to be a tete-à-tete about that very subject. But the lady had a style that was singularly her own. With no limits on her time, she needed no invitation, given the opportunity, to meddle in the private affairs of others, and she enjoyed looking after people beneath her, particularly those she was fond of, all the while making clear unabashedly that she was acting principally in the interests of her own amusement. At times she went about arranging things helter-skelter. On other occasions her approach was the opposite. Though she never let on, it seemed clear at such times that she was intent on drawing the matter out. Notwithstanding what an observer might think, she appeared to view her approach, very like playing cat-and-mouse, as the special prerogative of an actor who was obliged to enliven an otherwise dreary moment with drama. To someone trapped in such a game, forbearance was critical. And the reward for patience always came. In fact, the lady encouraged people with the prospect of the reward to come. She even took this proudly as evidence of her ethical superiority.

As a result of the tacit agreement that had been exchanged between them, Tsuda had been seriously wounded just once until now. He was too shrewd not to see that the lady privately felt responsible. Though he allowed her venerable wishes to dictate his actions in all things, he reassured himself with the leverage this gave him. But this was a weapon held in reserve until the unlikely advent of an emergency. Day-to-day he had to content himself with becoming a mouse in front of the cat and allowing her to toy with him as she pleased. On this occasion, like so many others, she was taking her sweet time coming to the point.

“I understand Hideko-san was here yesterday.”

“Yes.”

“And Nobuko-san came too!”

“Yes.”

“And today?”

“She hasn’t been here yet.”

“I suppose she’ll be coming soon?”

Tsuda didn’t know. In front of the matron he couldn’t say that he had sent off a letter telling her not to come. As a matter of fact, he was concerned at not having received a reply as he had expected.

“I wonder — I’m not sure.”

“You don’t know if she’ll be coming?”

“I’m not sure.”

“How very offhand!”

The matron laughed as though mockingly.

“Me?”

“Both of you!”

Tsuda smiled uncomfortably, and Madam waited for his mouth to close again before she spoke.

“I understand that Nobuko-san and Hideko-san ran into each other here?”

“Yes.”

“And something happened, something out of the ordinary.”

“Not really—”

“I wish you wouldn’t play dumb. If something happened, why not say so, like a man?”

Now at last the lady had begun to resort to the language and style that were singularly hers. Tsuda was at a loss for a reply. He felt his only choice was to wait and see in silence.

“According to Hideko-san, you both tormented her. Ganged up.”

“That’s absurd! She’s the one who got angry and stormed out.”

“Really? But you did fight. Maybe not with your fists, but a fight anyway.”

“Yes, but O-Hide has exaggerated it way out of proportion.”

“That may be, but there’s no question that you argued.”

“We had a small disagreement, yes.”

“And the two of you attacked Hideko-san together?”

“There was no attacking! She got all fired up and read us chapter and verse like a Christian.”

“But it was two of you against one of her.”

“I suppose so.”

“That’s what I’m talking about. That was wrong of you.”

There was no sense or logic in the lady’s conclusion. Accordingly it made no sense to Tsuda. But in cases like this, it was her custom to declare herself indisputably; with her accusation already driven into his brain, he had no choice but to submit to being scolded.

“I didn’t intend it to be that way; maybe it just happened naturally. In the course of things.”

“‘Maybe’ won’t do! Why not say right out ‘It happened!’? You may think it’s rude of me to say so, but this is all because you’re too protective of Nobuko-san.”

Tsuda inclined his head.