Akitada made the rounds, bowing and exchanging pleasantries, without meeting anyone of interest until he recognized a familiar face. By now the most senior of the professors, the Confucian scholar, Tanabe, had seen him and was coming his way with a broad smile of welcome. He looked a little more frail and much grayer. Tanabe must be in his sixties by now, a small-boned man with pale, ascetic features and the bowed shoulders of the perpetual scholar.

"My dear Sugawara," he cried, acknowledging Akitada's respectful bow, "I am so very glad to see you again. Nishioka told me that you have joined our faculty. I have been following your career with great interest. You are to be commended on your connection with the Lords Motosuke and Kosehira. You have made a very promising beginning."

Momentarily taken aback that Tanabe should know about his friendship with the Fujiwara cousins, Akitada recalled that the old gentleman had a childlike admiration for the aristocracy and was well informed about all the important members of the ruling Fujiwara clan. The thought suddenly crossed his mind that such veneration could lead even a scholar of Tanabe's repute to compromise his principles if he were asked to do so as a favor to a high-ranking person.

But seeing the pure joy on the wrinkled face of his former teacher, he was ashamed and explained that his work rarely allowed him leisure to see his friends.

Tanabe looked disappointed. "Well," he said, "that is a pity, but here's another Fujiwara for you to meet." He waved over a tall, bearded man in a wrinkled green silk gown held together by an unmatched sash. The bearded giant approached and responded cheerfully to the introductions.

"The new man, eh?" he boomed. "Heard about you. Helped one of my namesakes out of a very sticky situation in Kazusa province." His eyes twinkled. "Not engaged in a similar mission here, are you?"

It probably was a joke, but Akitada gaped for a moment, much to Fujiwara's amusement. "My former mentor, Professor Hirata, has asked me to fill in temporarily for his assistant," Akitada said stiffly. He wondered if the big man's lumbering physique masked a very nimble mind. Then he remembered that Fujiwara had been one of the proctors during the spring examination, and, suddenly curious, he asked, "Are you related to Lord Motosuke?"

"Ho, ho, ho!" roared this Fujiwara. "Related? Me? No more than China and Japan, or winter and summer. Different branches of the family altogether. We are the southern Fujiwaras, mostly small land-holders in the provinces. Wouldn't the Fujiwara ministers, chancellors, counsellors and lords just love me for a cousin? Look at me, man! I'm a disgrace!"

"Surely not, sir," protested Akitada, embarrassed.

"Of course I am. I drink, I carouse, and I tell dirty jokes! I associate with disreputable characters and courtesans. My only saving grace is that I know a lot of interesting things about the history of China and about our own past, and the students seem to like to listen to me."

There was great charm in such honesty and modesty. Putting aside his suspicions, Akitada said warmly, "That is surely what matters most." On an impulse, he added, "Since you have a good rapport with students, perhaps you have some advice for me. I am very concerned about one of my charges, young Minamoto. He is withdrawn and seems troubled, but I don't seem to be able to talk to him."

Fujiwara became instantly serious. "Ah, yes. Poor boy!" He sighed. "Lost his grandfather recently. Weird story- you heard? Yes, of course." Again the shrewd eyes measured Akitada. "Since his parents and two uncles died during the last smallpox epidemic, his grandfather was raising him and his sister. The boy's too proud to show his hurt, of course. Thinks having imperial blood means being strong. Foolish but quite admirable in its way! Afraid I can't help you, though, Sugawara, having failed myself so far. But good luck!"

A bobbing and bowing Nishioka interrupted. "Very sorry to break in. Please forgive the intrusion! I had no time to pay my respects earlier, Sugawara. How do you find teaching?"

"I am beginning to find my way."

"Did I hear you mention the name Minamoto just now? Yes. I wonder if you found out what the boy is doing here?"

"He is a student," said Akitada curtly.

"Ha, ha. Yes. Of course. Everybody knows that. Ah, I see. You are not familiar with his story. You see, he is the grandson of the same Prince Yoakira who vanished into thin air under supernatural circumstances. The family claims it was a miracle, and His Majesty has graciously given them his support. But why is the boy here? His family has left town. Lord Sakanoue, who is said to have married the boy's sister, brought him here the very night after the grandfather's disappearance. A strange thing to do, don't you think?"

Fujiwara made a rude noise. "As usual," he boomed, "our own news-hound Nishioka has smelled a story. Trust him to sniff around until he gets to the bottom of it."

Nishioka reddened, but defended himself gamely. "You like to joke, sir, but I make human behavior my special study. All of the sacred writings of Confucius and his disciples and commentators are based on nothing more than their profound understanding of personal relationships, and personal relationships can best be studied by observing people's actions and finding out the reasons for them."

Akitada looked at the nosy Nishioka with new respect. "I must confess," he said with a slight smile, "that I share your interest in people's behavior and am equally guilty of curiosity about the boy."

Nishioka clapped his hands. "There, you see!" he cried. "I knew we were kindred souls. We must put our heads together! I shall tell you everything I find out, and you shall do the same." At that moment his eye was caught by something across the room. He said hastily, "Please excuse me now. I must find out what Oe and Takahashi are snarling about."

Across the room, the two senior professors were engaged in some bitter argument as Ono stood by wringing his hands helplessly.

"Hmm," said Fujiwara, thoughtfully. "There is one difference between you and Nishioka, though. I think you ask questions because you care about people, while Nishioka only cares about a good story." He shook his head. "To most people he seems harmless enough, but the truth is, when that little fellow is about, nobody's secret is safe. Look at him! We'll have all the facts about that tiff between Oe and Takahashi in the twinkling of an eye."

As it turned out, it was to take longer than that, because Ono suddenly stepped on the dais and called everyone to order. Oe and Takahashi parted, and people took their seats, assigned by rank, department and seniority. Akitada found his own place behind Hirata, who was himself several seats removed from Oe who occupied the center of the semicircle facing the dais.

When Ono introduced Oe, he rose and ascended the dais majestically. His handsome face still flushed from the altercation, he looked resplendent in his blue silk gown, with every silver hair in place. He let his compelling eyes move across the assembly. "My friends and colleagues," he said, "allow me to take a little of your time to share good news."

"As little time as possible," muttered Fujiwara audibly.

But Oe was not to be rushed. His mellifluous voice weighed out the words like gold. "In our glorious past," he intoned, "our ancestors were accustomed to follow in the footsteps of the ancients."

Akitada found his interest wandering as Oe droned on and on about ancient rites and virtues, those long lost happy days when poets were venerated and rewarded. Instead he let his eyes roam among the faces of those men who might have altered the examination results.

Hirata, slightly in front of him, he saw only in profile. Deep lines edged his features and his chin rested on his chest. Only the hands moved restlessly, twisting and kneading the fabric of his robe.