‘The money is to cover damages. The Mimuras claim I misused the child.’

Tora stared at him, brow wrinkled. ‘“Misused”?’ Understanding dawned, and with it a look of such outrage that Akitada almost smiled. ‘Filthy-minded scum. Have they lost their minds?’

‘The Mimuras want money.’

Kobe had followed the exchange with interest and grinned. ‘I suppose you’ll have to decide whether to bribe yourself out of your legal difficulties first or take care of Tora’s problem.’

Akitada said, ‘It isn’t funny, Kobe.’

‘I couldn’t resist after you accused me of accommodating Sadanori.’

Akitada sighed. ‘I’ll go back and see what I can do about getting Tora’s charges dropped. Then I’ll look for Hanae.’

Tora said quickly, ‘Never mind the charges. Just find Hanae. Please?’

‘I promise.’

Tora looked grateful. ‘You’ll like her, sir.’

Akitada doubted it, but he nodded.

Trudging back to the amusement quarter in a steady drizzle, Akitada was not optimistic. Two days and a night had passed. Either Hanae had chosen her new life freely, or she had already been violated. He would take care of Tora’s problems first.

Dusk had fallen early. In the quarter, lanterns glimmered like fireflies in the darkness. From the open doors of wine houses and restaurants came the sound of music and laughter. In spite of the weather, the Willow Quarter was doing a fine business.

The Fragrant Plumblossom was crammed with guests. Chikamura, his head bandaged, was entertaining everybody with the story of the attack. When Akitada asked to speak to him privately, Chikamura led him into a small back room.

Akitada said courteously, ‘I deeply regret the incident earlier today. The man who caused your injury is my retainer, Tora. He was desperate at the time because his wife had been kidnapped. He begs your forgiveness, and I came to pay for the damages.’

If he had not been so worried about his slender funds, Akitada would have been amused. Chikamura’s face expressed his gratification at an apology from a nobleman, delight at the thought of generous reimbursement, and finally doubt and regret that it might not be a good idea to appear too greedy. He hemmed and hawed, said he understood, but there was the matter of the broken wall and the cost of the doctor, and …

‘Can you show me the damage?’

‘I had it fixed. The carpenter charged two pieces of silver for a rush job, but I had to have the restaurant open for tonight.’

‘Yes, quite. And the physician?’

‘Another two pieces of silver. He’s a terrible crook.’

‘Very well. If you stop by the prison early tomorrow and withdraw the charges, you shall have ten pieces of silver. Is that agreeable?’

It was. Chikamura bowed him out of his restaurant, pleased that he had kept the gentleman’s goodwill while collecting many times over what he had paid.

Akitada’s spirits rose a little.

Kohata was next. She was home and sullen. Akitada looked at her expensive costume and the costly appointments of her room and took an instant dislike to her. He cut through her lamentations with the comment that he had many friends among the aristocracy and hoped that he would be able to say nice things about her. Kohata pouted and then agreed that perhaps the incident might be forgotten if her business continued to flourish. Akitada felt little guilt over threatening a woman who depended on the goodwill of men like himself. After all, she had been ready enough to grind a poor man under her dainty foot.

The dancing master was also at home. Akitada was admitted by a young male servant in a surprisingly handsome silk robe. A worried-looking Ohiya lounged alone and in informal attire, leaning against a lacquered armrest. He wore a deep-red silk robe and a voluminous open jacket of golden yellow brocade with purple trim over full lavender silk trousers that were embroidered with black flowers. Akitada averted his eyes from this costume and accepted a seat on a plump cushion. Strongly scented incense rose in delicate spirals from a censer, and a flask of wine stood by. The servant whisked one of the two cups away and brought another.

Ohiya fanned himself with a gilded fan and asked for news of Hanae. When Akitada told him that she had not been found, his face fell. ‘Oh, dear, oh, dear,’ he moaned. ‘That is worrisome. I shouldn’t have spoken ill of her. No wonder her young man was so distracted.’

This was encouraging, and Akitada said cautiously, ‘Tora works for me. I’ve come to see if I can convince you to forgive him.’

Ohiya hesitated. ‘Well, he was very abusive. I don’t wish to mention the names he called me! Shocking and very crude. I’m an artist and was merely training Hanae.’

Akitada guessed from this that Tora had called Ohiya a pimp. He said, ‘I’m sorry. Tora was perhaps jealous of your influence over the young woman.’

Ohiya nodded. ‘Exactly. Young people do not handle romantic attachments very well.’

Akitada agreed, mentioned Tora’s devotion to Hanae, and hinted at compensation for Ohiya’s suffering.

At this, Ohiya sat up. ‘Oh no, I couldn’t. After all, I’m quite unhurt. He only gave me a bad fright. In fact, I had already made up my mind to go to the police and drop the charges. Tora’s headstrong and rude, but I’m willing to concede that he does seem to care for the poor girl.’

Akitada was so surprised by this sudden change in Ohiya that he felt a niggling suspicion that all was not as it seemed. ‘That’s very generous of you,’ he said. ‘I am going to search for Hanae. I wonder, can you tell me anything about Lord Sadanori? He seems to have had an interest in her. Could he be involved in her disappearance?’

Ohiya gulped. ‘Lord Sadanori?’ He reached for his cup and drank before answering. ‘Very unlikely, I would say. It’s true, he engaged Hanae quite often, and he pays very well. But no, I think Lord Sadanori’s position argues against such suspicions.’

Akitada said grimly, ‘I disagree. He seems to have a bad reputation with women. A man’s rank and power do not excuse wanton disregard of decency.’

Ohiya flushed. ‘My dear sir, do please remember that you are in the Willow Quarter. Our careers and our livelihood depend on men like Lord Sadanori. You’ll forgive me, I’m sure, if I point out that if our clients were held to such high moral standards, we would all starve.’

Akitada recalled the young woman in pink. He had come very close to paying for the services of Little Wave. Besides, Ohiya had been decent about Tora. He decided not to pursue the matter, thanked the dancing master, and left.

It was fully dark, but the rain had stopped. Akitada was soaked, he was tired, and the amount of walking he had done made his bad leg hurt, but he owed Tora this and much more. He needed to pick up the trail of the sedan chair that had taken Hanae away. If only he had questioned the neighbor more thoroughly earlier. Well, there was nothing for it. At least the woman should be home this time of night.

The streets had become quagmires after the rain, and he sloshed through puddles, raining his boots and trousers. Worse, he lost his way in the dark. A lantern would have helped, but thieves roamed the streets of the capital at night. It was better not to announce your presence by carrying a light.

When he heard the lowing of the tethered ox, he knew he was on the right street. An impenetrable blackness seemed to weigh down on the city. Akitada almost missed Hanae’s house because it showed a glow of light. This was strange, but perhaps the nosy neighbor had come to snoop.

The little gate squeaked after the rain. Akitada walked quickly up the walk.

The door of the house flew open, and, for a moment, a girl’s figure stood outlined against the light. Then she rushed down the steps and flung herself into Akitada’s arms.