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THE USURPER

Episode in Japanese History

BY

JUDITH GAUTIER

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH

BY

ABBY LANGDON ALGER

BOSTON

ROBERTS BROTHERS

1884




CONTENTS.


       I. THE LEMON GROVE
      II. NAGATO'S WOUND
     III. FEAST OF THE SEA-GOD
      IV. THE SISTER OF THE SUN
       V. THE KNIGHTS OF HEAVEN
      VI. THE FRATERNITY of BLIND MEN
     VII. PERJURY
    VIII. THE CASTLE OF OWARI
      IX. THE TEA-HOUSE
       X. THE TRYST
      XI. THE WARRIOR-QUAILS
     XII. THE WESTERN ORCHARD
    XIII. THE MIKADO'S THIRTY-THREE DINNERS
     XIV. THE HAWKING-PARTY
      XV. THE USURPER
     XVI. THE FISHERMEN OF OSAKA BAY
    XVII. DRAGON-FLY ISLAND
   XVIII. THE PRINCIPALITY OF NAGATO
     XIX. A TOMB
      XX. THE MESSENGERS
     XXI. THE KISAKI
    XXII. THE MIKADO
   XXIII. FATKOURA
    XXIV. THE TREATY OF PEACE
     XXV. CONFIDENCES
    XXVI. THE GREAT THEATRE OF OSAKA
   XXVII. OMITI
  XXVIII. HENCEFORTH MY HOUSE SHALL BE AT PEACE
    XXIX. THE HIGH-PRIESTESS OF THE SUN
     XXX. BATTLES
    XXXI. THE FUNERAL PILE




THE USURPER.

AN EPISODE IN JAPANESE HISTORY.

(1615.)




CHAPTER I.

THE LEMON GROVE.


Night was nearly gone. All slept in the beautiful bright city of Osaka.
The harsh cry of the sentinels, calling one to another on the ramparts,
broke the silence, unruffled otherwise save for the distant murmur of
the sea as it swept into the bay.

Above the great dark mass formed by the palace and gardens of the
Shogun[1] a star was fading slowly. Dawn trembled in the air, and the
tree-tops were more plainly outlined against the sky, which grew bluer
every moment. Soon a pale glimmer touched the highest branches, slipped
between the boughs and their leaves, and filtered downward to the
ground. Then, in the gardens of the Prince, alleys thick with brambles
displayed their dim perspective; the grass resumed its emerald hue;
a tuft of poppies renewed the splendor of its sumptuous flowers, and
a snowy flight of steps was faintly visible through the mist, down a
distant avenue.

At last, suddenly, the sky grew purple; arrows of light athwart the
bushes made every drop of water on the leaves sparkle. A pheasant
alighted heavily; a crane shook her white wings, and with a long cry
flew slowly upwards; while the earth smoked like a caldron