father, hoping to make a fresh start by capitalising his daughter, sold her to the house of the Dragon Cape. At this point I asked if I could see the nenki-shomon, or certificate of sale, which would probably be in the possession of Spear-hand. The River of Song hesitated, not liking to ask, but I volunteered to accompany her, and we finished the story in the actual sanctum of Spear-hand, whom I had propitiated with coins and cigarettes.
The document (except in the matter of names) was thus worded:
Name of Girl—Ito Matsutaké.
Age—Eighteen years.
Dwelling-place—Asakusa, Daimachi 18.
Father's name—Ito Nobuta.
You, Minami Kakichi, proprietor of the House of the Dragon Cape, agree to take into your employ for five years the above named at a price of:—
300 yen (about £30).
30 yen (about £3) you retain as mizukin (allowance for dress).
270 yen (about £27), the balance, I have received.
I guarantee that the girl will not cause you trouble while in your employ.
She is of the Monto sect, her temple being the Higashi Hongwanji in Asakusa.
Parent's name—Ito Nobuta.
Witness's name—Kimoto Nagao.
Landlord's name—Yamada Isoh.
Proprietor's name—Minami Kakichi.
Name of Kashi-zashiki—House of the Dragon Cape.
It seemed to me that this certificate was story enough, with its batch of red seals denoting the triple sanction of father, master, and gods. Yet was it not better so? Hard as her fate might be, these were regular sponsors of a legal profession. She was not
