Seimei returned the cards. "Very improper for a female, and of that particular class," he said with a sniff. "Such cards are to be used only by gentlemen of rank."
Tora picked up one of the cards and stared at it. "She wrote these?"
Akitada shook his head. "Hardly. The writing is in a scholar's hand and in Chinese. But I must say it was very enterprising of her. Evidently she expected to play only in the best houses. I expect young Nagai wrote them. The strange thing is that they were useless. She lost her job and she got rid of Nagai. I don't suppose you picked up any rumors about marriage?"
Tora shook his head. "Not likely. According to the little maid, the stepmother called Omaki a slut."
Akitada pulled his earlobe pensively. "Why is it that she should have given up her career, her job and a marriage offer from poor Nagai without seeming in the least troubled about what was to become of her?"
Tora nodded. "Me and the auntie wondered about that too. Michiko said Omaki looked really cheerful about something before she died."
"I think," said Akitada, "we must look for the father of Omaki's unborn child. The pleasure quarter is the most promising place. And I apologize for snapping at you. You have done very well. Next time you go there, find out if any of the customers showed a special interest in the girl."
Tora jumped up eagerly.
"Wait!" said Akitada. "There is another matter, and it is more urgent. Do you remember the beggar Captain Kobe arrested for the murder?"Tora nodded. "He has been released, and I am worried about his safety. We must find him and bring him here. They might know where he is at the municipal hall for the eastern city. He visits there."
When Tora had left, Akitada said to Seimei, "I am sorry I complained about a lack of excitement in my life! Suddenly I am involved in three murders without having the least notion of how to proceed in any of them."
Seimei was holding out Akitada's gown for him to slip on. "Three murders? There have been only two: the girl and Professor Oe."
Akitada took off his house robe and put his arms into the sleeves of the formal gown. "You forget Prince Yoakira," he said, tying the sash.
Seimei looked unhappy. "I do wish you'd forget about Prince Yoakira," he muttered. "It is too dangerous. And I see no reason why you can't leave the other two cases to the police."
"At the risk of sounding like one of my more irritating colleagues," Akitada said, "it is a question of the killer's personality. Kobe is simply not interested. I doubt he fully understands what led to Oe's murder. In any case, Nagai has asked for my help and has no one else to speak up for him, so I shall do my best."
Seimei handed his master the hat of stiffened black gauze. "Remember," he warned darkly, "it is said that if you chase two hares, you will lose both."
At the university, normal activity had resumed in spite of the murder. Hirata was back in his classroom, looking more like himself. Akitada spent the morning teaching, not an easy task because of continuous whispers among the students. He finally dismissed his last class of the morning, hoping to stretch his legs by going home for his midday rice, but when he was putting his books away, he became aware that one of his pupils was still sitting quietly in his place.
"Sadamu?" Akitada felt tentative about using the boy's given name. He was somewhat hazy about the proper protocol under the present circumstances.
But the boy did not seem to mind and bowed.
"Was there something you wished to say?"
"Yes, sir. I wished to thank you for lending me your man. It was extremely obliging. I found him very skillful with kites, and he provided excellent entertainment."
Akitada suppressed a smile at the boy's formal manner. "I am very happy to hear it. Tora has spoken equally highly of you."
The boy's face brightened. "Did he really? I should like to hire him if you can spare him. I expect to get my allowance soon, and he will be very well paid."
Akitada was momentarily taken aback. "You surprise me," he said. "You will have to speak to Tora about this. He is free to choose his own master."
"Yes. I understood him to say that he had come to you only recently or I would not make the offer. He told me how you met." The boy gave Akitada a surreptitious glance and added, "He seems very loyal."
"Tora has many excellent qualities."
"But loyalty is a most important quality in a servant, don't you agree?"
"That and affection."
This thought appeared to be new to the little lord. He pondered it and then nodded. "Such emotions place a master under an obligation," he said. "The obligation to protect his people."
Akitada was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the direction the conversation seemed to be taking. Was the boy reminding him that he was too poor to afford a man like Tora?
But young Lord Minamoto went on in a voice that suddenly shook with passion. "When my grandfather died, that obligation passed to me. How am I to carry out my duty to my people when I am kept a prisoner here without a single retainer or even servant at my command? Not so much as someone to bring me my clothes or my food?" Clenching impotent fists, he cried, "How will I protect my people?"
Akitada sat speechless at this outburst. After a moment spent looking into the boy's agonized eyes, he said hesitantly, "Surely your people do not expect you to take on this burden until you are older. Meanwhile others will take care of your family business for you. And personal servants or armed retainers are not really permitted here in the university."
The boy jumped up angrily. "You don't understand! My rightful place has been taken by Sakanoue. He is the one who keeps me here. It was not my grandfather's wish that things should be this way. I had private tutors. Heaven only knows what that evil man is doing to my people… and my sister." He swung around towards the nearest wall and pounded his fists against the boards in helpless rage.
Akitada waited until the boy calmed down and was standing still, his chin on his chest and his arms hanging limply at his sides. "Do you have any proof," he asked quietly, "that Lord Sakanoue is not carrying out your grandfather's wishes?"
The boy turned around, his eyes blazing through tears. "I need no proof. I have my grandfather's word for it! My grandfather hated him. He called him an upstart and suspected him of stealing from us. He warned me never to give him any power."
Akitada sighed. "Lord Sakanoue has been appointed your guardian," he reminded the boy. "In order to change his guardianship, you will need to go to court against him, proving his unfitness- and since your grandfather is not here to testify, it will be your word against his."
Silence fell between them. The boy sat back down, biting his lip. After a moment he said, "Tora says that you solve crimes no one else can solve. I want you to solve my grandfather's murder. Can you do that?"
It seemed to Akitada that he had waited for this moment since the first time he had heard of the peculiar circumstances of the prince's death. Forcing himself to conceal his surge of excitement, he said quietly, "I don't know. Perhaps you had better tell me what happened."
"Then you agree that it was murder?"
"It is more likely a murder than a miracle."
The boy's eyes shone with relief and excitement. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything you remember about the time before and after your grandfather's disappearance. I gather you suspect Lord Sakanoue. Perhaps you had better start with him."