Yawata of the Association promptly found significance in the fact. “You
are being congratulated, sir, on your lucky number,”
he said.
The Master’s face and neck, which one would have thought could be no
thinner, seemed thinner by the day. Yet he seemed in better health than on
that hot July 16, and in the best of spirits. Might one say that with a falling
away of the flesh the bones beneath are stronger?
None of us foresaw his near collapse a scant five days later.
But he stood up abruptly, as if he could wait no longer, when Otaké had
played Black 83. All his exhaustion came suddenly to the surface. It was
twenty-seven minutes after twelve, and of course time for the noon recess;
but the Master had not before left the board as if kicking it away from him.
