One shoal had been traversed, and another lay ahead.
As soon as he heard of the compromise, the Master said: “We’ll begin
tomorrow.”
But Otaké wanted to rest the next day and begin the day after.
Unhappy with the delay, the Master was poised to begin immediately.
The matter seemed to him a simple enough one. But Otaké’s feelings were
complicated. Weary from the long days of altercation, he needed rest and a
change of mood before he resumed play. The two men were of two quite
different natures. Otaké was moreover suffering from nervous indigestion.
And the baby, at the inn with Mrs. Otaké, had caught cold and was running
a high fever. Devoted to his family, Otaké was much concerned. He could
not possibly play the next day.
But it had been very bad management to keep the Master waiting so
long. The managers could not tell him, all eager for battle, that Otaké’s
convenience demanded waiting a day longer. His “tomorrow” was for the
managers absolute. Since there was also a difference in rank to consider,
they sought to prevail upon Otaké. Already in a State of great tension,
Otaké was much put out. He said he would forfeit the game.
Yawata of the Association and Goi of the Nichinichi sat in a small
upstairs room, silent and to all appearances exhausted. They seemed on the
verge of surrender. Neither was an eloquent or persuasive man. I sat with
them after dinner.
The maid came for me. “Mr. Otaké says he would like to speak with you,
please, Mr. Uragami. He is waiting in another room.”
