Commodore Perry's Minstrel Show by Richard Wiley

him by the attendant, so he spent his time reading. He read the first chapter of every book in the library, all forty of them, and then went back to three that had caught his interest and read them in their entirety; two books of scientific inquiry and one of poems. The visit had been a defining moment in his life, reinvigorating his interest in studying English, and making him doubly curious about the outside world as a whole.
    â€œWhat happened next?” Manjiro asked. “Did you find out where he went or which book he took home?”
    â€œNo, the fish man didn’t know anything, and it would have taken a long time in the book room just to discover the book’s name. I was suspicious and curious by then, and decided to be even more careful than I had before. So when the fish man came back to his desk I bought the ginseng powder and followed Lord Abe out into the night. But, unfortunately, I could no longer find him.”
    The brothers had grown cold again, what with the rain and the brazier’s fire burning down, so when he finished speaking Einosuke opened the shoji and they went back inside.
    â€œBut what does it mean?” Manjiro asked. “Do you believe Lord Abe is secretly learning about the West, that he isn’t an isolationist anymore?
    Manjiro himself could never believe such a thing, even after hearing Einosuke’s story and observing Lord Abe’s strange behavior the night before, but Einosuke was stopped from answering by the sound of a woman’s voice.
    â€œOne might just as well ask, ‘Do you believe that Japan is not an island anymore?’ or ‘Do you believe Lord Abe is a woman under his robes?’”
    It was Tsune. She had just returned from Lord Tokugawa’s hunting lodge and was sitting there staring at a calligraphy that hung at the room’s far end.
    â€œI’m sorry,” said Einosuke. “This room is for contemplation. We should not have interrupted you with our gossip.”
    He was angry. He had told Manjiro his story on a whim, without really deciding to do so, and now it seemed possible that everyone in the house might know. Of course he had already told his wife, but what if Tsune told his father, or worse, decided to tell Lord Tokugawa? If that happened Einosuke might be called into the Great Council chambers to explain himself!
    â€œThese stamps, Manjiro-san, these permissions one needs to enter the Barbarian Bock Room, once you have them how many times are you allowed to go?”
    Tsune had turned away from the calligraphy. She now faced the brothers directly but remained on her cushion, knees together beneath her gown.
    â€œAh,” said Manjiro, as much in answer to her continued ease as to her question.
    â€œI am asking because it occurred to me that you, Manjiro-san, might be able to return to the room and by simply asking the attendant for another list, deduce which book is gone.”
    â€œIt’s true, I’m an authorized visitor now,” Manjiro said. He gave Einosuke a glance that he hoped apologized for him thinking that Tsune’s idea was a good one, but Einosuke now spoke directly to her.
    â€œA word overheard is a word forgotten,” he said. “I think that’s a useful proverb.”
    He did not like to be blunt but if Tsune would involve herself so blithely in the affairs of state and if Manjiro could find nothing better to do than agree with her, what else could he do?
    â€œOf course,” said Tsune, “you have my promise, Einosuke-san.”
    When he heard that Einosuke saw, yet again, that Tsune was more beautiful and disarming than his wife and, just at that moment, as if catching him in the thought, his wife came into the room.
    â€œBreakfast is ready,” she said. “Did O-bata not call?”
    All three of them turned to face her and Manjiro said, “It should be easy. I will go today.”
    â€œGo where?” asked Fumiko, but Tsune touched her