The library and smoking room had
been turned over to them, futons were
spread on the floor of the cool veranda,
while the men were quartered equally
well on the servants' side of the house.
and the horses champed at their bits
when led to the private stables-a lux
ury unknown for many a day to the poor
beasts.
The cooks and servants had supper
ready for all, it being the custom to feed
these visiting soldiers from the private
larder rather than on the government
ration. They expressed immense satis
faction over the generous supply of beer
and cigarettes and were much awed by
their surroundings.
Bath tickets were then furnished, and,
after gaining permission from the of
ficers to leave the premises, they sought
the nearest bathhouse in true Japanese
fashion and after their bath quietly crept
back for a few hours' sleep.
All the next day they went about as
silently as the deaf and dumb, and. in
stocking feet, lest their coarse shoes
should mar the floors-never trespass
ing in the smallest way, but gazing won
deringly on city sights-they were coun
try boys-and especially on the lovely
flowers in Baron S- 's famous garden.
No matter how interested they were,
they religiously avoided looking in the
direction where the family might be as.
sembled, and but for the evidence of
sight the baroness would not have known
of their presence.
They had never seen a foreign house,
and when she took them through it they
whispered solemnly together, paused I
long before the pictures and ornaments I
in the drawing-room, walked apologetic
ally on the soft rugs, and when their eyes
beheld a fine picture of their emperor
with one accord they prostrated them- 1
selves before him.
