「ええ、そうね。どうも
「戻らんのは
「日本の警察がいけないって、
「ええ、なるでしょう。あなた、
「帯の片側くらいあきらめるさ。こっちは
「叔母さん、この油壺が
「それを吉原で
「
「それでもそんな壺なら吉原へ
「ところがないんだよ。
「
「また
「叔父さんは
「保険は嫌ではない。あれは
"Yes, certainly. Something seems to be missing here. Is this really everthing that was taken?"
"Except for the yams, that's everything. Can you believe they summoned me at nine, only to keep me waiting till eleven? The police in this country are woefully incompetent."
"The police may be incompetent, but that's no excuse for you sauntering off through Yoshiwara. If word gets out you'll lose your post. Isn't that right Auntie?"
"Right indeed. Say, there's no backing piece for my obi. I thought there was something missing."
"Let your obi go. It's already cost me three hours of my time. Half the day's gone." The master has changed into his casual Japanese dress and is leaning against the brazier, turning his attention again to his oil jar. The wife, giving up on her obi backing, stows the returned goods away in the cabinet and returns to her seat.
"Look at that Auntie. He claims this oil jar was a rare find. Not worth the clay it's cast from, if you ask me."
"You went and bought that in Yoshiwara? Really now."
"What do you mean, 'really now?' As if you knew anything about ceramics."
"Well I don't think you need to go to Yoshiwara for a piece like that. Don't they sell those anywhere?"
"That's my point. This is highly uncommon. A rare find."
"Uncle plays the stone Jizō"
"Impertinent child, this one. Schoolgirls these days have sharper and sharper tongues. You'd do well to verse yourself Onna Daigaku."
"I hear you take issue with insurance too. Which is worse, schoolgirls or insurance?"
"I've nothing against insurance. It serves a purpose. Anyone with any concern for the future does well to enroll. Schoolgirls, on the other hand, are nothing more than fifth wheels."