"But," I asked, "how can Shitotsubashi receive a letter addressed to the Shôgun. He is not Shôgun, is he?"
"Yes; he received his commission the day before yesterday."
"Well," I replied, "that is very unexpected. I thought he had to settle Chôshiû's affair first. But his influence must have increased immensely for him to have been able to manage this."
"Yes, indeed"--(emphatically)--"A man who was yesterday no better than a beggarly _rônin daimiô_ is to-day _Sei-i-tai-shôgun_."
"Itakura Suwô no Kami" (a newly appointed member of the council). "Shitotsubashi is in great favour now with the Mikado, and he could become _Kwambaku_ (grand vizier) if he chose. He has made his brother Mimbutayu, a younger scion of the Mito house, head of the Shimidzu family, which had become extinct, and he is going to send him as ambassador to France."
"And for what is Shitotsubashi going to summon the foreign representatives to Ozaka?"
"We have not the slightest idea of that either," said Saigô.
"How odd that he should be able to do these things without consulting the _daimiôs_."
"The _daimiôs_ ought to have been consulted, as we expected they would be henceforth on all political matters. The _Baku-fu_ have got on so badly of late years that my prince is of opinion that they should not be left to ruin the country as they please. And when certain of the _daimiôs_ were summoned by the Mikado to Kiôto, they expected to have a share in the government. Now they perceive that such is not the intention of the _Baku-fu_, and they don't intend to be made fools of. So they have one and all refused to attend. Echizen stopped there as long as he could, but went away at last."
"Then everything is over for the present?" I said.
"Well, we shall be able to find him out in the next three years, I suppose."
"Three years is a long time. But this council at Kiôto, was it not connected with the latter part of the decree giving power to the Shôgun to conclude treaties, where the Mikado says, 'There are points in the existing treaties which I wish you to rectify in concert with the _daimiôs_?'"
"Oh no!" said Saigô, "you are quite wrong there. It was intended, as I have said before, that the _daimiôs_ should consult with the _Baku-fu_ about government reforms."