many
places it is supposed to have magic properties as a charm. In the old
days the Romans had great faith in red coral beads. It protected the
matron against sterility and children against the evil eye. Even in
modern Italy coral charms are supposed to have certain virtues. And
there was a certain Japanese of Osaka, Komura by name, whom I still
remember because he used coral as an oracle in all his business
dealings with me.
Komura
was a rich diamond merchant with whom I had a number of transactions.
But I noticed that whether or not I succeeded in pulling off a deal
depended to a great extent upon the result of a mysterious little
by-play beneath his desk whose significance I could not understand. I
should still have been guessing had my native broker not confided to me
with bated breath that Komura had a knowing little coral god who guided
him in all matters of moment, though how, my informant did not know.
Then
one day this man, Namatusi, resorted to a rather mean stratagem to find
out for us both how the oracle of Komura worked. He told Komura that I
had expressed a desire for some of the dainties for which a nearby
cook-shop was famous. Politely Komura excused himself and went
personally to give the order for the exquisite fish menu which half an
hour later was sent in for my delight. But meanwhile—I being ignorant
of my broker's intention— Namatusi seized his opportunity and pulled
open the mysterious drawer in Komura's desk. He held up for me to see
the little coral god. It was beautifully carved and represented an
unusually ugly dwarf. And as Namatusi moved it to and fro, for I had
refused to take it into my
