mail; postal matter; postal item
late at night; small hours of the morning
to be sharp; to be keen; to be on the ball; to have a mind like a steel trap; to be clever
after a while; a little while later; shortly afterward; after a brief interval
unprepared; careless; imprudent; indiscreet
democratic nation; democratic country
if things go wrong; if the worst happens
son of a distinguished family; son of a noble
good contrast; marked contrast
searching for someone; search for a missing person
guidance; lead; guide; primer; influence; connections
keeping a secret; secrecy; confidentiality
outward appearance; ostensible; public; official
ordinary people; common folk; general masses; man in the street; populace at large
handrail; railing; banister
to be dark; to be dull; to be unassuming; to be inconspicuous; to not stand out
billiards; pool; snooker; cue sports
dismantling a (historic) building and reconstructing it elsewhere
carefree; buoyant; lighthearted; ease
to give a warning; to remind (a person) of
successive generations; successive emperors
head (of a household); proprietor (of a store); proprietress; (arch.) entertaining someone as one's guest
portrait; likeness; picture
social standing of a family; lineage; parentage; good family
Middle Ages (in Japan esp. the Kamakura and Muromachi periods); medieval times; mediaeval times
real image; real form; real-life image; true picture
forward; frontward; ahead; rectangular front
punishment without a legal trial; vigilantism
to be sacrificed; to fall victim to; to fall prey to
abode of demons; hotbed (of graft); pandemonium
drawing room; parlor; parlour; guest room