By a ruse I had secured one of the cigarettes, smoked by this dangerous plotter, and having ascertained that it bore the mark _Gregorides, Crown Aa_, had instructed my staff to ascertain the history of this particular make of cigarettes.
While I was resting in my hotel in Tokio, waiting for the reply to my cable, I was honored by a visit from no less a personage than Privy Councillor Katahashi, President of the Imperial Bank of Japan.
"I have come," the Privy Councillor explained as soon as the door was closed, "to express the high sense of your ability and devotion which we all possess, and to ask if it is possible for Japan to secure your services."
Deeply gratified by this proposal, I was obliged to explain that I was already retained in the interest of Russia.
"But what interest?" Mr. Katahashi persisted. "It is clear that you are not acting on behalf of that group which has just succeeded in its purpose of forcing a war."
"That is so," I admitted. "It is no breach of confidence--in fact, I serve my employers by assuring you that my efforts are directed toward peace."
"In that case there can be no antagonism between us, surely. Is it not possible for you and me--I say nothing about our respective Governments--to co-operate for certain purposes?
"I know enough of the conditions which prevail in the Russian Court to feel pretty sure that it was not Nicholas II. who originally sought you out, and entrusted you with this mission," the Japanese statesman added.
"At the close of the last war in this part of the world," the Privy Councillor went on, "Japan was robbed of the fruit of her victories by an alliance of three Powers, Russia, Germany, and France. This time we know that England will support us against any such combination. Thanks to King Edward VII. we have nothing to fear. His diplomacy, moreover, has secured the powerful influence of France on the side of peace. Although nominally allied with the Czar, we know that the French Government is determined to limit the area of the war, and to take no part against us, except in one event."
"You mean," I put in, "in the event of an attack by England on Russia."
"Exactly. And therefore we know that King Edward is making it his particular care that no cause of conflict shall arise."