THE CONSPIRATORS
Robert Impey, much elated over his success in throwing the entire blame
upon the shoulders of the American midshipmen, left the two Japanese
naval officers in Captain Inaba’s office and sought out his friend and
co-conspirator, Baron Kosuba.
No word was spoken beyond those of welcome until after the servants had
withdrawn, then when they were alone together Baron Kosuba said:
“After our conversation of yesterday I went at once to see the prime
minister and the Minister of Marine, and they assured me that Japan
would buy the Chinese ships at once. I have guaranteed the payment.”
“I know already,” Impey returned hurriedly. “The letter advising the
purchase was lost. Captain Inaba believes the Americans have discovered
his secret.”
“Lost!” the baron exclaimed, a smile almost of triumph in his
eyes. “How could the infallible Captain Inaba be guilty of such
carelessness?” It was plain that Baron Kosuba and the naval strategist
were not the best of friends. Doubtless the baron resented the younger
man’s power.
“But, baron,” Impey interrupted, “I have little time. I have come to
you on a most important matter.”
The Japanese nobleman inclined his head as a sign that he was ready to
listen.
“To-day, in but a few hours, the Emperor will receive the American
captain,” Impey hastened to say. “This audience must not take place.
It is rumored that he is a special emissary from the President of the
United States. If this audience cannot be stopped your dreams of naval
supremacy in the Pacific will be at an end.”
“Why should this audience change the naval policy of my country?” Baron
Kosuba exclaimed. “The entire naval board is pledged for a strong navy,
and only yesterday agreed to advise buying China’s ships.”
“If the United States should agree to give up her intention of
obtaining these ships,” Impey said, “would not Japan hesitate before
expending this large sum of money? The necessity would seem to be over.
The consequence would be,” Impey declared, “that America would go on
building war-ships, and the time would have passed when your country
can secure the supremacy of the Pacific.”
The baron’s face was wrinkled in deep thought.
“How can I prevent the audience?” he asked.
“That must rest with you,” Impey said with a shrug. “If it takes place
America will triumph over you commercially.”
Baron Kosuba was much affected by Impey’s words. He was not entirely
patriotic. His country’s welfare was second only to the accumulation
of his riches. If the American navy could be destroyed, her merchant
marine must die and his own steamers increase and multiply, for there
were no other competitors worthy of notice. And for this he would
gladly force a war.
“The United States fears now that she has gone too far,” Impey added
after a short silence. “I have told you that the Washington government
has agreed to buy the ships, and are now worried over Japan’s attitude.
They fear that Japan will seize the Chinese ships. Their fleet in
Manila is ready to move at a moment’s notice, and it is between the
Japanese fleet and the Chinese squadron. Once the Washington government
knows for certain that Japan has made her decision it will drop the
mask of friendship and order its fleet to obtain the ships before they
reach Singapore. This mission of the ‘Alaska,’ as I have told you
before, is intended only as a blind to their real intentions, and if
Japan is weak enough to believe in America’s honesty then our work will
have been for nothing.”
The baron’s face expressed his anxiety.
“I shall go at once to the navy department,” he exclaimed, “and I trust
I can stop this audience.”
Impey bade good-bye to the financier, smiling proudly as they shook
hands. He had won his point. Baron Kosuba would go immediately to his
friend the Minister of Marine. Impey knew that before now Captain
Inaba would have laid before that official proofs of the guilt of the
American visitors, which would bear out the baron’s arguments. If the
Minister of Marine could be convinced, then his powerful influence
would surely defeat the audience with the Emperor.
“What should be his next move?” was the question uppermost in his mind
as he drove rapidly toward the city from the baron’s home. To make the
United States see her apparent danger, and cause her to seize the ships
at once was the result desired.
After Impey had left Captain Inaba’s office Lieutenant Takishima had
entered. The former handed him the “Shimbunshi” letter to read.
“This is not written by one of my friends,” Takishima exclaimed
finally, throwing the letter on the desk.
“Then why should it be found in one of their valises?” Captain Inaba
asked. “Why will you defend them when you know that they concealed
the official letter lost by Oka? Do you call that a friendly act?
If it hadn’t been for Impey’s vigilance and the honesty of a former
countryman of ours, we would never have found out that these friends
are really spies.”
“Would it be likely that they would call themselves spies,” Takishima
picked up the “Shimbunshi” letter, and pointed to the words, “if they
contemplated such work?” Takishima’s voice was triumphant, while
Captain Inaba was silent. “If they are spies they did not write this
letter. If they wrote this letter they are not spies.”
“Your reasoning, my dear Takishima, is quite illogical. They wrote
the letter before they found the Oka document. Don’t you see? With
that in their possession they decided not to send this letter to the
‘Shimbunshi.’”
“Would the ‘Shimbunshi’ publish such a letter, not knowing who the
author was?” Takishima asked.
“The ‘Shimbunshi’ is a syndicate newspaper, owned mostly by foreigners.
It is an investment, is unpatriotic and appeals to the worst in men.
I believe it will publish anything, no matter what the source, if a
sensation can be produced,” Inaba answered thoughtfully. “There is but
one thing it fears to do, and that is attack the government of His
Majesty, for then it would be suppressed.”
“Have you ever doubted the honesty of Impey?” Takishima asked suddenly.
“My nature is to be suspicious of every one,” Inaba replied smilingly.
“Impey, among the rest, has fallen under my espionage. Until Impey
came to me and explained everything I believed he had betrayed us.
The letter was in his hands last night. It passed from him to our men
and was at one time in the hands of the American midshipmen. It was
afterward in the hands of one of their sailors. Impey located the
letter and brought me the information not an hour ago.”
“What great harm would there be if the letter was read by the
Americans?” Takishima questioned anxiously. “It is all true, in fact a
matter of common knowledge, except the buying of the ships.”
Inaba shrugged his square shoulders while the old sinister smile played
about the corners of his straight lips.
“The American fleet is in Manila, holding its yearly target practice.
Is it merely a coincidence that it should have arrived there just now?
Did it take a fifteen thousand mile cruise by way of the Cape of Good
Hope merely to hold this target practice?” Takishima shook his head
impatiently. “For some years Japan has lagged behind other nations in
building war-ships because our country must meet other expenses, and
our countrymen are already taxed to the utmost. America and the other
nations have outstripped us. The addition of these ships would give us
the additional strength which we have lost by an unwise naval policy.
Again our growing merchant marine would have ample protection. Again we
would become a factor to be reckoned with in the Far East. Baron Kosuba
is our strongest friend in urging the transaction. I believe if America
knew for a certainty that we would acquire these ships she would buy
them herself.”
“To fight us with?” Takishima asked breathlessly.
“Who can say?” Inaba returned. “Whom can we trust? Even your old
schoolmates have turned against you.”
“Then if the information that we had decided to acquire China’s ships
were known in America, you believe that she would buy them ahead
of us?” Takishima asked. “Is that your meaning? And afterward you
think she might endeavor to force a war to despoil us of our Chinese
territory?”
“I did not say so,” Inaba answered promptly. “But we navy men must
take no chances. His Majesty depends upon us. Let us hope that such
a catastrophe will never occur.” Captain Inaba picked up several
papers from his desk and handed them to Takishima. “In these two
telegrams is the key to the mystery. One is to the State Department in
Washington--the other to the governor in Manila, both from the American
ambassador. They are in cipher and quite beyond our powers to decipher.
Their timeliness alone seems to divulge the possible context. I believe
that they give the intelligence gained from the lost document. There is
but one thing for us to do.” Inaba’s voice was low and earnest. “Hold
these cablegrams, send out a sufficient force to man the Chinese ships,
and take possession of them on the high seas before the United States
can do so!”
Takishima’s eyes opened wide, while his heart beat faster. He glanced
up and saw the calm face of the Minister of Marine in the doorway.
Admiral Kamikura and Captain Inaba had been in consultation for nearly
an hour while Takishima in his own office awaited the outcome. The plan
advanced by the bold Inaba seemed dangerous in the extreme. It might
lead to war--to war with a country that he looked upon as partly his
own. He had spent four happy years at the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
He knew the American navy and admired it. The American people he had
studied in all their phases.
“Their thoughts are not upon war, but history shows that when war comes
they can fight as hard and as long as any people in the world,” he
exclaimed aloud.
Within the hour Inaba sent for him. The admiral had gone. The captain’s
face was grave, but his eyes were bright with excitement.
“I am sorry I cannot be at your lunch party to-day,” he said gravely.
“I am off to Sasebo. Give my regards and sayonara to your sister, O
Hama-san. I can tell you nothing more, Takishima,” he added, seeing
that a question trembled on the lad’s lips.
Takishima bowed low, murmuring a wish that good luck attend him upon
his mission; then the door closed behind him.