Philip Downing very soon justified the profession to which he belonged
by strolling off with some excuse about paying his respects to some
acquaintances. Pamela and Lutchester immediately dropped the somewhat
frivolous tone of their conversation.
"You know that things are moving with our friend Fischer?" she began.
"I gathered so," Lutchester assented.
"His scheme is growing into shape," she went on. "You know what
wonderful people his friends are for organising. Well, they are going
to start a society all through the States and nominate for its
president--Uncle Theodore."
"Will they have any show at all?" Lutchester asked curiously.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Who can tell? The German-Americans are very powerful indeed all
through the West, and then the pacifists will join them. You see, I
believe that although the soul of the country is with the Allies,
England is the most tactless country in the world. She is always giving
little pinpricks to the Government over here, either about maritime law
or one thing or another. Then all those articles in the papers about
America being too proud to fight, the sneering tone of some, even, of
the leading reviews, did a lot of harm. Uncle Theodore is going to
stand for what they call the true neutrality. That is to say, no
munitions, no help for either side."
"Well, I don't know anything about American politics," Lutchester
confessed, "but I shouldn't think he'd have an earthly chance."
"Money is immensely powerful," she went on reflectively, "and many of
the great money interests of the country are controlled by
German-Americans. Mr. Fischer has almost thrown me over politically,
but Uncle Theodore is crazy about the idea of a German pledge to
protect America against Japan. That is going to be the great argument
which he will keep up his sleeve until after the nomination."
"Fischer's trump card," Lutchester observed. "He hasn't shown you a
certain autograph letter yet, I suppose?"
She shook her head.
"He may have shown it to Uncle Theodore. I'm afraid he doesn't mean to
approach me again. He seems to have completely changed his attitude
towards me since the night he saw us at the Ritz-Carlton dining
together. He was going to show me the letter the first day after his
arrival in Washington. Instead of that, he has been in the house for
hours at a time without making the slightest attempt to see me."
"Faithless fellow!" Lutchester murmured. "Nothing like an Englishman,
after all, for absolute fidelity."
"Do you really think so?" Pamela inquired anxiously. "Do you think I
should be safe in trusting my heart and future to an Englishman?"
"To one particular Englishman, yes!" was the firm reply. "I was rather
hoping you might have made up your mind."
"Too many things to think about," she laughed. "How long are you going
to stay in Washington?"
"A few hours or days or weeks--until I have finished the work that
brought me here."
"And what exactly is that?"
"You ask me lightly," he replied, "but, if you are willing, I have
decided to take you into my confidence. Our friend Nikasti will be here
to-morrow. He was to have sailed for Japan yesterday, but he has
postponed his voyage for a few days. Do you know much about the
Japanese, Miss Pamela?"
"Very little," she acknowledged.
"Well, I will tell you one thing. They are not very good at forgiving.
There was only one way I could deal with Nikasti in New York, and it
was a brutal way. I have seen him twice since. He wouldn't look me in
the eyes. I know what that means. He hates me. In a sense I don't
believe he would allow that to interfere in any way with his mission.
In another sense it would. The Allies, above all things, have need of
Japan. We want Japan and America to be friends. We don't want Germany
butting in between the two. Baron Yung is a very clever man, but he is
even more impenetrable than his countrymen generally are. Our people
here admit that they find it difficult to progress with him very far.
They believe that secretly he is in sympathy with Nikasti's reports--
but you don't know about those, I suppose?"
"I don't think I do," she admitted.
"Nikasti was sent to England some years ago to report upon us as a
country. Japan at that time was meditating an alliance with one of the
great European Powers. Obviously it must be Germany or England. Nikasti
travelled all through England, studied our social life, measured our
weaknesses; did the same through Germany, returned to Japan, and gave
his vote in favour of Germany. I have even seen a copy of his report.
He laid great stress upon the absolute devotion to sport of our young
men, and the entire absence of any patriotic sentiment or any means of
national defence. Well, as you know, for various reasons his counsels
were over-ridden, and Japan chose the British alliance. That was
entirely the fault of imperfect German diplomacy. At a time like this,
though, I cannot help thinking that some elements of his former
distrust still remain in Nikasti's mind, and I have an idea that Baron
Yung is, to a certain extent, a sympathiser. I've got to get at the
bottom of this before I leave the States. If I need your help, will you
give it me?"
"If I can," she promised.
They saw Mrs. Hastings' figure on the terrace, waving, and Pamela rose
reluctantly to her feet.
"I don't suppose," Lutchester continued, as they strolled across the
lawn, "that you have very much influence with your uncle, or that he
would listen very much to anything that you have to say, but if he is
really in earnest about this thing, he is going to play a terribly
dangerous game. As things are at present, he has a very pleasant and
responsible position as the supporter and friend of very able men. With
regard to this new movement, he may find the whole ground crumble away
beneath his feet. Fischer is playing the game of a madman. It isn't
only political defeat that might come to him, but disgrace--even
dishonour."
"You frighten me," Pamela confessed gravely.
Lutchester sighed.
"Your uncle," he went on, "is one of those thoroughly conceited,
egotistical men who will probably listen to no one. You see, I have
found out a little about him already. But they tell me that her social
position means a great deal to your aunt. Neither her birth nor her
friends could save her if Fischer drags your uncle to his chariot
wheels."
"Do you think, perhaps, that you underestimate Mr. Fischer's position
over here?" she asked thoughtfully.
"I don't think I do," he replied, "but here is something which you have
scarcely appreciated. Fischer has had the effrontery to link himself up
with a little crowd of Germans all through the States, who are making
organised attempts to destroy the factories where ammunitions are being
made for the Allies. That sort of thing, you know, would bring any one,
however, distantly connected with it, to Sing Sing.... One moment," he
added quickly, as Mrs. Hastings stepped forward to meet them; "the
reception at the British Embassy to-night?"
"The others are going," she said. "My aunt didn't feel she was
sufficiently--"
"We sent you a card round especially this afternoon," Lutchester
interrupted. "You'll come?"
"How nice of you! Of course I will," she promised.