at。〃
With an amiable word of farewell the Prince departed。 The doctor threw himself into an easy chair。 His single exclamation was laconic but forcible。
CHAPTER XXVI。 SOME FAREWELLS
Never did Prince Maiyo show fewer signs of his Japanese origin than when in the company of other men of his own race。 Side by side with His Excellency the Baron Hesho； the contrasts in feature and expression were so marked as to make it hard； indeed； to believe that these two men could belong to the same nation。 The Baron Hesho had high cheekbones； a yellow skin； close…cropped black hair； and wore gold…rimmed spectacles through which he beamed upon the whole world。 The Prince； as he lounged in his wicker chair and watched the blue smoke of his cigarette curl upwards； looked more like an Italianperhaps a Spaniard。 The shape of his head was perfectly Western； perfectly and typically Romanesque。 The carriage of his body must have been inherited from his mother； of whom it was said that no more graceful woman ever walked。 Yet between these two men； so different in all externals； there was the strongest sympathy； although they met but seldom。
〃So we are to lose you soon； Prince；〃 the Baron was saying。
〃Very soon indeed；〃 Prince Maiyo answered。 〃Next week I go down to Devenham。 I understand that the Prime Minister and Sir Edward Bransome will be there。 If so； that； I think； will be practically my leave…taking。 There is no object in my staying any longer over here。〃
The Baron blinked his eyes meditatively。
〃I have seen very little of you； Maiyo；〃 he said； 〃since your last visit to the Continent。 I take it that your views are unchanged？〃
The Prince assented。
〃Unchanged indeed；〃 he answered；〃unchangeable； I think almost that I might now say。 They have been wonderful months； these last months； Baron；〃 he continued。 〃I have seen some of those things which we in Japan have heard about and wondered about all our lives。 I have seen the German army at manoeuvres。 I have talked to their officers。 Where I could； I have talked to the men。 I have been to some of their great socialist meetings。 I have heard them talk about their country and their Emperor； and what would happen to their officers if war should come。 I have seen the French artillery。 I have been the guest of the President。 I have tried to understand the peculiar attitude which that country has always adopted toward us。 I have been； unrecognized； in St。 Petersburg。 I have tried to understand a little the resources of that marvellous country。 I came back here in time for the great review in the Solent。 I have seen the most magnificent ships and the most splendid naval discipline the world has ever known。 Then I have explored the interior of this island as few of our race have explored it before； not for the purpose of studying the manufactures； the trades； the immense shipbuilding industries；simply to study the people themselves。〃
The Baron nodded gravely。
〃I ask no questions；〃 he said。 〃It is the Emperor's desire； I know； that you go straight to him。 I take it that your mind is made up；you have arrived at definite conclusions？〃
〃Absolutely〃 Prince Maiyo answered。 〃I shall make no great secret of them。 You already； my dear Baron； know； I think； whither they lead。 I shall be unpopular for a time； I suppose； and your own position may be made a little difficult。 After that； things will go on pretty much the same。 Of one thing； though； I am assured。 I see it as clearly as the shepherd who has lain the night upon the hillside sees the coming day。 It may be twelve months； it may be two years； it may even be three； but before that time has passed the clouds will have gathered； the storm will have burst。 Then； I think； Hesho； our master will be glad that we are free。〃
The Baron agreed。
〃Only a few nights ago；〃 he said； 〃Captain Koki and the other attaches spent an evening with me。 We have charts and pieces； and with locked doors we played a war game of our own invention。 It should all be over in three weeks。〃
Prince Maiyo laughed softly。
〃You are right；〃 he said。 〃I have gone over the ground myself。 It could be done in even less time。 You should ask a few of our friends to that war game； Baron。 How they would smile！ You read the newspapers of the country？〃
〃Invariably；〃 the Ambassador answered。
〃There is an undercurrent of feeling somewhere；〃 the Prince continued；〃one of the cheaper organs is shrieking all the time a brazen warning。 Patriotism； as you and I understand it； dear friend； is long since dead； but if one strikes hard enough at the flint； some fire may come。 Hesho； how short our life is！ How little we can understand！ We have only the written words of those who have gone before； to show us the cities and the empires that have been； to teach us the reasons why they decayed and crumbled away。 We have only our own imagination to help us to look forward into the future and see the empires that may rise； the kingdoms that shall stand； the kingdoms that shall fall。 Amongst them all； Hesho； there is but this much of truth。 It is our own dear country and our one great rival across the Pacific who； in the years to come； must fight for the supremacy of the world。〃
〃It will be no fight； that；〃 the Ambassador answered slowly；〃no fight unless a new prophet is born to them。 The money…poison is sucking the very blood from their body。 The country is slowly but surely becoming honey…combed with corruption。 The voices of its children are like the voices from the tower of Babel。 If their strong man should arise； then the fight will be the fiercest the world has ever known。 Even then the end is not doubtful。 The victor will be ours。 When the universe is left for them and for us； it will be our sons who shall rule。 Listen； Maiyo。〃
〃I listen；〃 the Prince answered。
The Baron Hesho had laid aside his spectacles。 He leaned a little towards his companion。 His voice had fallen to a whisper； his hand fell almost caressingly upon his friend's shoulder。
〃I would speak of something else；〃 he continued。 〃Soon you go to the Duke's house。 You will meet there the people who are in authority over this country。 When you leave it； everything is finished。 Tell me； is the way homeward safe for you？〃
〃Wonderful person！〃 Prince Maiyo said； smiling。
〃No； I am not wonderful；〃 the Ambassador declared。 〃All the time I have had my fears。 Why not？ A month ago I sought your aid。 I knew from our friends in New York that a man was on his way to England with letters which made clear； beyond a doubt； the purpose of this world journey of the American fleet。 I sent for you。 We both agreed that it was an absolute necessity for us to know the contents of those letters。〃
〃We discovered them；〃 the Prince answered。 〃It was well that we did。〃
〃You discovered them；〃 the Ambassador interrupted。 〃I have taken no credit for it。 The credit is yours。 But in this land there are so many things which one may not do。 The bowstring and the knife are unrecognized。 Civilization has set an unwholesome value upon human life。 It is the maudlin sentiment which creeps like corruption through the body of a dying country。〃
〃I know it；〃 the Prince declared； sighing。 〃I know it very well indeed。〃
〃Dear Maiyo；〃 the Ambassador asked； 〃how well do you know it？〃
〃My friend；〃 the Prince answered； 〃it were better for you not to ask that question。〃
〃Here under this roof；〃 the Baron continued； 〃is sanctuary； but in the streets and squares beyond； it seems to meand I have thought this over many times；it seems to me that even the person of the great Prince； cousin of the Emperor； holy son of Japan； would not be safe。〃
Prince Maiyo shrugged his shoulders。 There was gravity in his face； but it was the gravity of a man who has learnt to look upon serious things with a light heart。
〃I； also；〃 he said； 〃have weighed this matter very carefully in my mind。 What I did was well done； and if the bill is thrust into my face； I must pay。 First of all； Baron； I promise you that I shall finish my work。 After that； what does it matter？ You and I know better than this nation of life…loving shopkeepers。 A week； a year； a span of years；of what account are they to us who have sipped ever so lightly at the great cup？ If we died tomorrow for the glory of our country； should we not say to one another； you and I； that it was well？〃
The Baron rose to his feet and bowed。 Into his voice there had crept a note almost of reverence。
〃Prince；〃 he said； 〃almost you take me back to the one mother country。 Almost your words persuade me that the strangeness of these Western lands is a passing thing。 We wonder； and as we wonder they shall crumble away。 The sun rises in the East。〃
The Prince also rose。 Servants came silently forward； bearing his hat and gloves。
〃Perhaps；〃 the Prince smiled； as he made his adieux
〃Perhaps；〃 the Ambassador echoed。 〃Who can tell？〃
The Prince sent away his carriage and walked homeward； greeting every now and then an acquaintance。 He walked cheerfully and with a smile upon his face。 There was nothing in his appearance which could possibly have indicated to the closest observer that this was a man who had taken death by the hand。 At the corner of Regent Street and Pall Mall he overtook Inspector Jacks。 He leaned forward at once and touched the detective on the shoulder。
〃Mr。 Jacks；〃 he said； 〃it is pleasant to see you once more。 I was afraid that I should have to leave without bidding you farewell。〃
The Inspector started。 The Prince laughed to himself as he watched that gesture。 Indeed； a man who showed his feelings so easily would be very much at a loss in Tokio！
〃You are going away； Prince？〃 the Inspector asked quickly。 〃When？〃
〃The exact day is not fixed；〃 the Prince replied； 〃but it is true that I am going home。 I have finished my work； and； you see； there is nothing to keep me over here any longer。 Tell me； have you had any fortune yet？ I read the papers every day； hoping to see that you have cleared up those two terrible affairs。〃
Inspector Jacks shook his head。
〃Not yet； Prince；〃 he said。
〃Not yet；〃 the Prince echoed。 〃Dear me； that is very unfortunate！〃
Inspector Jacks watched the people who were passing； for a moment； with a fixed； unseeing gaze。
〃I am afraid；〃 he said