“We hate her, of course,” he said grudgingly, “but just now we have received orders that she is not to be interfered with.”
I drew a deep breath.
“Then you regard this war——?”
“We regard it as the beginning of the revolution,” he answered. “We know that the Empire is utterly unprepared. The Viceroy Alexieff is a vain boaster. Port Arthur is not provisioned. The Navy is rotten. The Army cannot be recruited except by force. The taxes are already excessive and cannot be increased. In short, we look forward to see the autocracy humiliated. The moment its prestige is gone, and the moujik feels the pinch of famine, our chance will come.”
I saw that I had come to the wrong quarter for assistance.
“Then you will do nothing against this woman at present?” I remarked, anxious to leave the impression that she was the only object of my concern.
“No. At least not until war is definitely declared. After that I cannot say.”
“And you think the war sure to come?”
“We are certain of it. One of our most trusted members is on the board of the Manchurian Syndicate.”
“The Syndicate which has obtained the concessions in Korea?”