I drew out my cigarette case, found the partially smoked cigarette I had had in my mouth when I ran the gauntlet of the spies at Dalny, and proceeded to cut off the paper. On the inner surface these words were written in the hand of the Czar:
The bearer of this, M. V——, has my full confidence, and is authorized to settle conditions of peace.
Nicholas.
As I respectfully placed the scrap of paper, with its charred edges, in the Mikado’s hand, I was conscious of a profound sensation in the room. Aged statesmen and brilliant commanders bent eagerly across the table to learn the character of the message thus strangely brought to its destination.
His majesty read the brief note aloud. It was received with a murmur, not entirely of satisfaction I was surprised to note.
Seeing that the Mikado made no remark, I ventured to say:
“I hope that the extreme character of the measures adopted by the Czar to assure your majesty of his peaceful sentiments will have the effect of convincing you that they are genuine.”
The Emperor of Japan glanced around his council board as if to satisfy himself that he and his advisers were of one mind before replying:
“I appreciate the zeal and the extraordinary skill with which you have carried out your mission. I regret that I cannot give you a favorable answer to take back to your nation.”
I was thunderstruck at this exordium. Slightly raising his voice, the Mikado went on: