“Officers of his majesty the Emperor will confer distinction upon this poor hotel by deigning to wait,” replied the clerk.
So the three Japanese officers walked into a parlor, where they took seats, knowing that they would be notified when Ensign Darrin reappeared at the hotel.
At about this time, Belle, who had been absent from her rooms for a few moments, was looking diligently for the note that had accompanied the lacquer box.
“I closed and locked the door when I went out, so I can’t understand what has happened to that note,” mused Belle Darrin perplexedly, as she hunted about the room.
The medallion itself still lay on the table, but to that the young wife now paid no heed.
So much did the disappearance of the note perplex her that Belle spent some minutes in the vain search for it.
At last, a perplexed frown on her face, she again picked up the lacquer box and stood gazing at the exquisite, precious medallion.
Below, Dave entered the hotel. He passed quickly through, going to the stairs.
Not immediately did he go to his apartment. First of all he turned down a corridor on the second floor to speak to Lieutenant Barbes from the “Katahdin.”
But the clerk, who saw Dave pass through the lobby, himself stepped into the parlor where the three Japanese lieutenants waited. Bowing very low, the clerk informed them that Mr. Darrin had returned and had gone to his apartment.