"If you promise to go to bed for the rest of the night I will give you ten minutes now to discuss our plans. Do you agree?"
"Yes; but you intend to remain here until morning?"
"No, I cannot spare the time. I must have the detectives searching for clews before daylight."
"Mori, you are a friend indeed. Some day I will show you how much I appreciate your kindness."
"Nonsense! You would do as much if not more if the case was reversed. Now for the plans. To commence, we are absolutely certain of one thing: Patrick Cronin was in the scheme, and he was sent to get us out of the way while Ralph and Willis Round attended to Grant."
"I am glad the Irishman met with his just deserts," exclaimed Nattie, vindictively. "He is now food for fishes."
"Yes; a fitting fate. The accident cannot be considered an unmixed catastrophe. If it had not occurred we would have gone on to Nagasaki, and have lost much valuable time. As it is, we are comparatively early. What we need now is a clew, and for that I intend to begin a search at once."
"Would it do any good to notify the American Consul?"
"No; our best plan is to keep the affair as quiet as possible. We will say nothing about it. If Grant is missed we can intimate that he has gone away for a week.