"A fairly quick journey, considering the state of the line. You left before my letter arrived?"
"Yes. Of course you guess the object of my visit?"
"The consignment of flour? You have had great luck, I must say; but Captain Fraser always is lucky. Of course his cargo was not contraband according to English ideas, but we Russians have been rather strict of late, and the Japanese will probably follow suit. However, Captain Fraser never saw a Japanese cruiser the whole voyage. It should be an excellent speculation for your father. Prices are naturally high just now."
"That is good news. We shouldn't like to wind up with a failure."
"Of course not. It is a pity your father is retiring; we are bound to win in the end; but I've no doubt he can well afford it. And I'm not the man to complain, if, as I hope, I can get hold of a part of his business. Perhaps he is wise after all. Manchuria is not the most comfortable country to live in—just now, at any rate; and I fancy an Englishman will have a poor time of it in Moukden, eh?" (He gave Jack a shrewd look.) "Your newspapers have so completely taken the side of the enemy."
"Yes, there is a strong feeling at home in favour of Japan, and your people resent it. That's natural enough."
"It's rather worse than that. People here are saying that Russia and England will be at war before a month's out."
"Nonsense!"
"They say so. Our cruisers have stopped a P. and O. liner, the Malacca, in the Mediterranean, and put a prize crew on board. She was carrying contraband, it appears; but your fire-eaters—jingoes, is that the name?—are thirsting for our blood."
"We don't all eat fire and drink blood, Alexey Petrovitch."