"What! You don't like Japan?" he said with a smile.
"Humph!" grunted Morton. "Precious little of Japan we've seen, boxed up here, asking questions, getting no answers. Haven't sent the Post a decent stick of copy since I came. Everything leaks out in London before we get it here. That wretched legation in Knightsbridge don't give us a chance. We might as well be in Kamschatka. But what have you been doing?"
"I've been to Nikko!"
"What! Finding ranges?"
"Yes," said Bob; "mountain ranges."
"You say ranges," broke in Herr Schwab instantly. "I hafe new batent kitchen range, save 95 per cent fuel. I can quote you—"
He stopped in stolid wonder at a general chuckle from the group. Morton, evidently scenting information, followed up his clue.
"I suppose you're out of work like the rest of us. Jap motto: 'No foreigners need apply'. They've had shoals of applications."
Although Bob had not been definitely warned to keep his business secret, he felt that he was not entitled to make any premature disclosure.
"Well, anyhow it's a pleasant enough way of spending a holiday," he said. "There's plenty to be seen."