"Now, what strikes you as the most surprising difference between our two countries?"
Geoffrey pondered for a moment. He wanted to answer frankly, but he was still awed by the canons of Good Form. At last he said: "This Yoshiwara business."
The Japanese statesman seemed surprised.
"But that is just a local difference in the manner of regulating a universal problem," he said.
"Englishmen aren't any better than they should be," said Geoffrey; "but we don't like to hear of women put up for sale like things in a shop."
"Then you have not actually seen them yourself?" said the Count. He could not help smiling at the characteristic British habit of criticising on hearsay.
"Not actually; but I saw the procession last month."
"You really think that it is better to let immoral women stray about the streets without any attempt to control them and the crime and disease they cause?"
"It's not that," said Geoffrey; "it seems to me horrible that women should be put up to sale and exposed in shop windows ticketed and priced."
Count Saito smiled again and said: