“That is,” he began, “that is—” Then, remembering the presence of Mori, “What is his errand?” he asked.
Mori stepped forward. His head was thrown back. The Shining Prince had forgotten again that he was in the presence of the Mikado.
“I have come to urge a national necessity upon your Majesty,” he said.
“What is that?”
“To urge your Majesty to give an order for the expulsion of all foreigners within your empire.”
“What!” exclaimed the startled Emperor.
Fervently Mori continued:
“The presence of these foreigners makes the re-establishment of your Majesty in your proper position impossible. They distract the Imperialists from their purpose. Fear, or, rather, uncertainty, in regard to them causes the Imperialists to hesitate in attacking the shogunate and forcing civil war upon the country while these foreigners are upon the soil. They have multiplied in such numbers lately that all over the country the people protest against the privileges granted to them by the shogunate.”
“This sounds logical,” said the Emperor, half to himself.
“Your Majesty, permit me to suggest that the wrath of the foreigners, through the recent acts in Yedo, will fall upon the shogunate. This is well for us. We must take advantage of these very acts of the ronins. Let us follow them up by expelling the foreigner. If thou wilt but issue such a command, a united country will back you. The shogunate will fight because it must, while we will do so for our cause and our homes. Then, the foreigner expelled, thou, sire, thou and the weakened shogunate may reckon together.”