Next morning after breakfast I went ashore, and, arriving at the Nagasaki Hotel, sent up Mr. Hemster’s card to Mr. John C. Cammerford, and was promptly admitted to his presence. He occupied what I took to be the finest suite of rooms in the hotel, and had a large table placed near the principal window of his sitting-room, so that his back was to the light, which shone full on the face of any visitor who called upon him. It was quite evident to me that Mr. Cammerford hoped to impress Silas K. Hemster with the fact that he was carrying on great affairs right here in Japan similar to those that occupied his attention in Chicago. The table was littered with papers, and Cammerford sat busily writing as if every moment was of importance. All his plans for the impression of a visitor fell to pieces like a house of cards when the astonished man saw who was approaching him. He sprang to his feet with a cry of dismay and backed toward the window. From his position I could not very well read the expression on his face, but it seemed to be one of fear.
“I’m expecting another man,” he cried, “you have no right here. Get out.”
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Cammerford, I have a right here, and I have come to talk business.”
“What are you following me for? Why are you here?” he cried.
“I am here as the representative of Silas K. Hemster, of Chicago, and with his permission I sent up his card to you.”
Gradually his self-possession returned to him, but he took care to keep the table between himself and me. He indulged in a little cynical laugh.
“You took me by surprise, Mr. Tremorne. I—I thought perhaps you intended trying to collect—a—a little account of your own.”
“No, I came entirely on Mr. Hemster’s behalf. Have I your permission to be seated?”
“Certainly. Sit down, sit down,” and, saying this with an effort at bluff geniality, he placed himself in the chair he had so abruptly vacated.
“I thought, as I said before,” he added, with another uneasy laugh, “that you had some notion of collecting a little money from me. The last time we met you held a very mistaken view of the business matter in which we had been associated. I assure you now—you wouldn’t listen then—that everything done was strictly legal, and no one was more sorry than I that the deal did not prove as successful as we had both hoped.”