“Come,” Impey exclaimed as he led the way. “It’s not often we barbarians get a glimpse within the royal enclosure, so we must make the most of it while we can.”
Robert Impey knew when to be silent. While the midshipmen were conversing with their classmate he had listened discreetly; but now he displayed the conversational art which had lifted him from an humble accountant in a Chinese bank to a position of wealth and influence. What his position was Phil and Sydney as yet had no knowledge.
He described to them the objects of artistic interest about them, and after a quarter of an hour’s intimate talk even Phil had almost changed his mind and felt that such a delightful personage could hardly be a two-faced rogue.
They had exhausted the beauties of nature but were still strolling through the gardens when a group of Japanese army and naval officers came suddenly around a turn in the path. The midshipmen’s eyes noted their erect carriages, their breasts covered with medals, commemorating deeds of valor accomplished in two wars. The Americans saluted, and their brothers in service stepped aside politely, bowing low in their own fashion. Impey doffed his silk hat, and greeted one of their number by name, advancing to take his outstretched hand. In a second the group had passed onward.
“That was Captain Inaba, one of the brightest men in the Japanese navy,” he added as he joined the midshipmen, who had strolled ahead slowly during the short interruption. “He is the man your navy will have to be careful of in case of war. I dare say he has fought it all out and could tell you just where the battles will be and who will win.”
“You talk as if war were an accomplished fact,” Phil blurted out; the idea of the identity of Impey with the “man in the next compartment” was again strong in his mind. “I see no reason why my country and Japan should go to war. Certainly we don’t want a war with anybody, least of all Japan, whom we have helped to become one of the great world powers.”
An expression of cunning came into Impey’s face, which was unseen by the two lads, while he began to explain earnestly.
“Japan is an enigma to you Western men. Her diplomats have not a selfish drop of blood in their bodies. Every thought is for the empire. At this very moment the history of Japan for the next twenty years has been tentatively written by men like Captain Inaba, whom we have just passed. Every step has probably been considered and solved by their tacticians. Is war with America then such an impossibility?”
“War with my country would be more of an impossibility than it is,” Phil exclaimed angrily, “if those who are intriguing behind her back would only come out in the open to do their talking.” He glared fixedly at Impey.
“Your own countrymen at home are doing most of the harm,” Impey replied with an expressive shrug. “Your labor party is alienating what good feeling Japan has had for America.”