“I’ve found out who the baron is, Syd,” Phil added. “His name is Kosuba, and he is president of the ‘Koko Kisen’ steamship line, the largest in Japan. They own over two hundred steamers. It’s quite natural that he should want a big navy.”
“It’s very strange,” Sydney replied thoughtfully. “Impey persuades him that Japan must at once buy the Chinese squadron to prevent our getting it and goes to our ambassador the next day with the news that Japan has decided to buy or seize them.”
“And all the time,” Phil returned angrily, “the United States is not giving a thought to the Chinese ships. No one can purchase ships without money, and Congress has not appropriated money for this purpose, and probably has no thought of so doing.”
The entire affair puzzled the two midshipmen greatly.
“I suppose the ambassador will send a cable to Washington giving Impey’s information,” Sydney said as they walked toward the hotel to dress themselves appropriately for the Japanese dinner to be given them by Takishima and his sister at their own house.
“He believes implicitly in Impey,” Phil replied impatiently. “I had it in mind two or three times to break in and give him the benefit of my experience with that individual, but I saw it would be quite useless. The affair of last night, when I found him being assaulted by two secret service men for possession of the paper, is the one thing that I cannot explain,” he added. “That would convince the ambassador of his fidelity to us.”
“Where can we find Captain Rodgers?” Sydney suddenly asked. “He must be told the entire story. This is the day he is to be received in audience by the Emperor.”
Phil nodded his head; but secretly he did not relish this duty. His conscience pricked him for having foolishly held the document for even an instant. His proper course would have been to have given Takishima the letter when they met in the road after the fight at Impey’s and there told him where he had found it and the circumstances. That might have seemed the logical thing to do, but after his fight with two policemen it was not likely the youngster would confess his guilt so readily.
Captain Rodgers was in his room at the hotel when the midshipmen returned. He was much perturbed over the non-arrival of his steward, who had been sent to the ship for some of his uniforms; fortunately the executive officer had sent his valises.
Captain Rodgers saw in the faces of the lads that something serious had occurred, and questioned them in open alarm.