"Is that the same as the gai-jin here speak?"' "Yes Sire, yes more or les--"' "When you came to see the American Harris were you shaven or unshaven?"' "Unshaven, Sire, I had a trimmed beard like most sailors, Sire, and let my hair grow like theirs and tied into a pigtail and knotted with tar."
"Who did you meet with this gai-jin Harris?"' "Just him, Sire, just for an hour or so, and one of his staff, I don't remember his name."
Once more Yoshi weighed the dangers of his plan: to go to the meeting disguised, without Council approval, and to use this man as a spy, to overhear the enemy secretly. Perhaps Misamoto is a spy already, for gai-jin, he thought grimly, as all his interrogators believe. Certainly he's a liar, his story far too smooth, his eyes too cunning, and he's like a fox when off guard.
"Very well. Later I want to know everything you have learned, everything and... do you read and write?"' "Yes, Lord, but only a little in the English."
"Good. I have a use for you. If you obey exactly and please me, I will review your case. If you fail me, however slightly, you-will-wish-you-had-not."
He explained what he wanted, assigned him teachers, and when his guards had returned Misamoto yesterday clean-shaven, his hair dressed like a samurai's, and wearing the clothes of an official with two swords though these were false and without blades, he had not recognized him.
"Good. Walk up and down."
Misamoto obeyed and Yoshi was impressed how quickly the man had learned an erect posture as the teacher had shown him, not the correct, normal servile attitude of a fisherman.
Too quickly, he thought, convinced now that Misamoto was more, or less, than he wanted others to see.
"You understand clearly what you are to do?"' "Yes, Sire, I swear I won't fail you, Sire."
"I know, my guards have orders to kill you the instant you leave my side, or become clumsy, or... indiscreet."
"We'll stop for ten minutes," Sir William said wearily. "Tell them, Johann."
"They ask why?" Johann Favrod, the Swiss interpreter yawned.
"Pardon. Seems they think they've discussed all the points etc. etc., that they'll carry back your message etc. etc. and meet again at Kanagawa with the reply from on high etc. etc. in about sixty days as suggested earlier etc. etc."
The Russian muttered, "Let me have the fleet for a day, and I'll solve these matyeryebitz and this whole problem."
"Quite," Sir William agreed, adding in fluent Russian, "sorry, my dear Count, but we're here for a diplomatic solution, preferably." Then in English, "Show them where to wait, Johann. Shall we, gentlemen?" He got up, bowed stiffly, and led the way into a waiting room. As he passed Phillip Tyrer he said, "Stay with them, keep your eyes and ears open."
All the Ministers headed for the tall chamber pot that was in the corner of their anteroom. "My God," Sir William said thankfully.
"Thought my bloody bladder would pop."
Lun came in leading other servants with trays. "Heya, Mass'er. Tea-ah, sam'wich-ah!" He jerked a disdainful thumb towards the other room. "All same give monkees, heya?"
"You'd better not let them hear you say that, by God. Perhaps some of them speak pidgin."
Lun stared at him. "Wat say, Mass'er?"
"Oh never mind."
Lun went out laughing to himself.
"Well, gentlemen, as expected, progress zero."
Seratard was lighting his pipe, Andr`e Poncin beside him, carelessly pleased with Sir William's discomfiture. "What do you propose to do, Sir William?"
"What's your advice?"
"It is a British problem, only partially French. If it was entirely mine I would have already settled it with French elan--on the day it happened."
"But of course, mein Herr, you would need an equally fine fleet," von Heimrich said curtly.
"Of course. In Europe we have many, as you know. And if it was Imperial French policy to be here in strength as our British allies, we would have had one or two fleets here."
"Yes, well..." Sir William was tired. "It's clear that your collective advice is to be tough with them?"
"Rough and tough," Count Zergeyev said.
"Ja."
"Of course," Seratard agreed. "I thought that's what you had already in mind, Sir William."
The Minister munched on a sandwich and finished his tea. "All right. I'll close the meeting now, reconvene for ten tomorrow, with an ultimatum: a meeting with the Shogun within a week, the murderers, the indemnity or else--with, er, of course your joint approval."
Seratard said, "I suggest, Sir William, given it might be difficult for them to deliver a meeting with the Shogun, why not keep that for later until we have reinforcements--and real cause for a meeting with him. After all, this exercise is a show of force to correct an evil, not to implement Imperial policy, yours or ours."
"Wise," the Prussian said reluctantly.
Sir William pondered the reasons behind the suggestion but could find no fault or hidden hazard. "Very well. We'll demand an "early meeting" with the Shogun. Agreed?"
They nodded. "Excuse me, Sir William," Andr`e Poncin said pleasantly, "may I suggest that I tell them your decision-- for you to begin the meeting and then close it at once would be somewhat of a loss of face. Yes?"
"Very wise, Andr`e," Seratard said. As far as the others knew, Poncin was just an occasional trader with some knowledge of Japanese customs, a smattering of Japanese, a personal friend and occasional interpreter. In reality Poncin was a highly regarded spy employed to uncover and neutralize all British, German, and Russian endeavors in the Japans. "Eh, Sir William?"
"Yes," Sir William said thoughtfully.
"Yes, you're right, Andr`e, thank you, I shouldn't do it myself. Lun!"
The door opened instantly. "Heya, Mass'er?"
"Fetch young Mass'er Tyrer quick quick!" Then to the others, "Tyrer can do it for me. As it's a British problem."
When Phillip Tyrer returned to the other reception room overlooking the forecourt, he went up to Johann with as much dignity as he could muster. The Bakufu officials paid no attention and continued chatting, Yoshi sightly apart.
Misamoto was beside him--the only one not talking.
"Johann, give them Sir William's compliments and tell them today's unsatisfactory meeting is adjourned and they are to reconvene tomorrow at ten for what he expects will be a satisfactory conclusion to this unwarranted affair: the murderers, the indemnity and a guaranteed, early meeting with the Shogun or else."
Johann blanched. "Just like that?"
"Yes, exactly like that." Tyrer was also tired of the shilly-shallying, constantly reminded of John Canterbury's violent death, Malcolm Struan's serious wounds and Angelique's terror. "Tell them!"
He watched Johann deliver the short ultimatum in guttural Dutch. The Japanese interpreter flushed and began the lengthy translation as Tyrer studied the officials carefully without appearing to do so. Four were attentive, the last was not, the small man with narrow eyes and callused hands that he had noticed earlier--all other hands were well groomed. Again this man began whispering to the youngest and most handsome official, Watanabe, as he had been doing from time to time all day.