“We have received no such reports. The ships in the harbor are only medium class.”
“Likely the person has come in secret. He chose not to travel by imperial flagship so as to conceal his presence.”
Ito looked shocked. “You believe that Tsarevich Nicholas has returned to Japan?”
“I am not certain yet, but in light of Ambassador Shevich’s behavior the possibility is significant. For obvious reasons, I highly doubt the Emperor would be in Japan. The Crown Prince, however, might…”
Suddenly Sherlock stopped short. He raised a hand to restrain Ito.
There was a brick building in front of him, by which several men dressed in both frock coats and uniforms stood conversing. He recognized two of their faces.
Lt. Colonel Kanevsky was first to notice them. His face immediately froze. He leaned over and whispered to Shevich, who was next to Kanevsky in conversation with another person. Shevich immediately turned his eyes in their direction. His expression grew stony.
Sherlock heard him speaking in Russian to the other persons present. It seemed he had directed them to leave. The group dispersed until only Shevich and Kanevsky remained.
Ito walked toward the two men, bowing his head deeply. “Ambassador, thank you for your visit this morning.”
“What is this?” Shevich looked furious. “What would possess you to show your face here? I request that you leave immediately.”
“Strange,” Sherlock mused. “We are in Shinagawa Daiba, a section of Tokyo. Why should Chairman Ito be barred entry? Even considering that Russia has used its military force to illegitimately occupy the area.”
Shevich wheeled on the detective. “No one has given you permission to enter, Sherlock Holmes. It is just like one of the Queen’s rats, to slip in through a crack in the wall.”
“After learning of the Tsarevich’s presence, Chairman Ito and I thought to offer our greetings directly.”
Kanevsky spoke through gritted teeth. “Who told you that…”
Shevich checked him quickly. The lieutenant colonel clenched his jaw in mid-sentence.
Shevich glanced back and forth between the other two. “There must have been some sort of mistake. As you see, no imperial flagship is present in the harbor.”
“It is very suspicious that the Laskar has anchored in the center, as if it is being protected. Perhaps you care to explain?”
“Dead men should not ask so many questions. Do you want to be thrown into the brig?”
“Should anything happen to me, the British Empire will be informed of what has occurred.”
Shevich’s jaw twitched. Kanevsky fell silent as well. He cast a glance at Shevich.
It was a bluff, of course. There were advantages to their believing him to be a British spy, at least for the moment.
“Mr. Holmes,” Kanevsky grumbled at last. “The international community does not look kindly on spies who fake their death to travel overseas. As soon as we gather the requisite proof we will report you.”
“I wonder how the international community might look upon the illegal occupation of one of Japan’s ports.”
“We have paid to rent this space,” Shevich barked, evidently displeased. “The restrictions we have placed on ships moving through the harbor were also negotiated with Japan. Ask Chairman Ito.”
Sherlock glared. “By negotiation, I assume you mean threats of force. Europe and America will find it difficult to notice an invasion if you do it in stages. So long as I am present, however, it will not pass. London will hear of this.”
Shevich scratched his head. “Clearly we do not see eye to eye. What can we do at the moment, to end this meeting peacefully and convince you to leave the area?”
“I wish to know what actually occurred when Tsarevich Nicholas was attacked at Otsu.”
“Then you should ask Chairman Ito. You are aware, I presume, that the perpetrator was captured and is being held in Japan.”
“I don’t understand,” Ito said. “Russia was originally happy with the way events concluded. Why is the issue being brought back up?”
“Japan is to blame. The Tsarevich is outraged at your country’s failure to reach an appropriate judgment in Sanzo Tsuda’s case. The Emperor shares in his displeasure.”
“Has the Tsarevich’s injury worsened?”
“Nothing of the sort.”
“Then allow me to meet with the Tsarevich and receive his concerns in person.”
“Impossible. At present he will grant no audiences, not even with your Emperor himself. He is uninterested, as he says, in hearing from ‘the monkeys.’”
Sherlock laughed derisively. “Monkeys, you say. Indeed, there is something there. Why might the Tsarevich now detest the Japanese, when previously he searched the country for a wife?”
Ito also stood his ground, unconvinced. “If I cannot meet with His Highness, then I would like to speak with the Russian staff who travelled with him during his visit in May.”
“To what end?”
“To learn why the Tsarevich has changed his opinion,” Sherlock chimed in. “If we cannot meet with the Tsarevich himself, it is only logical that we should like to hear from those who travelled with and were close to him.”
“Perhaps you would like to fly to Greece and meet with Prince George,” Shevich said coldly. “As a ghost I am sure you can spirit yourself away at a moment’s notice.”
“I was hoping rather to impose on your good faith.”
Kanevsky pressed his lips together firmly and glanced again at Shevich.
The other man finally looked wry. “Chairman Ito, were I to grant your request and set up a meeting with the Tsarevich’s attendants, would you promise to keep this Englishman from sniffing about any further?”
Sherlock and Ito exchanged looks. “So be it,” Ito agreed, returning his attention to Shevich.
Shevich’s eyes glittered suspiciously in response. “As you know, last year, the Tsarevich began his tour of the Near East and Asia. Japan was his last port of call. His Russian attendants were chosen upon careful screening by the court. Would one of these attendants be acceptable?”
“So long as they actually travelled with the Tsarevich during his trip.”
“We will confirm the details in advance in writing. Once I receive your signature and seal, I will send the attendants to wait on you.”
“That will be acceptable. How long will you take?”
“We could be ready by this afternoon. You need only wait at the palace. One of my counsel will bring you the documents, and if all passes muster I will send the attendants forthwith.”
“So the attendants are in Japan now,” Sherlock mused, as though to himself.
Shevich turned on his heel, purposefully ignoring him. “Now. I would appreciate it if you leave this area immediately.”
Kanevsky cast Sherlock a bitter look as he took after Shevich. The two didn’t look back.
Ito sighed. “Let’s not provoke them any further. We should leave for now.”
“Yes, I suppose.” Sherlock stared at the nine ships, floating upon the water. “We have made progress, however. We now know that the central figure in this drama himself, Tsarevich Nicholas, is out there, waiting.”
15
Sherlock and Ito arrived at the Privy Council Chairman’s office at a little past one in the afternoon. The first person to meet them was the Russian legation’s legal counsel, who presented a document outlining Shevich’s previous stipulations and requested Ito’s signature and seal.
The counsel also brought photographs and dossiers for the two attendants they were to meet. The first was Soslan Chekhov, a collegiate assessor of the 8th rank, aged 46, a plump man with frizzy red hair and round glasses. He worked for the Ministry of State Property. Chekhov’s portly stature clearly indicated that he was a civil worker, rather than in the military. Though he had served as a staff officer for some time, he had apparently been chosen as one of Nicholas’ attendants primarily for his extensive ability in English, having studied overseas in England.