Anna looked confused. “Truly? But you seemed so interested in peace…”
“Of course I am.” Sherlock cleared his throat. “But I am a realist, that is all.”
The Chairman intervened. “What Mr. Holmes means to say is that it is probably best we not force Ambassadors Shevich and Fraser together unnecessarily, as the two are unlikely to get along.”
“Oh,” Anna said, uncertainly. “If you think that is best then I shall tell the ambassador so.”
Sherlock nodded. “Please do. And as Ambassador Fraser is very busy, if there is any information Ambassador Shevich would like to share with the British, I would be happy to make myself available in Ambassador Fraser’s place. I know that they are still awaiting confirmation about those reports of my death, but until then, should he have any use for my talents, I am sure that I could be of assistance—well, contingent upon any particulars, of course.”
Chekhov fixed his eyes on the English detective. “I’m pleased you say so. In truth, Ambassador Shevich was curious if you knew anything of a man named Olgert Bercerosky?”
“Bercerosky. I’m afraid it is the first time I am hearing that name.”
“I see. The Russian police, too, have uncovered very little beside his name. We know that he is an agitator for the Second International, and that he has taken cover in Japan—nothing more.”
The Second International—a worldwide socialist organization formed two years prior. Its predecessor, First International, had antagonized the Anarchists, who still exerted a strong influence in France, and been dissolved 15 years earlier as a result.
“The Second International advocates for issues such as 8-hour workdays and the formation of militias,” Ito said. “They are hardly extremists. They want May Day to be a public holiday, they organize labor movements… activities on that level. I don’t know what you mean by agitator, but he can hardly be dangerous.”
Chekhov’s eyes fell on Ito. “I can’t say for sure, but in addition to being a Marxist it seems this Bercerosky fellow believes in violent revolution. There is a rumor abroad that it was he who commissioned Sanzo Tsuda to assassinate Tsarevich Nicholas, and that he later murdered Tsuda after Tsuda’s failure, so as to prevent him from talking… Though in my opinion it all sounds rather fanciful.”
Anna smirked too. “Ambassador Shevich heard these rumors through the police, but ignored them. But last night seems to have shaken him. After he learned that Tsarevich Nicholas and His Highness Grand Duke George had switched places, I suppose now anything seems possible.”
Ito nodded, his expression composed. “I understand. I will pass the matter on to Police Chief Sonoda.”
Sherlock observed that Ito was certainly a skilled politician, with an impressive poker face. But he was likely quite alarmed by what he had just heard.
Tsuda’s death had yet to be publicly announced, though naturally the information had already been disclosed to the Russians. If Tsuda really had been assassinated, it was important they investigate this Bercerosky.
“One more thing if I may, while we are here,” Chekhov said. “Last night, after Tsarevich Nicholas returned to the Laskar, Ambassador Shevich wired to Russia. It was decided… We were hoping… that Japan might keep all this a secret? We would like to keep the fact that Tsarevich Nicholas and the Grand Duke switched places, as well as the Grand Duke’s condition, a secret from the world at large.”
Ito frowned. “I am surprised the ambassador would ask you two, who are resigning soon, to carry out such negotiations.”
“No, no, of course. Please give your answer directly to the ambassador. Ms. Luzhkova and I only wished to be of further use to our country.”
“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor even expressed his desire that Japan might accept some asset from Russia on his behalf,” Anna added.
Sherlock chuckled. “You mean to say that His Majesty wishes to inform us that, like the rickshaw drivers, our silence will be handsomely rewarded.”
“Yes.” Chekhov sounded a little sheepish. “Of course, money or land would prove difficult. I hope you understand.”
But Sherlock immediately thought of one thing that wasn’t land or money. A laugh escaped his lips.
Ito seemed to be on the same page. “Indeed,” he said to Chekhov, a twinkle in his eyes, “I think I know just what to request.”
“I’m afraid it won’t do very much good to tell us,” the other man said shyly. “It would be better if you spoke to Ambassador Shevich directly…”
“No,” Ito said, with a satisfied grin. “I believe the Russian Ministry of State Property is precisely the party with whom I need to speak.”
26
Two days a later, at a little past noon, there was something of a ceremony held in the Russian Ambassador’s office: An official signing, with Lt. Colonel Kanevsky and a number of soldiers in attendance. On the Japanese side there were ten people present, including Chairman Ito, Munemitsu Mutsu (the Minister of Commerce and Agriculture), and Police Chief Sonoda. Nicholas was not there.
Sherlock watched from a corner as Ambassador Shevich and Minister Mutsu signed at a desk in the middle of the room.
Kanevsky looked at Sherlock occasionally, not without a pained expression, but made no attempt to chase him from the room. Under the circumstances, their previous agreement appeared to be moot.
Once the signing was finished, Shevich and Mutsu stood. Chekhov and Anna immediately entered, together carrying a book so large it would have been impossible for one person to handle. The volume was bound in red leather with gold leaf, and the title was embossed in Russian. It was a copy of the latest edition of The Complete Work on Russian Natural Sciences.
“I present this book to you as a sign of our good faith, and of the friendship between Russia and Japan,” Shevich said to Mutsu, in English.
Two Japanese officials stepped forward and received the book.
“Ambassador Shevich,” said Mutsu, obviously pleased, “you have my deepest gratitude. Our country is at a great deficit in regards to the natural sciences. This book shall provide a tremendous boost to our research.”
Shevich’s own smile was wry. “I am happy to be of use. But you should be thanking Mr. Chekhov and Ms. Luzhkova, who persuaded the Ministry of State Property to agree to the trade.”
“If you have difficulty translating any of the passages,” Chekhov said, his smile as wide as his face, “collect all the questions together and we’ll handle them. I’m delighted we were able to share this book with you.”
His emotion was understandable, considering that this was his last official act in government. And it was no small achievement, at that. Anna, too, had been moved to tears.
Afterwards, the room hummed with relaxed conversation. Police Chief Sonoda approached. “Mr. Holmes. You must forgive my rudeness. When we met earlier at the Chairman’s house I did not realize that I was meeting the Sherlock Holmes. I heard that you had passed away.”
Sherlock looked around to see if anyone was listening, and then placed his index finger to his mouth. “Until the article erroneously reporting my death can be corrected, I hope that your police department will refrain from contacting Scotland Yard.”
“I assure you I understand. Chairman Ito was quite insistent on that point, as well.”
“Chairman Ito appears very concerned over maintaining a separation of powers and modernizing Japan, but I see that he is more than capable of influencing the police force,” Sherlock teased lightly.