“Except what?” she asked quickly. [Illustration: _“EXCEPT WHAT” SHE ASKED_] “Oh, nothing,” Phil began, and then after a second’s thought he changed his mind. Why should he not tell? Every one near them was busy talking and no one could possibly overhear. “Impey said that he had an order signed by the Wai-Wu-Pu, to turn over the Chinese squadron to the Americans, and wanted me to take his yacht, the ‘Sylvia,’ and beat the Japanese ships south. You know that we think they have gone with Captain Inaba to seize the Chinese squadron off Singapore Straits.” “Why don’t you tell that to father?” she asked. “Impey assured us that your father already knew of this letter from the Wai-Wu-Pu,” Phil returned. Before the girl could answer, her neighbor on the other side claimed her attention, much to Phil’s chagrin, and he unconsciously frowned in the direction of Lieutenant Winston, the intruder. “Our friend Impey has been watching you very closely, Perry,” Takishima said in a low voice as Phil turned away from Helen’s averted face. “Watching us both, I imagine,” he replied. “A much colored account of our little misunderstanding this afternoon will probably figure prominently in the ‘Shimbunshi’ to-morrow,” he added in concern. “I’ve seen to that,” Takishima assured him. “The ‘Shimbunshi’ has been suppressed by the prime minister’s order. And all cablegrams from the country are being censored, and nothing can be sent in cipher.” “I wish you could persuade your minister to recall Captain Inaba,” Phil urged earnestly. “Captain Rodgers believes that if he seizes the ships a war may still be the outcome.” After the dinner was over Phil and Sydney maneuvered to have a quiet talk with Takishima. A bold plan, the seed of which had been sown in Phil’s mind by Impey’s proposal to use the yacht, had occurred to the midshipman. Phil was not sure the “Sylvia” would be allowed to leave Yokohama harbor, but a word from the Japanese lieutenant would be enough. Helen was taken into the conspiracy, and with the three classmates quietly stole away to a sun parlor in the back of the legation. “No one will find us here,” Helen whispered breathlessly, her face showing keen excitement. Phil, remembering Takishima’s promise to be open and frank with him, began by asking the question that seemed to be the most important to clear up. “Have your war-ships been given orders to prevent the sailing of the ‘Alaska’?” Takishima’s eyes opened in mild surprise. “How could you believe that Japan would be so impolite?” he replied. “Who is responsible for such a rumor?” “Impey, of course,” Phil returned, smilingly, “the source of all our misinformation. “But,” Phil persisted, “if the ‘Alaska’ should leave now and send a wireless to the American fleet in Manila to take the Chinese ships, Captain Inaba’s mission would fail.” Takishima was thoughtful.