Phil went back to his room, much pleased with his success. “You said that this would serve your end too?” Phil asked Impey, as he arose to go after giving the midshipman a letter to the captain of the yacht, and the official document that would turn over the Chinese ships to the American navy. “The United States is a better paymaster than Japan,” Impey replied again seating himself coolly, “and we’d rather have your country to deal with in China than the Japanese. Whichever nation gets the ships, war will be certain, and if the United States is successful Japan will cease to be a factor in the Orient.” Impey arose again to go while the midshipmen regarded him in blank surprise. They could not help admiring the man’s self-possession. “I shall not offer to shake hands,” he said with a cynical smile of satisfaction at the success of his proposal. “We need not consider ourselves under the slightest obligation to each other. The expenses of the yacht will be paid by my syndicate through the captain of the ‘Sylvia.’ And now I wish you success as I wish it for myself.” The door closed after him while Phil and Sydney sat gazing stupidly at each other. “Well, of all the cast-iron nerves,” Sydney exclaimed, after he had collected his scattered wits. “Did you hear him speak of his syndicate?” “Captain Rodgers judged the man rightly this afternoon,” Phil replied gravely. “He represents moneyed interests in Europe which are anxious to see the United States and Japan clash in a struggle which would leave both nations prostrated both physically and financially, and then the European vultures could come and pick the bones.” Sydney had already commenced to pack up his clothes into his valises and Phil quickly followed. “No time should be lost, Phil,” Sydney exclaimed. “I’ll go and order the carriage and get the porter.” An hour later the two lads bade farewell to the ambassador and his daughter. Phil told him of their mission and the ambassador listened with open admiration at the daring of the plan. “The situation is very acute,” Mr. Tillotson said soberly. “The yellow journals in America are arousing the country to war. They insist that in refusing the audience to Captain Rodgers with the Emperor, our country has been grossly insulted, and this has been reported throughout the land. The studied secrecy of Japan has quite upset America. They don’t know what to believe. If you are successful I hope our countrymen may again find their heads.” “Is this all in the Japanese papers?” Phil asked.