The midshipmen quietly withdrew, seeing that their presence was a source of embarrassment. They found O’Neil and Marley waiting for them, having engaged and held four rikishas. All thoughts of the ambassador’s reception had quite passed out of the lads’ minds, so they were soon on their way to their hotel as quickly as their coolies could carry them, the sailors bringing up the rear. “What is it, Marley?” Sydney asked as Marley signed them to stop as they alighted and were entering the hotel. “We’ve got something important to show you,” O’Neil said mysteriously, his face grave, while Marley nodded soberly. “Come along then,” Phil answered, leading the way through a side entrance which opened on the court near the rooms assigned the American naval officers. O’Neil closed the door quietly, while Marley nervously put his hand within his sailor blouse and produced the big envelope which he had hidden within. Phil took the proffered letter in silence. “The ‘Shimbunshi,’” he read aloud. “Why, that’s for a Japanese newspaper published in Tokyo. Where did you get it?” he asked. Marley had turned red and was stammering incoherently. O’Neil came to his rescue. “It was lying in the street just before we hit the crowd, sir, and Marley picked it up. I advised him to keep it snug.” “But we must send it to its address; we have no right to keep it.” Phil’s voice was indignant. “Just as you say, sir,” O’Neil answered without emotion. “You notice, sir, it is unsealed.” Phil was devoured with curiosity to read the contents. The scene in the hallway of the navy building now took on a new aspect. The injured man was Inaba’s messenger. So ran Phil’s thoughts. He had been entrusted with this letter. He had lost it. That surely was the cause of the perturbation of the Japanese naval men. Some naval secret, perhaps, but undoubtedly in Japanese, which they could not read. The more honorable thing to do would be to go back post-haste and deliver the letter to the Japanese navy department. “It’s in English, sir, and it’s about us.” Marley had found his tongue during the silence. “I stole a look while you were in the building.” Phil’s curiosity had beaten down all scruples of honesty, and his eyes were running rapidly over the words of the letter. At first only amusement showed in his face, but it soon gave place to surprised indignation and anger. CHAPTER V WHO WROTE THE LETTER? “Well, if this isn’t the most barefaced treachery!” Phil exclaimed angrily, as he handed the letter to Sydney. O’Neil and Marley stood, caps in hand, both eager to hear all within the letter. They received it in their turn, and both, according to their way, displayed the anger they felt. “Say nothing of this to any one,” Phil counseled as the sailors moved toward the door. “And, by the way, O’Neil,” he added, “you saw the driver of the motor and also the man who got in with him.” O’Neil nodded eagerly. “See if you and Marley can find out their business here in Tokyo.”