Even Lieutenant Winston was not taken into confidence by the midshipmen. They both rather feared his scepticism. To them the adventures had become of great importance, and Winston’s remarks could have only thrown cold water upon their boyish enthusiasm. “Syd, I believe we have hit upon a big thing,” Phil exclaimed, while they were dressing for the evening. “This fellow Impey is a clever rogue, I feel sure of that. He may even be in the pay of Japan. That may account for his friendliness with such important personages as Captain Inaba and the Baron of the railroad train.” “What can be his object?” Sydney returned questioningly. “He must have strong reasons or else a large salary to serve as an agitator of that kind. A man must be pretty far in disrepute to be willing to play the part of a blackmailer, even if the blackmail is directed upon a government and not an individual.” The prime minister’s summer home had been made into a veritable fairy-land for this grand ball in honor of the American naval officers. Every available officer from the “Alaska” was there by nine o’clock, dressed in full uniform. The court set of Tokyo was all present. The Emperor was represented by the princes and princesses of the blood, who remained seated while the guests bowed before them. Phil and Sydney had been greeted by Lieutenant Takishima almost immediately on their arrival, and to the lads he seemed like his old self in Annapolis days as he insisted on leading them by the hand around the great ballroom, introducing them to one young girl after another. “By Jove! Taki, you’re as much a fusser as ever,” Phil exclaimed good-naturedly as they arrived at their starting point; the midshipmen meanwhile having engaged several dances. “I am very fond of talking to your women,” Takishima answered seriously; “they are so quick, so witty; not like our women, who are not allowed to form opinions of anything outside of the household; but I do not dare to dance with them; they are so tall and I am so short. It would make me look so funny. “Captain Inaba asks me to say he is very sorry for his brusqueness to you this afternoon,” the officer continued, his voice showing a trace of embarrassment. “He did not come himself. The man Oka was on an important mission, and he lost a valuable paper which has not yet been recovered.” Phil and Sydney strove hard to control their faces, and attempted to appear only solicitous for the loss. “I quite understood,” Phil commenced, then he blushed and stammered for fear of arousing Takishima’s suspicion. The paper the sailors had found had not as yet been explained. “I mean, I thought it was natural that he should be abrupt with that poor fellow lying there hurt by our recklessness,” he explained quickly.