The Honorable Henry Tillotson was much agitated. The night before he had been the honored guest of Count Kure, the great prime minister of Japan, and his impressions had been indeed reassuring. The prime minister had himself acknowledged the growing confidence with which diplomatic relations had proceeded. Then had come the account of the fight between sailors from the American cruiser and Japanese citizens, showing that ill feeling existed between the people of the two nations, a most disquieting sign. And this was the day for Captain Rodgers’ presentation to the Emperor. The President of the United States had sent by this special naval envoy an autograph letter to the Mikado, the contents of which no one, not even the Secretary of State in Washington, knew. The fact that there was a letter had leaked out in some mysterious way, but Captain Rodgers had never affirmed or denied its existence. Leaning back in his chair near the ambassador’s desk was Mr. Impey. A few scratches on his forehead, and a bandage about one wrist were the only outward signs of his struggles of the night before. “Your Excellency, I now have positive information of Japan’s intentions, and it is no less than a contemplated seizure, by force if necessary, of the entire new Chinese navy as soon as it has entered the Yellow Sea.” Impey’s voice was low, but in the still room the startling words caused the ambassador to glance uneasily about as if he feared the presence of an eavesdropper. “The proofs,” the ambassador exclaimed excitedly. “I dare not be mistaken if I should cable this to my government.” “I regret to say I have not the proofs. They were taken from me last night. I would have laid them before you, only for a misfortune. My house was entered last night by armed men who overpowered me. When I came to my senses the document was gone. It probably is now in the hands of the Japanese officials who lost it. The seal was broken, and knowing that I can translate the Japanese characters they will know that its contents are no longer a secret. My yacht is waiting me in Yokohama with steam up, for I dare not trust myself longer in Japan. I should now be on my way. My British citizenship would not save me.” Impey’s face showed his eagerness to be gone. “Cannot you tell me more fully what was in this document? This is a very grave situation, Mr. Impey, and my government is under great obligations to you for bringing this information to me. If you believe that your safety is endangered I shall be glad to offer you an asylum here in the legation or on board the ‘Alaska.’” The ambassador’s usually composed aspect had entirely vanished; nervously his fingers drummed on the desk, while his eyes flashed excitedly.