Inaba gazed in surprise at this fellow countryman in an American steward’s uniform. He knew of course that there were many of his people so employed, but there was something singularly familiar about this man’s face. Sago kept his eyes lowered, and his head hung down in sign of humility before this powerful adviser to the Minister of Marine. “What is it? Speak, man!” Inaba commanded. Sago looked guardedly around the office, assuring himself there were no other ears but his and his questioner. “Your augustness,” Sago began meekly, bowing again and sucking in his breath, “I have at last found great joy in being able to help my country. Years ago I wronged her, and have paid dearly for it by my self-inflicted exile.” Inaba approached close to the humble and penitent man and gazed long into his averted face. “I am waiting,” he said quietly. “Your face comes back to me out of the dim past, but I know you not.” “Do you remember Raku? He who allowed the war plans to be stolen, and who fled rather than face the disgrace, and who was too cowardly to take his own worthless life in atonement?” Sago raised his eyes and for a second dared to look into Inaba’s face. “And you have been all these years in exile?” Inaba asked kindly, his voice low, thrilled with wonder. “Did you not hear that the plans were not stolen? The thieves carried away nothing valuable. The plans had been removed the night before by the Minister of Marine himself, and placed in a safer vault. Those very plans were used successfully in our late war.” Sago’s care-worn, wizened face broke into lines of joy, and into his eyes tears rushed unbidden. “My guilt was no less, augustness. I slept when I should have been watching,” he said penitently. “And for this I gave up my country and the companionship of my blood and have lived among aliens. They have always been kind, and I love them next to my own people. Augustness, then you were a mere stripling in the office of the minister; now you have become the giant oak upon whom the nation leans for support. Your brain is the oracle on naval tactics and strategy; where before you followed, now you lead.” Inaba smiled, and in his eyes there was a look of joy. “Raku, I am but the clay in the hands of the sculptor. All my achievements have been possible only through the virtue of His Majesty, our Emperor.” Both men bowed almost to the ground as the magic words were spoken. Sago drew nearer and spoke quickly and earnestly while Inaba listened, his anxious face becoming more tranquil as the minutes went by. There was no interruption.