While Impey was speaking a messenger quietly entered the office, handing Captain Inaba an envelope which he eagerly opened. “The ambassador has our secret,” the naval officer exclaimed. “Here are his cipher cables to Washington and Manila. They must contain the secret. The code is too difficult for us to translate, so I must act as if the letter had been read by the Americans. All cables by my orders are being held up by the cable operators until it is too late for them to harm us. That we are determined to secure at once the ships of the new China navy will not be known by the United States government until the ships are in our hands.” The turn affairs had taken was a great blow to Impey. His single aim, for which he had even risked his life, for he feared a fanatic’s knife if his duplicity was made public, was that the United States should be forced to seize the Chinese ships. Everything had been designed to lead up to this crowning event. “Will you seize the ships at once?” Impey exclaimed, striving to inject a gladness into his voice which he was far from feeling. The presence of the “Alaska” came suddenly into Impey’s mind. She could not be stopped, and once away could send the secret by wireless to Guam, Honolulu, and thence to the United States. So after all his cause was not entirely lost. “I shall advise sailing at once to intercept the Chinese squadron,” Captain Inaba answered promptly. “Have you the release from the Wai-Wu-Pu ready--for we do not wish to appear to seize the ships?” “It has not come from Peking,” Impey replied. “It was not thought that such haste would be necessary. I expect it in a few days.” “Then we shall proceed without it,” Captain Inaba exclaimed. “The Chinese admiral will hardly risk a fight against our formidable fleet.” Impey had quite regained his natural humor. He had been given a severe fright, but he thought Captain Inaba’s suspicions toward himself had been successfully allayed. The yacht was ready to sail, and the permit from the Wai-Wu-Pu, the throne council of China, for the United States to take the entire new navy from the Chinese crews was in Impey’s possession at that moment. The “Alaska” could sail from Yokohama, and send the important news of Japan’s intentions of seizing the Chinese ships. The yacht with her high speed could carry ahead the permit to the United States admiral in Manila Bay. “Japan is indeed fortunate, Captain Inaba, in the possession of an officer who so successfully combines the qualities of a strategist, diplomat and international detective. I take off my hat to you, sir.” Impey pronounced his words with great precision. No sign of the nervousness which earlier had been apparent was evident. He was as yet safe from Captain Inaba’s suspicion. With that thought bringing a smile to his lips he bowed himself out of the office. CHAPTER XI PHIL CONFESSES