"Your Excellency," he began in an uncertain tone, "I find the thing difficult, perhaps unnecessary to impart. It has become already beyond the power of any one in office to advise." Ronsard showed interest. He tucked the cat farther out of sight, and said, "If you cannot tell, permit me to hazard a guess. Already Mamselle Onda has received important propositions?" Pierre nodded. He rose to his feet and began a restless walking. "You are far-seeing, your Excellency," he cried bitterly. "It is marriage offered from the worn voluptuary of your suggestion,--from Prince Sanétomo Hagané!" "Hagané!" echoed the other in a low, tense voice. "Though I said that name, Pierre, I scarcely thought it. He is no voluptuary--Mon Dieu!--but a cone of granite! As a parti for that girl, the mere daughter of a rusty samurai, the offer is brilliant, unprecedented! Of course the Onda family--" He paused in a sustained note of interrogation. "As you remark--her family!" sneered the other. "They will coerce her to the point of torture." Ronsard drew his fat lids closer about the brightening eyes. "How long has this been known to you?" "Since yesterday morning. I receive messages from my betrothed through Miss Todd." "Your betrothed is broken-hearted, of course, at the thought of severance from you?" "My betrothed assures me of her _faith_," said Pierre, with a defiant glance. "Ah, she will try it! Poor little devil!" "Monsieur, do not make me repent already." Pierre was angrily beginning, when Tsuna's voice at the door announced, "A letter for M. Le Beau." Ronsard answered. "Bring it in. Shut the door. Where is the chit-book?" "No chit-book or messenger came, your Excellency. It was brought in person by Sir Onda Tetsujo." "Ah! Does he wait?" "No, your Excellency. He turned very quickly. There is no answer." "Give it into the hands of Monsieur Le Beau and depart." "Brought by Onda, in person. It will throw light," murmured Ronsard. Pierre was fumbling and fidgeting at the top of the long, thin Japanese envelope. In an excess of childish impatience he tore it with his teeth. The cat lifted its head at the noise, but was pressed down instantly by the firm hand of its master. It sneezed indignantly, and went to sleep. Pierre, after two flashing readings, burst into a harsh laugh, threw the missive toward Ronsard, and then hurrying to a window, leaned his forehead to the cold glass. The note was in English, written on very thin Japanese rice-paper, six inches wide and perhaps a yard in length. A Japanese writing brush had evidently been used, for in the slow, painful composition the writer had lingered, sometimes for the following word or letter, and where the brush rested a small round blot had spread. It was dated that morning. It contained but one long sentence, built up of participial and relative clauses, as in all Japanese construction.