you had asked me that question a month ago,
Mr. Haviland, I might have replied to you differently. Circumstances,
however, since then have changed. My departure will take place so
soon, and the kindness I have met here from all of you has been so
overwhelming, that if you will let me I should like to speak of certain
things concerning which no written communication could ever pass between
our two countries."

"I can assure you, my dear Prince, that we shall very much appreciate
your doing so," Mr. Haviland declared.

"I think," the Prince continued, "that the greatest and the most subtle
of all policies is the policy of perfect truthfulness. Listen to me,
then. The thing which you have in your mind concerning me is true. Two
years I have spent in this country and in other countries of Europe.
These two years have not been spent in purposeless travel. On the
contrary, I have carried with me always a definite and very fixed
purpose."

The Prime Minister and Bransome exchanged rapid glances.

"That has been our belief from the first," Bransome remarked.

"I came to Europe," the Prince continued gravely, "to make a report to
my cousin the Emperor of Japan as to whether I believed that a renewal
of our alliance with you would be advantageous to my country. I need not
shrink from discussing this matter with you now, for my report is made.
It is, even now, on its way to the Emperor."

There was a moment's silence, a silence which in this corner of the
great room seemed marked with a certain poignancy. It was the Prime
Minister who broke it.

"The report," he said, "is out of your hands. The official decision of
your Government will reach us before long. Is there any reason why you
should not anticipate that decision, why you should not tell us frankly
what your advice was?"

"There is no reason," the Prince answered. "I will tell you. I owe that
to you at least. I have advised the Emperor not to renew the treaty."

"Not to renew," the Prime Minister echoed.

This time the silence was portentous. It was a blow, and there was not
one of the three men who attempted to hide his dismay.

"I am afraid," the Prince continued earnestly, "that to you I must
seem something of an ingrate. I have been treated by every one in this
country as the son of a dear friend. The way has been made smooth for me
everywhere. Nothing has been hidden. From all quarters I have received
hospitality which I shall never forget. But you are th