The Illustrious Prince

by E. Phillips Oppenheim

  CHAPTER XX. THE ANSWER

  Mr. Coulson moved his cigar into a corner of his mouth, as though toobtain a clear view of his questioner's face. His expression was one ofbland interest.

  "Well, I guess you've got me puzzled, Sir Edward," he said. "You aren'tthinking of doing anything in woollen machinery, are you?"

  Sir Edward smiled.

  "I think not, Mr. Coulson," he answered. "At any rate, my question hadnothing to do with your other very interesting avocation. What I wantedto ask you was whether you could tell me anything about a compatriot ofyours--a Mr. Hamilton Fynes?"

  "Hamilton Fynes!" Mr. Coulson repeated thoughtfully. "Why, that's theman who got murdered on the cars, going from Liverpool to London."

  "That is so," Sir Edward admitted.

  Mr. Coulson shook his head.

  "I told that reporter fellow all I knew about him," he said. "He was anunsociable sort of chap, you know, Sir Edward, and he wasn't in any lineof business."

  "H'm! I thought he might have been," the Minister answered, glancingkeenly for a moment at his visitor. "To tell you the truth, Mr. Coulson,we have been a great deal bothered about that unfortunate incident,and by the subsequent murder of the young man who was attached to yourEmbassy here. Scotland Yard has strained every nerve to bring the guiltypeople to justice, but so far unsuccessfully. It seems to me thatyour friends on the other side scarcely seem to give us credit for ourexertions. They do not help us in the least. They assure us that theyhad no knowledge of Mr. Fynes other than has appeared in the papers.They recognize him only as an American citizen going about hislegitimate business. A little more confidence on their part would, Ithink, render our task easier."

  Mr. Coulson scratched his chin for a moment thoughtfully.

  "Well," he said, "I can understand their feeling a bit sore about it.I'm not exactly given to brag when I'm away from my own country--onehears too much of that all the time--but between you and me, I shouldn'tsay that it was possible for two crimes like that to be committed in NewYork City and for the murderer to get off scot free in either case."

  "The matter," Sir Edward declared, "has given us a great deal ofanxiety, and I can assure you that the Home Secretary himself has takena strong personal interest in it, but at the same time, as I have justpointed out to you, our investigations are rendered the more difficultfrom the fact that we cannot learn anything definite concerning thisMr. Hamilton Fynes or his visit to this country. Now, if we knew, forinstance," Sir Edward continued, "that he was carrying documents, oreven a letter, similar to the one you have just handed to me, we mightat once discover a motive to the crime, and work backwards until wereached the perpetrator."

  Mr. Coulson knocked the ash from his cigar.

  "I see what you are driving at," he said. "I am sorry I can be of noassistance to you, Sir Edward."

  "Neither in the case of Mr. Hamilton Fynes or in the case of Mr. RichardVanderpole?" Sir Edward asked.

  Mr. Coulson shook his head.

  "Quite out of my line," he declared.

  "Notwithstanding the fact," Sir Edward reminded him quietly, "that youwere probably the last person to see Vanderpole alive? He came to theSavoy to call upon you before he got into the taxicab where he wasmurdered. That is so, isn't it?"

  "Sure!" Mr. Coulson answered. "A nice young fellow he was, too. Well setup, and real American manners,--Hail, fellow, well met!' with you rightaway."

  "I suppose, Mr. Coulson," the Minister suggested smoothly, "it wouldn'tanswer your purpose to put aside that bluff about patents for thedevelopment of the woollen trade for a few moments, and tell me exactlywhat passed between you and Mr. Vanderpole at the Savoy Hotel, and theobject of his calling upon you? Whether, for instance, he took away withhim documents or papers intended for the Embassy and which you yourselfhad brought from America?"

  "You do think of things!" Mr. Coulson remarked admiringly. "You're onthe wrong track this time, though, sure. Still, supposing I were ableto tell you that Mr. Vanderpole was carrying papers of importance to mycountry, and that Mr. Hamilton Fynes was also in possession of the sameclass of document, how would it help you? In what fresh direction shouldyou look then for the murderers of these two men?"

  "Mr. Coulson," Sir Edward said, "we should consider the nature of thosedocuments, and we should see to whose advantage it was that they weresuppressed."

  Mr. Coulson's face seemed suddenly old and lined. He spoke with a newvigor, and his eyes were very keen and bright under his bushy eyebrows.

  "And supposing it was your country's?" he asked. "Supposing theycontained instructions to our Ambassador which you might considerinimical to your interests? Do you mean that you would look at home forthe murderer? You mean that you have men so devoted to their native landthat they were willing to run the risk of death by the hangman to aidher? You mean that your Secret Service is perfected to that extent, andthat the scales of justice are held blindfolded? Or do you mean thatScotland Yard would have its orders, and that these men would go free?"

  "I was not thinking of my own country," Sir Edward admitted. "I mustconfess that my thoughts had turned elsewhere."

  "Let me tell you this, sir," Mr. Coulson continued. "I should imaginethat the trouble with Washington, if there is any, is simply thatthey will not believe that your police have a free hand. They will notbelieve that you are honestly and genuinely anxious for the discoveryof the perpetrator of these crimes. I speak without authority, youunderstand? I am no more in a position to discuss this affair than anyother tourist from my country who might happen to come along."

  Sir Edward shrugged his shoulders.

  "Can you suggest any method," he asked a little dryly, "by means ofwhich we might remove this unfortunate impression?"

  Mr. Coulson flicked the ash once more from the end of his cigar andlooked at it thoughtfully.

  "This isn't my show," he said, "and, you understand, I am giving theviews of Mr. James B. Coulson, and nobody but Mr. James B. Coulson, butif I were in your position, and knew that a friendly country wasfeeling a little bit sore at having two of her citizens disposed of sounceremoniously, I'd do my best to prove, by the only possible means,that I was taking the matter seriously."

  "The only possible means being?" Sir Edward asked.

  "I guess I'd offer a reward," Mr. Coulson admitted.

  Sir Edward did not hesitate for a moment.

  "Your idea is an excellent one, Mr. Coulson," he said. "It has alreadybeen mooted, but we will give it a little emphasis. Tomorrow we willoffer a reward of one thousand pounds for any information leading to theapprehension of either murderer."

  "That sounds bully," Mr. Coulson declared.

  "You think that it will have a good effect upon your friends inWashington?"

  "Me?" Mr. Coulson asked. "I know nothing about it. I've given you mypersonal opinion only. Seems to me, though, it's the best way of showingthat you're in earnest."

  "Before we quit this subject finally, Mr. Coulson," Sir Edward said, "Iam going to ask you a question which you have been asked before."

  "Referring to Hamilton Fynes?" Mr. Coulson asked.

  "Yes!"

  "Get your young man to lay his hand on that copy of the Comet," Mr.Coulson begged earnestly. "I told that pushing young journalist all Iknew and a bit more. I assure you, my information isn't worth anything."

  "Was it meant to be worth anything?" Sir Edward asked.

  Mr. Coulson remained imperturbable.

  "If you don't mind, Sir Edward," he said, "I guess we'll drop thesubject of Mr. Hamilton Fynes. We can't get any forwarder. Let it go atthat."

  There was a knock at the door. Sir Edward's secretary ushered in a tall,plainly dressed gentleman, who had the slightly aggrieved air of a manwho has been kept out of his bed beyond the usual time.

  "My dear Bransome," he said, shaking hands, "isn't this a littleunreasonable of you? Business at this hour of the night! I was in themidst of a most amusing conversation with a delightful acquaintanceof your wife's, a young
lady who turned up her nose at Hegel and haddeveloped a philosophy of her own. I was just beginning to grasp itsfirst principles. Nothing else, I am quite sure, would have kept meawake."

  Sir Edward leaned across the table towards Mr. Coulson. Mr. Coulson hadrisen to his feet.

  "This gentleman," he said, "is Mr. Smith."

  The newcomer opened his lips to protest, but Sir Edward held out hishand.

  "One moment," he begged. "Our friend here--Mr. J. B. Coulson fromNew York--has brought a letter from America. He is sailingtomorrow,--leaving London somewhere about eight o'clock in the morning,I imagine. He wishes to take back a verbal reply. The letter, you willunderstand, comes from a Mr. Jones, and the reply is delivered in thepresence of--Mr. Smith. Our friend here is not personally concernedin these affairs. As a matter of fact, I believe he has been on theContinent exploiting some patents of his own invention."

  The newcomer accepted the burden of his altered nomenclature and took upthe letter. He glanced at the signature, and his manner became at oncemore interested. He accepted the chair which Sir Edward had placed byhis side, and, drawing the electric light a little nearer, read thedocument through, word by word. Then he folded it up, and glanced firstat his colleague and afterwards at Mr. Coulson.

  "I understand," he said, "that this is a private inquiry from a privategentleman, who is entitled, however, to as much courtesy as it ispossible for us to show him."

  "That is exactly the position, sir," Mr. Coulson replied. "Negotiationsof a more formal character are naturally conducted between your ForeignOffice and the Foreign Office of my country. These few lines come fromman to man. I think that it occurred to my friend that it might save agreat deal of trouble, a great deal of specious diplomacy, and a greatmany hundred pages of labored despatches, if, at the bottom of it all,he knew your true feelings concerning this question. It is, after all,a simple matter," Mr. Coulson continued, "and yet it is a matter withso many ramifications that after much discussion it might become averitable chaos."

  Mr. Smith inclined his head gently.

  "I appreciate the situation," he said. "My friend here--Sir EdwardBransome--and I have already discussed the matter at great length. Wehave also had the benefit of the advice and help of a greater ForeignMinister than either of us could ever hope to become. I see no objectionto giving you the verbal reply you ask for. Do you, Bransome?"

  "None whatever, sir."

  "I leave it to you to put it in your own words," Mr. Smith continued."The affair is within your province, and the policy of His Majesty'sMinisters is absolutely fixed."

  Sir Edward turned toward their visitor.

  "Mr. Coulson," he said, "we are asked by your friend, in a few plainwords, what the attitude of Great Britain would be in the event of a warbetween Japan and America. My answer--our answer--to you is this,--nowar between Japan and America is likely to take place unless yourCabinet should go to unreasonable and uncalled-for extremes. We haveascertained, beyond any measure of doubt, the sincere feeling of ourally in this matter. Japan does not desire war, is not preparing for it,is unwilling even to entertain the possibility of it. At the same timeshe feels that her sons should receive the same consideration from everynation in the world as the sons of other people. Personally it is ourprofound conviction that the good sense, the fairness, and the generousinstincts of your great country will recognize this and act accordingly.War between your country and Japan is an impossible thing. The thoughtof it exists only in the frothy vaporings of cheap newspapers, and thesensational utterances of the catch politician who must find an audienceand a hearing by any methods. The sober possibility of such a conflictdoes not exist."

  Mr. Coulson listened attentively to every word. When Sir Edward hadfinished, he withdrew his cigar from his mouth and knocked the ash on toa corner of the writing table.

  "That's all very interesting indeed, Sir Edward," he declared. "I amvery pleased to have heard what you have said, and I shall repeat it tomy friend on the other side, who, I am sure, will be exceedinglyobliged to you for such a frank exposition of your views. And now," hecontinued, "I don't want to keep you gentlemen up too late, so perhapsyou will be coming to the answer of my question."

  "The answer!" Sir Edward exclaimed. "Surely I made myself clear?"

  "All that you have said," Mr. Coulson admitted, "has been remarkablyclear, but the question I asked you was this,--what is to be theposition of your country in the event of war between Japan and America?"

  "And I have told you," Sir Edward declared, "that war between Japan andAmerica is not a subject within the scope of practical politics."

  "We may consider ourselves--my friend Mr. Jones would certainly considerhimself," Mr. Coulson affirmed,--"as good a judge as you, Sir Edward, sofar as regards that matter. I am not asking you whether it is probableor improbable. You may know the feelings of your ally. You do not knowours. We may look into the future, and we may see that, sooner or later,war between our country and Japan is a necessity. We may decide thatit is better for us to fight now than later. These things are in theclouds. They only enter into the present discussion to this extent, butit is not for you to sit here and say whether war between the UnitedStates and Japan is possible or impossible. What Mr. Jones asks youis--what would be your position if it should take place? The littlediatribe with which you have just favored me is exactly the reply weshould have expected to receive formally from Downing Street. It isn'tthat sort of reply I want to take back to Mr. Jones."

  Mr. Smith and his colleague exchanged glances, and the latter drew hischief on one side.

  "You will excuse me for a moment, I know, Mr. Coulson," he said.

  "Why, by all means," Mr. Coulson declared. "My time is my own, and itis entirely at your service. If you say the word, I'll go outside andwait."

  "It is not necessary," Sir Edward answered.

  The room was a large one, and the two men walked slowly up and down, Mr.Smith leaning all the time upon his colleague's shoulder. They spoke inan undertone, and what they said was inaudible to Mr. Coulson. Duringhis period of waiting he drew another cigar from his pocket, and litit from the stump of the old one. Then he made himself a littlemore comfortable in his chair, and looked around at the walls of thehandsomely furnished but rather sombre apartment with an air of pleasedcuriosity. It was scarcely, perhaps, what he should have expected froma man in a similar position in his own country, but it was, at any rate,impressive. Presently they came back to him. This time it was Mr. Smithwho spoke.

  "Mr. Coulson," he said, "we need not beat about the bush. You ask us aplain question and you want a plain answer. Then I must tell you this.The matter is not one concerning which I can give you any definiteinformation. I appreciate the position of your friend Mr. Jones, and Ishould like to have met him in the same spirit as he has shown in hisinquiry, but I may tell you that, being utterly convinced that Japandoes not seek war with you, and that therefore no war is likely, myGovernment is not prepared to answer a question which they considerbased upon an impossibility. If this war should come, the position ofour country would depend entirely upon the rights of the dispute. As acorollary to that, I would mention two things. You read your newspapers,Mr. Coulson?"

  "Sure!" that gentleman answered.

  "You are aware, then," Mr. Smith continued, "of the present positionof your fleet. You know how many months must pass before it can reachEastern waters. It is not within the traditions of this country to evadefulfillment of its obligations, however severe and unnatural they mayseem, but in three months' time, Mr. Coulson, our treaty with Japan willhave expired."

  "You are seeking to renew it!" Mr. Coulson declared quickly.

  Mr. Smith raised his eyebrows.

  "The renewal of that treaty," he said, "is on the knees of the gods. Onecannot tell. I go so far only as to tell you that in three months thepresent treaty will have expired."

  Mr. Coulson rose slowly to his feet and took up his hat.

  "Gentlemen both," he said, "that's what I call plain
speaking. I supposeit's up to us to read between the lines. I can assure you that my friendMr. Jones will appreciate it. It isn't my place to say a word outsidethe letter which I have handed to you. I am a plain business man,and these things don't come in my way. That is why I feel I cancriticize,--I am unprejudiced. You are Britishers, and you've got oneeternal fault. You seem to think the whole world must see a matter asyou see it. If Japan has convinced you that she doesn't seek a war withus, it doesn't follow that she's convinced us. As to the rights ofour dispute, don't rely so much upon hearing one side only. Don't bedogmatic about it, and say this thing is and that thing isn't. You maybet your last dollar that America isn't going to war about trifles. Weare the same flesh and blood, you know. We have the same traditions touphold. What we do is what we should expect you to do if you were in ourplace. That's all, gentlemen. Now I wish you both good night! Mr. Smith,I am proud to shake hands with you. Sir Edward, I say the same to you."

  Bransome touched the bell and summoned his secretary.

  "Sidney, will you see this gentleman out?" he said. "You are quite surethere is nothing further we can do for you, Mr. Coulson?"

  "Nothing at all, I thank you, sir," that gentleman answered. "Ihave only got to thank you once more for the pleasure of this briefinterview. Good night!"

  "Good night, and bon voyage!" Sir Edward answered.

  The door was closed. The two men looked at one another for a moment. Mr.Smith shrugged his shoulders and helped himself to a cigarette.

  "I wonder," he remarked thoughtfully, "how our friends in Japanconvinced themselves so thoroughly that Mr. Jones was only playingships!"

  Sir Edward shook his head.

  "It makes one wonder," he said.