"Perhaps, perhaps not. War is coming in Europe again. Soon we'll have to see who are our friends, and who enemies."

Sir William chuckled. "That's always a problem for certain countries. The United Kingdom has no permanent enemies, only permanent interests."

"True, dear friend, but you forgot to add "no permanent friends." Also now, with Vladivostok, we're a Pacific power."

"Power from sea to sea? The dream of the Tsars, eh?"

"Why not? Better us than some," Count Alexi said pointedly, then shrugged. "The Kuriles? If not them some other islands--merely to protect Vladivostok."

"We must discuss your "curious" Pacific presence under more perfect conditions. My Government is most interested."

Seratard, not understanding Russian and furious that he had not been party to this exchange, said coldly in French, "I trust, Sir William, you are well aware of French interests."

"As always, Monsieur, the interests of gallant allies are forefront in the mind of Her Majesty's Foreign Office."

"Sir William," Johann said wearily, "the Elder says... he's only repeating their previous position that they've no jurisdiction over Satsuma, don't know who the murderers are, and think any reparation should be claimed from Satsuma itself, through correct channels of course."

"What correct channels?"

Back and forth: "He says through them, that they'll pass on your request to Satsuma again."

"It's not a request, by God. We will try one final time, stress that Johann, a different tack," Sir William said. "Say, Do they punish murderers, and tell the interpreter I require a yes or no. Only."

Back and forth: "He says, Sir William, that under some circum--"

"Murder for Christ's sake. Yes or no!

Phillip, say it in Japanese!"

Tyrer's stomach twisted. He had been watching the swarthy Elder whispering again but bravely he jumped to his feet. "Honored Lords, please excuse my poor Japanese but my Master ask, please if when murder, you kill murder man, yes or no please."

Silence. The Elders looked at Yoshi who stared at Tyrer, hands playing with his fan. The man alongside whispered to him and he nodded.

"The penalty for murder is death."

"He says yes, sir. For murder, the penalty is death," Tyrer said, having learned those key words from Nakama who had also explained the Japanese penal code and its severity.

"Tell him thank you."

"My Master say thank you, Lord."

"Now ask him, Is it correct to demand a reparation for such a crime, Yes or no?"

"Lord, please excuse me but is... is ... I..." Tyrer stopped, his mind a sudden blank, "sorry Sir William I don't know the word for "reparations."

At once Andr`e Poncin leapt in with, "The word's bakkin, Sir William, and little known, may I try please?"

"Go ahead."

"Honored Lords," Poncin said with a deep bow, and Tyrer blessed him for the rescue and saving his face. "Please my Master ask if correct, humbly ask for justice and head payment for family, for murder, a fine against Satsuma?"

"Against Satsuma yes," Yoshi said with a fleeting smile.

Andr`e sighed with relief. "He says yes, Sir William but the reparation should be demanded specifically from Satsuma." Before Sir William could ask another question, Poncin in his most perfect, rehearsed Japanese--and to Tyrer's astonishment--began to offer the face-saving formula he had devised: "Honored Lord, on behalf of my Master, humbly suggest roju perhap consdir, ah please excuse, perhaps consider roju lend Satsuma first payment, one fifth. This you offer now, give time get rest Satsuma, collect rest from Satsuma. Please?"

This time they all saw the young Elder's interest.

At once he began a whispered conversation with the others, Andr`e saw Tyrer frowning at him so subtly shook his head, silently asking him not to interfere. In a moment Yoshi said, "Perhaps it would be possible to offer a twentieth, paid in a hundred days against Satsuma's obvious debt."

"Honorable Lords..."

"What the devil's he saying, Phillip, and the Elder?"

"Just a second, Sir William," Andr`e cut in pleasantly, wanting to crush him.

"Honored Lords, my Master would recommend a tenth, in sixty days. So sorry, please excuse bad pronouncing but humbly, very humble beg yes." Greatly relieved Poncin saw their discussion begin and gambled again. "Sorry, Sir William, but as Phillip will confirm, I suggested they consider advancing payment on behalf of Satsuma who they say, rightfully, should pay any reparations."

"The devil you did? They are?" Sir William stared at him, tiredness dropping away from him and all of them. "Well done--if they'd do that then I could compromise, eh? You agree?"

For the sake of courtesy he turned to the others for their opinion. Behind him, Tyrer whistled tonelessly, having understood most of what Poncin had said in Japanese, the way he was manipulating the Elder and the Minister, and the slight, though important difference of the English translation. Clever of Andr`e. But what is he up to, is this his idea or is it Seratard's?

Again Shifty Eyes began murmuring confidentially to the young Elder whose attention went to the Ministers. It's almost as though...

All at once it was as if cataracts had dropped from his eyes and he had become clear-sighted again. Even more than that, now he was seeing the Elders with straight eyes and not with the oblique and clouded gaze of a self-styled civilized man, seeing them as people, equally civilized, equally simple or complex but as people, and not as outlandish, mysterious or weird "Jappos" that Nakama, Fujiko, even Andr`e, in their various ways correctly resented.

God Almighty, Shifty Eyes understands English, he wanted to shout ecstatically. That's the only answer, and another's that he's a roju spy and no more an Elder than I am which is why the others pay no attention to him in their discussions.

What else? He must be Watanabe's spy because he's the only one whispered to--must find out their real names and to ask Nakama about them.

Watanabe is the most powerful of this lot, acting President. The absent President? Got to find out his real name too. What else? Where did Andr`e...

He concentrated as Yoshi addressed the interpreter. His voice had sharpened. Instantly the interpreter became more alert and his Dutch twenty times briefer. Johann translated, trying to contain his astonishment, "The roju agrees in this instance it is correct to ask for a reparation, from Satsuma, that yes a hundred thousand seems reasonable for a nobleman though they can't say it will be considered so by the Lord of Satsuma. As a gesture of friendship to the British, and to outside nations, the roju will advance a tenth part in seventy days on Satsuma's behalf--while formal British requests are forwarded to the Satsuma. Concerning the request of the Russian Minister, as with his own Homeland, Japanese soil is Japanese soil and is... I suppose the word would be inviolate, or not to be bartered."

Without being obvious Sir William put a hand on Count Alexi's to stop the outburst, saying softly in Russian, "Let it rest, Alexi," then loudly to Johann, ready to negotiate the number of days down and the amount up, "Excellent. Johann, please tell them th--" He stopped as Tyrer whispered quickly, "Excuse me, sir, suggest you accept at once but you really should know their names."

It was almost as though Tyrer had not spoken for Sir William continued with hardly a pause and no change of expression: "Johann, please tell them their suggestion is acceptable to Her Majesty's Government in the same spirit of friendliness. Concerning the Minister from the Court of St. Petersburg, I am sure he will consult his government who will, undoubtedly, agree that a monetary settlement would satisfy." Without allowing Count Alexi any time to reply he rushed on: "Regarding our other pressing problem, the Shimonoseki Straits: all foreign Governments protest shore batteries firing on their ships when using those Straits peacefully."