Not many days to go and the whole Settlement nervous, no one ready to put down big money yet on what would be "P-Day," or if there would be none --and less than five days for the first blast to arrive from Hong Kong about Malcolm, the funeral and what Tess Struan was going to do.

Sir William pulled his mind back to the issues at hand. Babcott was saying to Yoshi directly in halting Japanese, "Yes, go Yedo Lord Yoshi. When go, please?"

Yoshi said slowly, "When I leave, Doctor-sama. Thank you. I am responsible for you. I will ensure you come back safely. You will need an interpreter, yes?"

"Yes, please, Lord Yoshi," Babcott said, not needing one. He looked at Tyrer.

"You're elected, Phillip."

Tyrer grinned. "I was going to volunteer."

"Ask him how long I'll be there."

"He says: however long it takes to make an examination."

"Then that's settled," Sir William said.

"I'll leave you to it. I've a clinic going on so you know where I'll be." The doctor bowed to Yoshi, who bowed back and then he was gone.

Choosing his words carefully and trying to talk simply, Yoshi said, "Porters outside have cases of silver coins to the value of one hundred thousand pounds. This is offered by the Shogunate in full settlement of the indemnity you have demanded from the responsible daimyo. In principle, the Shogunate considers this a correct amount." He concealed his amusement at Tyrer and Andr`e's shock. "Translate exactly what I said."

Again Tyrer obeyed, not exactly word for word this time, but gave a credible precis, helped here and there by Andr`e. There was a stunned silence in the room.

"Sire," Tyrer said weakly, "my Master ask he answer now, or Yoshi-sama say more?"

"M. The Shogunate advances this money on behalf of Sanjiro of Satsuma. He alone is responsible. As previously explained, he is not subject to Shogunate control--in all things. Translate."

Again this was done. He saw the two leaders were off balance as he had planned. This was pleasing, but did not allay his anxiety. "We cannot force Sanjiro of Satsuma to cancel any orders he may or may not have given his men about gai-jin--or even to apologize--or make him repay the money we are advancing to settle this matter without waging war on him. This we are not prepared to do."

This translation required time to get it accurate, Andr`e again assisting, aware of the tension and the way everyone was concentrating.

"Sire?"

"Say this exactly and carefully: wanting to be friends with the Ing'erish and Furansu, the Shogunate has solved what the Shogunate can solve... without going to war." Yoshi sat back, wondering if the bait was succulent enough.

His last remarks were received in silence. He noted Sir William was impassive now except for an almost inaudible grunt. But Seratard nodded and glanced at Andr`e.

Inwardly a ferment of glee, Sir William waited for Yoshi to continue. When he didn't, he said, "Phillip, ask Lord Yoshi if he wants to go on or I may now respond."

"He says he does not wish to continue for the moment."

Sir William cleared his throat and spoke grandly--to Tyrer's private dismay: "Lord Yoshi, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, and the French Government, may I thank you and the Shogunate for obliterating part of the problem between us. We thank you personally, wishing to make our stay in your land happy and profitable for your country, the Shogunate and ourselves. This gesture surely begins a new era of understanding between our two countries--and those others represented in Japan."

He waited as that was translated, both Tyrer and Andr`e apologizing and begging Yoshi's forbearance, putting the message in simpler terms, as accurately as possible. When they had finished, Sir William said, "With his permission I would like to take a short break.

Phillip, or Andr`e, please ask his indulgence, apologies and all that, but explain my bladder needs assistance. It's my cold."

The two interpreters hastily translated.

"Of course," Yoshi said at once, not believing him.

Sir William got up and Seratard made his excuses and once in the corridor heading for the pot that neither needed, Sir William whispered excitedly, "My God, Henri, did you read him like I did? He's saying we can go after Sanjiro ourselves."

Seratard was equally elated. "It's a complete reversal of their policy that everything must go through the Bakufu and Shogunate. Mon Dieu, is he giving us carte blanche?"

"Pas ce cretin," Sir William said switching to French without noticing it. "If we can do it against Sanjiro, it's precedent to go against any other daimyo--the Shimonoseki Straits bugger for one. But what the devil's the quid pro quo, eh?" He blew his nose loudly.

"There's got to be one."

"I've no idea. Whatever it is it'll be rare, mon brave. Astounding that he put himself in our power, never thought he'd arrive with so few men, surely he must have realized we could take him hostage against Sanjiro's performance?"

"Agreed. My Lord, what a step forward!

Unbelievable that he came to the point at once, no fart-arsing about, never thought I'd see the day.

But why, eh? Something's smelly."

"Yes. Merde, pity he's not tairo, eh?"

Ha! My thought entirely, old boy, way ahead of you, Sir William told himself. A little push here, a little pull there and like in India we could be off to the races!

He had unbuttoned, and now, idly watching the flow, his ears closed to Seratard's further prognosis, he composed his thoughts, considering what he could barter, how far to go, and how to get Ketterer to agree without Admiralty or Foreign Office approval. God damn the fellow!

And God damn Palmerston. I asked for urgent approval to enforce civilized law so why hasn't he replied? He probably has, he told himself. London's coded message went by telegraph to Basra and is now somewhere on a mail ship in a diplomatic pouch.

His flow ceased. He shook himself, as always remembering the schoolboys' admonition at Eton: "If you shake it more than three times you're playing with it." Quickly he stepped aside for Seratard, buttoning up, noticing Seratard was like a small horse in quantity and power.

Interesting. Must be the wine, he thought, returning to the conference room.

The rest of the meeting went breezily. With skill and diplomatic care Sir William, ably assisted by Seratard, established in a very oblique way that "if a force happened to proceed against someone like Sanjiro, for instance, against his capital, for instance, it would be an extremely unfortunate occurrence even though such action could possibly be merited because of some unacceptable act of murder committed against foreign nationals. This act would precipitate a flurry of protests from Yedo and would merit a formal apology if such an inconceivable action was taken..."

Absolutely nothing was said directly, nothing to imply that permission had been given or sought.

Nothing would be in writing. Such a possible major hostile act, "a special case," could be contained only if protocol was carefully followed.

By now, Tyrer and Andr`e both had splitting headaches and were inwardly cursing their Masters for the near impossibility of translating the necessary obliqueness.

Yoshi was silently ecstatic. Sanjiro was as good as dead and the first barrier removed at no cost. "I think we understand one another and can move to other matters."

"Yes, quite clearly." Sir William sat back, and girded his loins for the quid pro quo.

Yoshi took a deep breath and launched the next assault: "Translate the following, sentence by sentence. Explain this is for accuracy.

Say also for the moment this conversation must be considered a State secret between us." Seeing Tyrer's blank stare, he added, "Do you understand State secret?"

After consulting with Andr`e, Tyrer said, "Yes, Sire."