the　catch　politician　who　must　find　an　audience　and　a　hearing　by　any　methods。　The　sober　possibility　of　such　a　conflict　does　not　exist。〃
  Mr。　Coulson　listened　attentively　to　every　word。　When　Sir　Edward　had　finished；　he　withdrew　his　cigar　from　his　mouth　and　knocked　the　ash　on　to　a　corner　of　the　writing　table。
  〃That's　all　very　interesting　indeed；　Sir　Edward；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　am　very　pleased　to　have　heard　what　you　have　said；　and　I　shall　repeat　it　to　my　friend　on　the　other　side；　who；　I　am　sure；　will　be　exceedingly　obliged　to　you　for　such　a　frank　exposition　of　your　views。　And　now；〃　he　continued；　〃I　don't　want　to　keep　you　gentlemen　up　too　late；　so　perhaps　you　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　remarkably　clear；　but　the　question　I　asked　you　was　this；what　is　to　be　the　position　of　your　country　in　the　event　of　war　between　Japan　and　America？〃
  〃And　I　have　told　you；〃　Sir　Edward　declared；　〃that　war　between　Japan　and　America　is　not　a　subject　within　the　scope　of　practical　politics。〃
  〃We　may　consider　ourselvesmy　friend　Mr。　Jones　would　certainly　consider　himself；〃　Mr。　Coulson　affirmed；〃as　good　a　judge　as　you；　Sir　Edward；　so　far　as　regards　that　matter。　I　am　not　asking　you　whether　it　is　probable　or　improbable。　You　may　know　the　feelings　of　your　ally。　You　do　not　know　ours。　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　that　it　is　better　for　us　to　fight　now　than　later。　These　things　are　in　the　clouds。　They　only　enter　into　the　present　discussion　to　this　extent；　but　it　is　not　for　you　to　sit　here　and　say　whether　war　between　the　United　States　and　Japan　is　possible　or　impossible。　What　Mr。　Jones　asks　you　iswhat　would　be　your　position　if　it　should　take　place？　The　little　diatribe　with　which　you　have　just　favored　me　is　exactly　the　reply　we　should　have　expected　to　receive　formally　from　Downing　Street。　It　isn't　that　sort　of　reply　I　want　to　take　back　to　Mr。　Jones。〃
  Mr。　Smith　and　his　colleague　exchanged　glances；　and　the　latter　drew　his　chief　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　it　is　entirely　at　your　service。　If　you　say　the　word；　I'll　go　outside　and　wait。〃
  〃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　in　an　undertone；　and　what　they　said　was　inaudible　to　Mr。　Coulson。　During　his　period　of　waiting　he　drew　another　cigar　from　his　pocket；　and　lit　it　from　the　stump　of　the　old　one。　Then　he　made　himself　a　little　more　comfortable　in　his　chair；　and　looked　around　at　the　walls　of　the　handsomely　furnished　but　rather　sombre　apartment　with　an　air　of　pleased　curiosity。　It　was　scarcely；　perhaps；　what　he　should　have　expected　from　a　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。　Smith　who　spoke。
  〃Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said；　〃we　need　not　beat　about　the　bush。　You　ask　us　a　plain　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　definite　information。　I　appreciate　the　position　of　your　friend　Mr。　Jones；　and　I　should　like　to　have　met　him　in　the　same　spirit　as　he　has　shown　in　his　inquiry；　but　I　may　tell　you　that；　being　utterly　convinced　that　Japan　does　not　seek　war　with　you；　and　that　therefore　no　war　is　likely；　my　Government　is　not　prepared　to　answer　a　question　which　they　consider　based　upon　an　impossibility。　If　this　war　should　come；　the　position　of　our　country　would　depend　entirely　upon　the　rights　of　the　dispute。　As　a　corollary　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　position　of　your　fleet。　You　know　how　many　months　must　pass　before　it　can　reach　Eastern　waters。　It　is　not　within　the　traditions　of　this　country　to　evade　fulfillment　of　its　obligations；　however　severe　and　unnatural　they　may　seem；　but　in　three　months'　time；　Mr。　Coulson；　our　treaty　with　Japan　will　have　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。　One　cannot　tell。　I　go　so　far　only　as　to　tell　you　that　in　three　months　the　present　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　suppose　it's　up　to　us　to　read　between　the　lines。　I　can　assure　you　that　my　friend　Mr。　Jones　will　appreciate　it。　It　isn't　my　place　to　say　a　word　outside　the　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　can　criticize；I　am　unprejudiced。　You　are　Britishers；　and　you've　got　one　eternal　fault。　You　seem　to　think　the　whole　world　must　see　a　matter　as　you　see　it。　If　Japan　has　convinced　you　that　she　doesn't　seek　a　war　with　us；　it　doesn't　follow　that　she's　convinced　us。　As　to　the　rights　of　our　dispute；　don't　rely　so　much　upon　hearing　one　side　only。　Don't　be　dogmatic　about　it；　and　say　this　thing　is　and　that　thing　isn't。　You　may　bet　your　last　dollar　that　America　isn't　going　to　war　about　trifles。　We　are　the　same　flesh　and　blood；　you　know。　We　have　the　same　traditions　to　uphold。　What　we　do　is　what　we　should　expect　you　to　do　if　you　were　in　our　place。　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　sure　there　is　nothing　further　we　can　do　for　you；　Mr。　Coulson？〃
  〃Nothing　at　all；　I　thank　you；　sir；〃　that　gentleman　answered。　〃I　have　only　got　to　thank　you　once　more　for　the　pleasure　of　this　brief　interview。　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　Japan　convinced　themselves　so　thoroughly　that　Mr。　Jones　was　only　playing　ships！〃
  Sir　Edward　shook　his　head。
  〃It　makes　one　wonder；〃　he　said。
  CHAPTER　XXI。　A　CLUE
  By　midday　on　the　following　morning　London　was　placarded　with　notices；　the　heading　of　which　was　sensational　enough　to　attract　observation　from　every　passer…by；　young　or　old；　rich　or　poor。　One　thousand　pounds'　reward　for　the　apprehension　of　the　murderer　of　either　Hamilton　Fynes　or　Richard　Vanderpole！　Inspector　Jacks；　who　was　amongst　the　first　to　hear　the　news；　after　a　brief　interview　with　his　chief　put　on　his　hat　and　walked　round　to　the　Home　Office。　He　sought　out　one　of　the　underlings　with　whom　he　had　some　acquaintance；　and　whom　he　found　ready　enough；　even　eager；　to　discuss　the　matter。
  〃There　wasn't　a　word　about　any　reward；〃　Inspector　Jacks　was　told；　〃until　this　morning。　We　had　a　telephone　message　from　the　chief's　bedroom　and　phoned　you　up　at　once。　It's　a　pretty　stiff　amount；　isn't　it？〃
  〃It　is；〃　the　Inspector　admitted。　〃Our　chief　seems　to　be　taking　quite　a　personal　interest　in　the　matter　all　at　once。〃
  〃I'll　lay　two　to　one　that　some　one　was　on　to　him　at　Sir　Edward　Bransome's　reception　last　night；〃　the　other　remarked。　〃I　know　very　well　that　there　was　no　idea　of　offering　a　reward　yesterday　afternoon。　We　might　have　come　out　with　a　hundred　pounds　or　so；　a　little　later　on；　perhaps；　but　there　was　nothing　of　this　sort　in　the　air。　I've　no　desire　to　seem　censorious；　you　know；　Jacks；〃　the　young　man　went　on；　leaning　back　in　his　chair　and　lighting　a　cigarette；　〃but　it　does　seem　a　dashed　queer　thing　that　you　can't　put　your　finger　upon　either　of　these　fellows。〃
  Inspector　Jacks　nodded　gloomily。
  〃No　doubt　it　seems　so　to　you；〃　he　admitted。　〃You　forget　that　we　have　to　have　a　reasonable　amount　of　proof　before　we　can　tap　a　man　on　the　shoulder　and　ask　him　to　come　with　us。　It　isn't　so　abroad　or　in　America。　There　they　can　hand　a　man　up　with　less　than　half　the　evidence　we　have　to　be　prepared　with；　and；　of　course；　they　get　the　reputation　of　being　smarter　on　the　job。　We　may　learn　enough　to　satisfy　ourselves　easily；　but　to　get　up　a　case　which　we　can　put　before　a　magistrate　and　be　sure　of　not　losing　our　man；　takes　time。〃
  〃So　you've　got　your　eye　on　some　one？〃　The　young　man　asked　curiously。
  〃I　did　not　say　so；〃　the　Inspector　answered　warily。　〃By　the　bye；　do　you　think　there　would　be　any　chance　of　five　minutes'　interview　with　your　chief？〃
  The　young　man　shook　his　head　slowly。
  〃What　a　cheek　you've　got；　Jacks！〃　he　declared。　〃You're　not　serious；　are　you？〃
  〃Perfectly；〃　Inspector　Jacks　answered。　〃And　to　tell　you　the　truth；　my　young　friend；　I　am　half　inclined　to　think　that　when　he　is　given　to　understand；　as　he　will　be　by　you；　if　he　doesn't　know　it　already；　that　I　am　in　charge　of　the　investigations　concerning　these　two　murders；　he　will　see　me。〃
  The　young　man　was　d