FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79  
80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   >>   >|  
ecret encouragement, was due the wanton invasion of Cape Colony by the Boers. To the Kaiser, and his promises of support, was due the hopeless defiance of the United States by Spain. The same Power tried to drag Great Britain into collision with your Republic over the miserable concerns of Venezuela. For years, Germany has been secretly egging on the French to raise troubles against the English in Egypt. In the same spirit, the Sultan has been abetted, first against England and next against Russia. "All these schemes have been spoiled by the action of King Edward VII. in establishing cordial relations with France, and even to a certain extent with Russia. "Now Wilhelm II. has taken advantage of the attraction of France to England, to draw nearer to Russia. He has secured in his interest some of the most influential personages at the Russian Court. The Anglophobe grand dukes, the fire-eaters of the Admiralty, are all his sworn allies. "But that is not the worst. "By some means which I have not yet been able to trace, the Kaiser seems to have acquired a peculiar hold over Nicholas II. "The whole policy of Russia seems to be tinged by this influence. Even where the instigation of Germany is not directly apparent, yet in a hundred ways it is clear that the Russian Government is playing the German game. The cause of all this is a riddle, a riddle which it is for you to solve." "For me?" The words escaped me involuntarily. I had listened with growing uneasiness to the Privy Councillor's revelations. "Undoubtedly. You have facilities which no one else possesses. You enjoy the confidence of the Czar. You cannot be suspected of any selfish designs, still less of any hostile feeling against Wilhelm II., who is understood to be almost your personal friend." "I never allow personal friendships to influence me in the discharge of my duty." "It is because I believe that, that I am talking to you like this," Mr. Katahashi responded quickly. "Well!" he added after a short silence, "what do you say?" "I must have the night to decide." The Japanese Privy Councillor rose to say good-by. After he had gone I sat up late into the night considering how far I could serve my employer in England by entering into the projects of the secret service of Japan. In the morning, I was still undecided, but on the whole it seemed to me that it would be better to act independently. I was considering how to convey this
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79  
80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Russia

 

England

 

riddle

 
Wilhelm
 
personal
 

Russian

 
France
 

Councillor

 

Kaiser

 

influence


Germany
 

growing

 

Undoubtedly

 

revelations

 

designs

 
listened
 

understood

 

feeling

 

hostile

 
selfish

escaped

 
suspected
 

facilities

 

possesses

 

involuntarily

 

confidence

 

uneasiness

 
employer
 

entering

 

projects


secret

 

independently

 

convey

 

service

 

morning

 

undecided

 

Japanese

 

decide

 

talking

 

discharge


friend

 

friendships

 

silence

 

Katahashi

 

responded

 

quickly

 
English
 

spirit

 

Sultan

 

abetted