ily.

"If your majesty doubts my statement, I ask to be confronted with the
Japanese Ambassador in Berlin."

The Kaiser looked as if he would have liked to doubt it, but found
himself unable to do so.

"Then on your own showing you are a Japanese spy," he pronounced
slowly. "As such I am entitled to have you shot."

"Pardon me again, sire. In Petersburg I admit, that was my character.
In Germany I have been your majesty's agent, and have literally
fulfilled your commands."

"You are a very acute quibbler, I see," was the retort, "but quibbles
will not save you. You have stolen one of my ships to sink another
with, and at the very least you deserve to be hanged as a pirate."

"I demand to be tried," I said boldly, knowing that this was the one
step to which the Emperor, for his own sake, could not consent.

As I expected, he frowned uneasily.

"In this case I must exercise my right of refusing a civil trial, in
the interest of the State. I will give you a court-martial with
closed doors."

"That would be illegal, sire."

"You dare to tell me so!"

"Your majesty will find I am right. The case falls within the
Hohenzollern Family Statute."

The Kaiser appeared stupefied.

"The Family Statute?" he repeated slowly, as if unable to believe his
ears. "What has the Statute to do with you?"

"It is provided in the Statute, if I recollect rightly, sire, that a
member of the Imperial Family can be tried only by his peers, that is
to say, by a court composed of members of your majesty's House."

"Well, and what then?"

"By another clause in the Statute--I regret that the number has
escaped my memory--the privileges of a Hohenzollern in that respect
are extended to members of other reigning Houses."

"What are you going to tell me?" Wilhelm II. demanded in amazement.

"Only that I have the honor to be the adopted son of his imperial
highness Prince Yorimo, cousin to his majesty the Emperor of Japan."

The German monarch sat still, unable to parry this unexpected blow.

"The Japanese Ambassador--" he began to mutter.

"Will confirm my statement, sire. I have already asked to be
confronted with him. Before going to Kiel, I sent him information of
my plans, so that he is already expecting to hear from me, I have no
doubt."

Wilhelm II. saw that he had come to the end of his tether. Lying back
in his chair, he ejaculated----

"I believed there was only one man in the two hemispheres who could
do things lik