PART II.
“Asked the Count? Did you expect him to answer you?”
“He is getting on remarkably ———— simply marvellously well with his English. He
said with perfect fluency: ‘Mister Dig’———— It’s so amusing and charming
to hear him refer to Mr. Bradley as ‘Dig’ ———— ‘Mr. Dig’, he said,
‘say unto me. You marry wiz Mees Kitty Collins’. ‘All lide, I say.
Much ‘bliged.’”
“He lies, mother. It is not true.”
“I have told you more than once, that I will not have the word of a guest of
ours impugned.”
“Mother———”
“That will do”!
“Oh, mother, Dick couldn’t———”
“Dick Bradley couldn’t. Humph! He was always as fickle as the weather. I never
had any faith in him at all, and the only action of his I have thoroughly
approved of, is his sending to us his friend, the dear Count Ta——— Oh, I wish I
could say the whole name. It’s so high-sounding! So aristocratic. So——— You
know, Kitty, all the royalties, even in Europe, have long names like that.
Fancy it being your name, Kitty! Are you coming down?”
“Yes, shortly. I want—— just a few moments to myself. Mamma, I’m going to write
to Dick. I’m going to ask him.”
“Ask him?”
“Yes, mother. Please—please—go! I want to be alone!”
IX. TWO LETTERS AND SOME TEARS
Dear Mr. Bradley:
You know I am having my Fridays as usual. Do come and have a cup of tea
with us. We would like to see you so much!
We find Count Ichijo so interesting. Really, if you don’t come soon to
see me, I’m afraid he is going to ‘cut you out’ with us all!
Cordially,
Katharine Field Collins
My Dear Miss Collins:
I have your letter and would gladly accept the invitation to one of your
delightful ‘teas,’ but for the fact that I expect to make a trip to
Japan very shortly. Our friend, Count Taguchi Tsunemoto Mototsune
Takadzukasa Ichijo, has painted such glowing pictures of the country and
people, that I’ve decided I can wait no longer to see it.
Take care of the Count for me, will you? He’s the best ever. In fact I
think as much of him — more indeed — as of myself.
Talking of titles! Whew! He has one as big as the Mikado’s own, and a
Shiro (that’s Japanese for castle) as old as Adam. The common Japanese
soldier consider him descended from the gods, you know.
Well, goodbye pro tem. I will not see you again probably until June, when
I hope to have the pleasure of wishing you many happy returns of the day
of your twenty-first birthday.
Again commending my friend, Count Ichijo, to your kindly consideration, I
am, believe me,
Yours truly,
Richard Sheridan Bradley.
Sounds issuing from Miss Kitty Collins’ pillow:
“I hate you, Dick Bradley! I hate you! O-O-O-O-O-I hate you! Oh Dick, how could
you? How could you?”
X. TEA
“S-s-s-s—Mees Collin! Goo-goo-goo—nide! Thas a beautiful day ad these house!
Tangs. Aexcuse!”
“Beautiful day! Why, it’s pouring!”
“Those beautiful pour! Tangs! Aexcuse!”
“You like rain, do you?”
“Wis you — yaes!”
“Well, I hate it — with you!”
“Kit-ty!”
“Sir! How dare you call me that?”
“Thas nod you beautiful name? Tangs.”
“Miss Collins, please!”
“Misterer Dig — he tellin’ me speag you name jos lig’ those — Kit-ty!”
“My goodness! He’s even got Dick’s inflection!”
“S-s-s-s-s——”
“You can tell Mr. Bradley that I appreciate — oh, so much — his kindness in
giving permission to his friends to ——— yes, Anna? Just give me the cards.
The Count won’t bite you! Oh, certainly, I’ll see them. Mother, it’s Jimmy
Bowker and Mr. Young.”
“Indeed?”
“Jimmy ——s-s-s-s-s-s-s!”
“Did you speak, Count Ichijo? Do come over here, mother. It’s too bad to
expect me all alone to —— Ah, Jimmy! How well you’re looking. Mr. Young —
Perhaps I don’t need to present you to Count Ichijo. I believe you were all
at college together.”
“Er— Count————? How do you do? No, I don’t recall you.”
“S-s-s-s-s-s————— sayonara!”
“Maybe Bowker remembers you.”
“How do you do? No, I can’t say ————”
“S-s-s-s-s———Ohayo!”
“I remember a Japanese who entered just as we passed out. It may be — what
year—?”
“What year—?”
“Ss-s-s-s-s———Nuruhoda”
“Don’t you speak English? If you went to Coll———”
“You see, the dear Count has passed through college under most interesting
circumstances. Dick has written us all about it. You see, being practically
of the royal family, he could not very well mix with the common
students.”
“Mother!”
“Kitty, allow me to finish. So he took the courses — unseen.”
“Unseen!”
“Oh yes. As Dick explains it, in those days royalty was not allowed to be
seen by ordinary mortals, and indeed a prince of the blood never stepped his
feet upon the ground. Of course things are changed since then.”
“But about the course———”
“Yes, I’m coming to that. So dear Count Ichijo was obliged to take the
courses unseen. The Professors went to him, which was perfectly proper,
under the circumstances.”
“I have never heard of ——— what year ———”
“Well, Mr. Bowker, you know there are a great many things that the ordinary
run of students really never hear anything at all
about.”
“Er —— then he speaks English, of course?”
“Charmingly! Let me explain. You see, the Japanese have very peculiar
etiquette. It’s considered bad form to speak any but their own language when
they first meet strangers. He was explaining it to us quite recently, and
Dick ——— Mr. Bradley you know —— wrote us all about it. Why, the first day
he came to see us, he never spoke a single word save in Japanese, and when
we think of the things we said — never dreaming he understood us — well, it
was very embarrassing. But you have quite forgiven us, haven’t you, dear
Count Ichigo?”
“Hi, fu, mi, yo——— Ss-s-s-s-s——— Tee-hee-e-e-e-e!”
“And we would never have known the difference, but that Kitty recalled that
Dick had said in his letter that they were at college together. So we
pressed the Count——— and the explanation shortly followed. Ah, I think it’s
a charming custom! So reticent! So —— er exclusive, don’t you konw. So ———
very charismatic ——— so ultra refined. None of ——— That’s right, Kitty. I’ll
have a cup too. Count, do draw your chair up closer. There, I’ve put it
right next to Kitty’s.”
“What do you think about this, Bowker?”
“Think? I think he’s a d—— impostor. There’s something curious here. I sniff
it. He doesn’t even look like a Jap.”
“I’ll drop in on Dick this evening. You don’t s’pose this is some lark of
his?”
“Not on your life. He’s wild about her. Think he’s going to spoil his own
chances by doping them up with a thing like ——— that!”
“Let’s pump the old lady. Did you ever see her so got up? Whee — I tell you
what, it pays to be a little smutty-faced Count?”
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Young?”
“Tell us some more about this — Count. What does Dick say about him?”
“I have his letters right here. There, you may see one.”
“Hum ——— that’s queer!”
“Queer?”
“Yes, I never knew Bradley to lay himself out like this for anyone else
before. It’s his writing alright. Hm-m-m-m! Haven’t seen him lately
————Bowker, there’s something wrong here. Something damn black. I tell you
what I’m going to do. I’m going to look up this fellow’s history. Can easily
find out through friends of mine at Ottawa. I’ll set them on to the Jap
Consul there. If that’s what he pretends to be ————”
“Would you have believed, Young, that she’d have gone back on Bradley in this
way? Just see how she’s letting little slant eyes look at her. By Jove! did
you see that? He’s got his little yellow paw on top of hers.”
“After that — I’m going.”
“So’m I.”
“Going, Mr. Young? So soon? Oh, what’s your hurry?”
“Good-day, Mrs. Collins. Count ———— Ichi ———— what’s your name?”
“It na ya, ko.”
“Your name, I said.”
“Here’s the Count’s card. Isn’t it pretty? Really, I do think our own
insignificant bits of hideous white18 cardboard look ridiculous when laid
beside a gorgeous crested, crimson, artistic article like this. Good-day,
Mr. Bowker. Come soon again, do!”
“So soon, Jimmy? So sorry!”
“Good-bye, Kitty. Have you seen — Bradley lately?”
“N—no. Do tell him when you see him, how perfectly we ——— I am with Count
Ichijo. Oh, good-bye, Mr. Young. So glad you came.”
“Now they’re gone, and I’m not going to pour another drop of tea. Mother will
pour for you, Count Ichijo. My head is —— splitting.”
“You look exceedingly well, Kitty. That color — becoming, is it not, count
Ichijo?”
“Ah-h-h-h! S-s-s-s-s ———— Loftily, augustly loavely those red ad you chicks.
Tangs. Much ‘bliged.”
“I hate compliments, Count Ichijo.”
“Whas those — compli———?”
“Personal remarks — supposed to be flattering.”
“You no lig’? But you also got those person remarks.”
“I?”
“Yaes. S-s-s-s-s—— Tangs. On top you honorable nose.”
“My nose?”
“Ah, yaes! Those lovely person marks. I lig’ those beautifullest spots of
thad thad honorable sun.”
“Oh, the idea! He means my freckles.”
“I’m so pleased, dear Count Ichijo, that you admire Kitty’s freckles. They
have been the bane of the poor child’s life, and I confess that I too have
felt some distress about them, though my dear father used to that freckles
never went on anything that’s foul.”
“Ah-h— thas so? He no go on top those chickens?”
“How you do make us laugh, dear Count. No, not that kind of fowl. Our Kitty’s
a gold enthusiast. Mr. Bradley taught her. You know he has taken several
cups. They do say — people that don’t approve of him, Count, that he has
neglected all his opportunities for the sake of his golf. Personally I think
it a foolish, very senseless game. Er——— it is so easy a game to play, and
it does seem such a useless waste of time and force to be following a little
white ball around and hitting it once in a while. Really, that is all there
is to the game. Do you play it in Japan?”
“Those golup? No — thas western science we still got study.”
“Not worth your time, dear Count. I marvel at Kitty spending so much time at
it. Now Kitty’s freckles —”
“Mother, please don’t discuss my freckles with him. Now, I think, really,
I’ve done my — duty for today, and I want to go to my room. Don’t get up,
Count Ichijo.”
“S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s———”
“Mother, come here. I want to say just a word to you.”
“Don’t you know, Kitty, that it is very rude to whisper in company?”
“Then come up with me. Come——”
“Kitty! Really, I won’t be pulled along in this manner ———”
“My room at last! Oh, mother, mother, mother, I’m so m-m-miserable!”
“My poor Kitty, if indeed———”
“No, mother, I am going through with it. I let him even hold my hand. I knew
they’d see, and tell — Dick!”
“I didn’t hurt your hand, you see.”
“No. I can’t understand myself, mamma. When he was holding it, and looking
at me, right into my eyes, I had the most curious feeling about him. A
strange sort of emotion seized me. I—i—it almost seemed as if Dick were
holding my hand, and looking into my eyes!”
“I’m surprised that you even mention his name.”
“I must have no shame, mother. I think I—I clung on to the Count’s hand. It
seemed somehow as if Dick wished me to, and oh, what am I saying?”
“Kitty, will you never get over that childish habit of flinging yourself
headlong on your bed in that fashion? My poor little———”
“Don’t pity me, mamma. Something has happened to me. Yes, just this
afternoon. When he held my hand—right before you all—a feeling of peace—of
rest—seemed to flood my very being, and I clung to his hand—as if to a very
anchor!”
XI. ON THE LINKS
“I suppose, Count Ichijo, that this is the first time you’ve ever been on
golf links? I do hope you are going to like the game. We’ve got the best
professional here to teach you.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“His name? Muldoon.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“No, not a professor—a professional. You didn’t look very pleased when I
mentioned Mr. Muldoon’s name. Maybe you’ve heard of him. Some people don’t
like his method. No Dick—Mr. Bradley—does by Braide only, and scorns any
sort of advice of Mr. Muldoon’s. But, I think him all right. Just think, he
taught Mr. Carnegie and Mr. ‘Dooley’ and oh, all sorts of famous
people. I take him along with me often, instead of a caddy, just to learn
all about them. He’s awfully interesting, if he is rather garrulous. His
favourite expression is: ‘The brains of the coonthree are playing it, miss.’
You look quite glum. Here he is. This way, Mr. Muldoon.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Now, you will be able to brag, Mr. Muldoon. I’ve brought you somebody worth
teaching. Mr. Muldoon, Count——— Oh dear, I can’t say all of that way—— just
Count Ichijo, of Echizen, Japan. How queer you look. Count Ichijo! Have you
met Mr. Muldoon before?”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Why, it’s awfully funny, but you are picking up all sorts of American
expressions. Of course you’ve got to stay here. You can’t go out on the
links first. You’ve got to learn first how to hold the club, then how to
swing — and you’ve got to keep that up—oh-h for hours and hours, and maybe,
if you’re real smart, Mr. Muldoon will let you hit the ball presently, won’t
you, Mr. Muldoon?”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Nobody ever learned it in a few minutes. You’ve been listening to mamma. She
doesn’t know the first thing about it. She talks like everyone who has never
even held a club in his hands. It’s a very difficult——a really scientific
game. Now just be patient—and you’ll soon learn.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“That’s the way! You look like a real thundercloud! You want to learn
properly, even if it takes time. You don’t want to be a duffer in golf.
Well, I’ll be off now; I’m going to play with Mr. Young. See, he’s waiting
for me over there.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“No, no—you can’t come too. They don’t let beginners on the links. Maybe, by
and by. I’ll just do the meadows, then when I get back you can come with me
over the hills, and caddy for me, if you like. most of my friends think that
a big—privilege. I’m coming, Mr. Young!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Do you know, I really heard the Count—s-swear! Yes sir, a great big D———.
Honestly! Ah ha-ha-ha! Oh, I feel so fine—so happy! It’s these blessed
links! They are as exhilarating as wine. Come on.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Yes s-sir, you’ve got to give me a great big handicap. I believe I’ll use my
cleek here. I can’t manage my wooden clubs when there’s anyone watching.
Awful big crowd today, isn’t there? Spring, tra-la! Now! Not a word!”
“How mortifying! I know I’m as red as a beet. I never made such a poor shot
before. I’ll do better after we pass the first bunkers. The crowds make me
nervous.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Oh, what a bully approach that shot was. Let them pass us, Mr. Young. I konw
we’re a twosome; but I’m so slow, and I always make it a point to let really
good players go by me. Let’s call to them.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“My goodness! Look who it is. Why, it’s Count Ichijo! Wh-why — he is playing.
Isn’t that perfectly astonishing?”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Well, well, Muldoon, your pupil is growing away from you.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Learned in fifteen minutes! Says the Japanese learn everything quickly. Oh
c-o-ome, Count Ichijo! There’s a twinkle in Muldoon’s eyes anyhow. I believe
you knew the game from the first. Just look where my ball is — right in the
bunker. There, it’s down. Now wait till I show you my pretty little trick to
send it over in quite a long shot, too. Mr. Bradley taught me ——— See, I
just turn my mashie up—so. Then it lifts the ball clear up of the bunkers
and —— That wasn’t bad, was it?”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Oh, oh, oh! You’ve made the green in two, and just look where your ball
is!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Don’t, Mr. Young. I want to see the Count putt. Oh! Oh! Oh-h! Did you see
that? Made it in three. How many for you, Mr. Young? Eight? You, Mr.
Muldoon, did you play? Five? Mine—I did it in bogey. I did! Why, the idea!
Do you mean to insinuate, Mr. Young———”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“I’m so glad you play golf so beautifully, Count Ichijo. It’s my favorite
game. It was pretty modest of you to say nothing about it to us all.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“No, I didn’t learn from Mr. Muldoon, nor a professional either, for that
matter. Somebody better than a professional. A dear friend taught
me.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Do you know, if you weren’t Japanese, I wouldn’t answer have your questions.
They are the most—impert—embarrassing things I ever heard. Well, his name,
since you ask so bluntly, is Bradley. Yes, our mutual friend.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Do you know, you’ve tee-ed my ball just as I like it—as I’m used to it. Why,
isn’t that funny? You withdrew your fingers just like D—— Mr. Bradly used to
do. He used to set the ball just pat on the bit of sand, with his two
forefingers underneath, and withdraw them without touching the sand or any
clumsy upset. Did he show you?”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“You showed him? Really! Now, isn’t that curious? He told me that he made
that particular trick up himself. I’m beginning to———”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Yes, I’m all ready!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“That’s something like! Just because there’s no one here to see. Oh, doesn’t
it make one feel good when we’ve made a good, long, clean, straight shot
like that! Count Ichijo, you’re a dandy mascot!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“I beg your paradon, Mr. Young.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Well—er—suppose you and Mr. Muldoon go on without us. I much prefer a
twosome anyhow.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Thank goodness he’s gone. An awful prig! Let’s take our time. The boys will
get the balls all right. You know, it’s awfully strange, but somehow, out
here on the links with you, you don’t seem one bit Japanese—except your hair
and your—er eyebrows. I mean your lash—— Really I feel positively chummy
with you! Just like I used to with Dick, when we played together. Anyhow, do
you know, you remind me of him a lot.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Well, I can’t say just how.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Ye-es, I think there is a resemblance.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“N-no, not the eyes, though they—they have something the same look and—color
too! Oh, do you know, your eyes aren’t black at all! I always thought
Japanese had black eyes. Yours are blue! They really are!”
“Well, I never noticed Dick’s nose particularly.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“He wore a moustache—a beauty—so I don’t know what his mouth was like, but it
felt———I think—it—was very attractive indeed.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Goodness gracious, no! He had red hair—a perfect mop of bright red curls.
His mother called it Titian, and I agreed with her. But it wasn’t, it was
just good old honest carrots. I like your hair better, Count Ichijo.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“I wish Dick could hear that!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Oh, what an embarrassing question. Yes, I did like him. There!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Better than you? Why—I detested you t-till recently.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“No, I don’t want to sit here—of all places! Why, Dick pro—————I want to go
on and finish the course.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Do you know, you’re the first Japanese I ever heard to use such expressions.
If I were to close my eyes I could almost imagine it was Dick himself
speaking.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Have you heard from him?”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
“I’m glad he likes Japan so well. I suppose he’s become infatuated with one
of this fascinating little geisha girls one hears so much about. Are they so
pretty and clever?”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“I suppose it’s a matter of taste. Come on—let’s play, not talk. It’s a queer
world, isn’t it?”
XII. BASE SUSPICIONS
“Hello, Taku! Sitting up for me, huh? Take these. Don’t touch that. I’ll put it
away. Anyone been here?”
“S-s-s-s- Yaes, sir. Aexcuse. Misterer Bowker and Misterer Young, he come.
Tangs.”
“What, again?”
“Aexcuse. Yaes, sir, S-s-s-s————”
“Leave any message?”
“No sir. They speag ad each udder. Say they tink thas lie thad you go unto
Japan. Also that beeg one, Bowker—he loog unto you clothes—you brush for
hair—you brush for tooth, etceterays.”
“He did! Hoom! Why didn’t you explain that I bought all new things to go away
with?”
“I sesso. He say quig then: ‘Whose those?’ I bowing lig’ those, say ‘Thas
honorable garment of most exalt illustrious Count Taguchi Tsunemoto Mototsune
Takadzukasa Ichijo’.”
“Oh, that was a bad break, Taku. Don’t you suppose they know my things?”
“S-s-s-s- aexcuse. Tangs. Yaes sertinly. So I mek explain. I sesso thad you mek
present all those honorable clothes unto you fliend thad Count Taguchi
Tsunemoto Mototsune Takadzukasa Ichijo.”
“What! Oh I say, you’ve put me in bad here. You think I want it all over town
that I’m wearing the secondhand clothes of myself.”
“Thas no disgrace! Ss-s-s-s-s Many Japanese do! Count Ichijo velly poor. He got
wear mebbe second, mebbe third, mebbe fourth hand clothes.”
“Not this Count Ichijo. He’s a swell dandy. Taku, I’m going to be a credit to
your race! You Japs are going to be proud to acknowlege me! What else did they
say?”
“Misterer Young, he say, wiz some wet on his eye, thas he suspect they’s fowl
plays ad thees ‘partment!”
“Young has the instinct of a Sherlock Holmes all right-oh. He used to go round
at college just sniffing up mysteries. I’ll be he’s got good old Bowker all
stirred up. There’s the bell! Now remember, Mr. Bladley in Japan. Count Ichijo
royally invisible.”
“Makes no difference. We are coming in! Get out of the way!— Here he is, Bowker.
Yes, we mean you! Where’s our friend, Mr. Bradley, and what are you doing here,
in his rooms?”
“Hoshi, hoshi. Oh mi moshi!”
“None of that. You speak English all right. Now if you know what’s good for
yourself, you’ll own up and make a clean breast of it. Where is Bradly?”
“S-s-s-s-s-s——— Tee-ee-e-e-e-e! Ho-ho! Whee!”
“Cut that out. Where’s Bradley, I say?”
“S-s-s-s-s-s——— Tee-ee-e-e-e-e—!”
“We know all about you. You’re a damned little adventurer. We’ve looked up your
record with the Japanese Consul or in Ottawa. Thought that’d make you sit up
and take notice a bit——— What’s the matter with you, Taku? You look as if
you’re going to explode. I suppose this Count is a friend of yours, huh? Well,
Mr. Count Ichijo, you may as well own up. What have you done with Mr. Bradley?
Won’t answer, hih? Well, let me loosen up a bit and tell you what we’ve found
about you. You’re a Count, all right—in Japan. We don’t deny that. But here in
America, you’re nothing but a servant—a butler—a valet, a handy man. We got
that straight from the consul—Look out there, Bowker, that Jap is going to
spring at you!”
“Taku! You go—Leave the room!”
“So you can speak English after all. Deelighted to hear you! Suppose now you
tell us what your little game is. You can’t make us believe that Bradley has
gone off, leaving you—a Japanese butler—in his place—using his clothes and all
his personal articles. I don’t believe it. Go ahead, ring the bell. We know
Browning, the manager of this place. We’ll tell him a thing or two
ourselves.”
“Did you ring, sir?”
“Mr. Browning, Send—up!”
“Good evening, Count. Want to see me? What can I do for you?”
“Inject—those cuttam fliend, Mr. Bradley!”
“Mr. Bradley’s friends! Why, what’s the trouble? I know these gentlemen
well.”
“Thank you, Browning. Bowker and I want to know what’s become of Bradley. We
don’t like the looks of the thing.”
“Mr. Bradley has gone to Japan.”
“Without his clothes?”
“Seems so.”
“It’s incredible.”
“I saw him the day he went, Mr. Young. He stepped in the office to wish me
good-bye. Said he was starting off on a sudden impulse. Said while he was gone
his rooms would be occupied by his friend, Count Ichijo.”
“You are quite sure it was Bradley?”
“Oh, absolutely. I had a long chat with him. He has all sorts of nice things to
say of his friend, the Count here.”
“Well, if this is so, then all I—we’ve got to say, is we’re blanked sorry
we——er—that our—er suspicions against you seem unfounded. Good night.”
XIII. JUST A ——— BUTLER
“But a butler — a valet — a common servant, Kitty! Oh, it’s quite impossible!
I’m so sorry, my poor little girl!”
“Mother, you know, and everyone else does, that many Japanese of the finest
families go to work in America in the most menial capacities. And real, when
it comes down to an analysis of the thing, what66 is there degrading in that kind
of work, anyhow? It’s honest, isn’t it?”
“But, my dead Kitty, consider. You wouldn’t want to marry well—Gonji, for
instance, if he proved to be a nobleman in Japan.”
“I don’t see why not—if I liked him. No, mother, there’s no use arguing on that
ground. Besides, the Count’s record is excellent in every way. It’s not his
fault he is poor and had to work—in that way. And just think mother, he 67comes
of one of the most illustrious families in Japan. Why, I think he’s to be
pitied—yes, and applauded too, for his heroism in doing such a thing.”
“Well, Kitty, this Japanese nobility is—suspicious. I don’t like it.”
“Oh, mama, don’t be so narrow. I’m sure I’d just as lieve be a Japanese princess
as a Hungarian one—yes, I would!”
“Kitty, nothing will dissuade you from your mad course? I can’t tell you how
upset I am—and—yes—I refused this morning to see the Count—or permit you to see
him—when he called.”
“Do you mean he’s been here to-day? And that you sent him away?”
“I felt it my duty.”
“Well, once and for all, mother, please understand that I am of age—and have
been ever since I was eighteen. This is my affair—not yours at all. I’m sorry
to speak to you in this way, but you know, you drove away poor Dick Bradley,
and now—why now you are actually trying to do something that will—injure us
all—yes, all of us!”
“Kitty, I’m too broken up to even argue with you. It was a terrible shock. Just
a but—ler! It’s too mortifying!”
“You haven’t given him the chance to explain.”
“He couldn’t. He can’t explain that away. It’s down in black and white, under
the word: Employment: And on the paper with the letter head of the Japanese
Consul at Ottawa. There’s no getting around it. If it hadn’t been for Mr.
Young—and really Kitty, he is a splendid young man and worth———. I can’t help
thinking—”
“Well just stop thinking. I wouldn’t have Mr. Young if he were the only man on
earth, do you understand? This is a matter I’m going to decide for myself. And
I have decided in fact. I’m going to marry Count Ichijo!”
“No, Kitty. The papers’d get hold of the facts. We will become laughing
stocks!”
“I don’t care. Let them get hold of it. Do you want my eight little brothers and
sisters brought down to poverty?”
“Boo-oo-ooo-o-o——How can you be so cruel, Kitty?”
“You asked me the same question not so very long ago, and I’ve got to marry by
July, haven’t I?”
“We can rush over to France or It—”
“We don’t need to. I’m going to marry Count Ichijo.”
“Kitty!”
“You needn’t look at me like that. It’s true. And I believe I’m going to be
happy, too. Let me tell you something, mother. Ever since I lost——Dick, I—I’ve
been like one reaching out for something—for someone to cling to—and—and—oh,
you don’t know how good—how splendid—how really grand he has been!”
“I consider Dick Bradley’s conduct anything but splendid. I believe he
deliberately precipitated us into this humiliating mess in a spirit of
revenge—yes, mean, cowardly—revenge!”
“I didn’t mean Dick, mother. No—he is not—splendid! I once thought him so. I
learned I was mistaken. But I mean the Count. He is splendid! Yes, indeed,
indeed he is!”
“That—little—rat!”
“How dare you say that? I won’t stand it. No, I won’t even from you, my own
mother.”
“Kitty! Now, it is time I asserted myself. I see what has happened to you. He
has hypnotized you—yes, practised some wicked Oriental art upon you. Let me
open your eyes. I repeat he is a rat—a snake—to inveigle his way into a
Canadian home like this, and—”
“Stop! I won’t listen to you. You’ll be sorry afterwards.”
“I will not. I will say what I please. From the first I have found
this—butler—repugnant!”
“Why, mother, you fairly raved about him. You know you did!”
“I—I was blinded—as you are now. I’ll confess the bitter truth. Besides, I was
thinking of my poor children and eagerly seized this opportunity to save us all
from poverty. But now the scales have fallen from my eyes. No—not even for the
sake of your uncle’s money, will I consent to the marriage of my own daughter
with a painted up, lisping, bobbing, hissing little ex-butler like
that!”
“It’s perfectly true, the Count is fixed up. I’ve noticed it myself, around the
eyes. But it’s the custom of the country, and one gets used to it after a
while, and one can see beneath the paint! Mother, I did! and—oh, mother—I saw
under it—a man!”
“What am I to think of you, Kitty? It’s not six months since you boldly asserted
you loved Richard Bradley. Do you wish me to believe you are now in love with
this—butler?”
“Mo-other. Don’t! Don’t! Don’t say anything more about him. I can’t bear
it!”
“You are hysterical! There’s witchcraft here. Yes, of some horrible Oriental
sort. Tell me the truth, Kitty. Are you in love with Count Ichijo?”
“Mother, mother, I don’t know. I don’t know!”
“What is it, Anna? Again!”
“Who is it, mother? Let me see the card!”
“You will say, Anna, that Miss Collins will not—”
“Anna! Listen to me. Tell Count Ichijo that I’ll be down—right away.”
“You wild, crazy girl! Marry that monkey then!”
“He isn’t a monkey. I deny it. It’s a lie! He has a beautiful head, and his
eyes—”
“You have lost your wits, my poor girl. I shall call in an alienist.”
“Do! And let him examine the Count, too, and see if they don’t say he is as fine
and noble a specimen of man as ever lived. Let go of me. I tell you—I’m going
down!”
XIV. NEWSPAPER STORY
Friends of Richard Sheridan Bradley and Miss Katharine Collins, who were reputed
to be engaged, are discussing the extraordinary disappearance of the former. It
appears that some time previous to his disappearance, Mr. Bradley introduced to
the heiress the Count Ichijo, who, while a descendant of an illustrious Japanese
family, has earned his living while in this country in the humble capacity of a
butler. Bradley, it is said, took pity upon the destitute titled Japanese, and
generously offered to assist him financially and socially. Through Bradley’s
agency, the Japanese was launched upon society, and there received with open
arms.
It was shortly observed, however, that the beautiful fiancée of Mr. Bradley was
more often seen in the company of the Count than the Canadian, and presently
Bradley’s friends and associates saw him no more. It was said he had gone to
Japan.
The curious situation was then revealed that the Canadian had not only given up
his sweetheart to the Japanese, but also the greater part of his own fortune.
Investigation shows that the Japanese has been paying all bills with checks signed
by his friend, Mr. Bradley.
There are those among Mr. Bradley’s friends who question whether the Canadian has
actually gone to Japan, since no one, save the Japanese, has heard a word from the
missing man since he left, supposedly, these shores.
A reporter calling at the Collin’s house, was met by a curt explicit denial of any
engagement whatever between the Count and Miss Collins. From servants it was
learned that the heiress and her mother had departed hurriedly upon some trip.
A call at the bachelor apartments, where Count Ichijo has made his home in the
rooms, previously occupied by Mr. Bradley, revealed the fact that the Japanese,
too, had departed for parts unknown.
All information was denied to the reporters, the manager of the place briefly
stating that the Count was gone, and he had nothing to say. Asked if he had heard
from Mr. Bradley, the manager admitted, reluctantly, he had
68not, but claimed to
have seen him the day he sailed.
Considerable alarm is felt by the friends of Mr. Bradley that he may have met with
foul play, and the matter will be taken up at once by the Canadian authorities in
Japan.
XVI. IN HONORABLE JAPAN
“Pull your veil well down over your face, Kitty. I believe there are
reporters—even in Japan!”
“What nonsense, mother. Indeed I’m not going to cover my face. Isn’t this
fascinating?”
“It’s very unfomfortable. How I miss our limousine!”
“Oh, mamma, these jinrikishas are—sweet!”
“When you as f—old as I am, Kitty, you won’t find it sweet to be bumped up and
down in this fashion.”
“I suppose not. Shall I tell the Djin to slow down a bit?”
“No. I am anxious to get there quickly.”
“Why, look at the curious change. We seem to be in the heart of the country.
What a funny city—a maze of bizarre streets and noises, and then, all of a
sudden, silence and a stretch of open country. Isn’t it wonderful? Oh, I know
I’m going to be so happy here!”
“Yes, possibly, Kitty. I am glad, too, now that the matter is finally settled.
The cablegram from Dick Bradley, of course, explained everything. Kitty, I feel
very badly when I think how I berated the dear Count———”
“Now, don’t cry again, mother. Those Djins see out of the backs of their heads,
and the Japanese despise people who show their emotions. It isn’t considered
civilized. So if you’re going to be mother-in-law to a Japanese countess— Oh!
What a bump! Djin, how much farther? I wish I could speak Japanese. I will some
day. Even now I can say ‘He!’ and ‘Iya!’”
“What do they mean?”
“I don’t know. But something sweet, because when the Count taught me, he looked
into my eyes so—so deeply, mother. It was before he began speaking English so
fluently.”
“We ought to be pretty nearly there.”
“Aren’t the shops interesting, with their blue hangings? And those darling
little blue roofs sloping up to the second stories. They’re made of paper, you
know, mamma. When they are lighted at night they look like lanterns.”
“The Count’s place is a great distance from Shimbashi station, isn’t it?”
“Oh, the family seat, you know, is in Echizen. Dick’s been staying at their city
place. He said it was quite a distance out. I wonder what they said to each
other—the Count and Dick—when they met. Wasn’t it nice of Dick to cable from
Japan, denying that hateful newspaper story? Goodness, it was a couple of
months of agony, until he did!”
“Yes, I’m gald Dick cleared everything up—especially about that butler business,
and the fact that they merely exchanged homes, Dick going to the Count’s place,
and the Count putting up at his.”
“Yes—I, too, was glad, though I would have married him whether he had been a
butler or not.”
“Oh, I suppose you would, Kitty. I daresay it was very heroic for him to work
that way for diplomatic purposes. Still, I must say, Kitty, I don’t like the
idea of your husband acting as a spy—yes, it’s practically that—upon your own
countrymen.”
“Goodness, mother, he wasn’t my husband then! Mother, I feel like a figure in
some lovely romance, and I’m so happy, I don’t know what to do. I can’t wait,
hardly, to get there. And yet—and yet, do you know I don’t know whether it is
the Count or Dick I—I—am so wild to see!”
“I’m surprised at you, Kitty. The Count is a gentleman. As for Dick, it was his
stupid blundering that made such a muddle of the whole affair. Look, he’s
stopping. This must be the place.”
“Why, it’s just a little cottage. But isn’t it pretty? Oh, mother, look at the
little children. Aren’t they cunning? Oh, what a sweetie! Did you ever see
anything so cute? See the baby strapped on that little toddler’s back. See,
there are five of them. They can’t be relatives of the Count’s!”
“Hush, Kitty. There’s a lady coming to meet us down the path. How gracefully she
bows at every step. Djin, you said you spoke English. Translate for us what
this lady is saying.”
“She says: Honorable lady of the interior deign to welcome exalted ladies of
outside country. Pray you condescend to step upon the honorable insides of the
house.”
“Thank her, Djin. Thank her.”
“Oh, what a lovely room, mother! Where are we to sit? Djin, what is the lady
saying now?”
“She says that foreign ladies of outside country condescend to accept
hospitality of those house!”
“Who is she—the lady who has welcomes us.”
“She the Countess Taguchi Tsunemoto Mototsune Takadzukasa Ichijo.”
“The Countess———”
“Kitty, what an extraordinarily young woman to be the mother of the Count. Who
are the children, Djin?”
“The honorable lady of the interior say they are honorably hers and the Count
Taguchi Tsunemoto Mototsune Takadzukasa Ichijo’s.”
“Sisters and brothers of the Count Ichijo, who was in America?”
“No. Honorably his children. Thas hees—wife!”
“Mother!”
“Kitty!”
“Djin! Ask this Japanese woman if she is the wife or the mother of the Count
Ichijo, who is expecting us today—the Count Ichijo, who was in America? What is
she laughing about?”
“She laugh, foreign Mrs., account she jos twenty-five year ole. How she can be
mother unto count thirty year ole?”
XVI. EXPLANATION
“S-s-s-s-s-s-s—Kitty!”
“How dare you! How dare you call me that! How dare you even look at me? Who are
you? What are you? We know all about you? You’re a cruel, wicked, horrible
wretch.”
“Kitty!”
“Deny it, then. Tell me that woman was not your wife!”
“I swear it—she is not!”
“And those children?”
“Why, they’re Taku’s infants.”
“Taku?”
“Yes.”
“The Djin said they were the children of the Count Ichijo?”
“Well, they’re not. I’m the Count Ichijo, and they’re not mine.”
“Oh, you make me so glad! So happy! Ichijo, won’t you for—”
“Don’t call me that. Kitty, look me full in the face. Don’t you know me? My
eyebrows have grown in and I haven’t the varnish on, either. There, I’ll take
off this black monstrosity. There’s only my moustache missing now. Why—”
“Dick!”
“Beg pardon. S-s-s-s—I’m the Count Ichijo of Echizen, Japan!”
“Dick! Oh, my own, own Dick! I knew it—all the time!”
“Oh, Kitty, you feel so good—in my arms! But you didn’t know it all the same.
That’s a fib.”
“I did! Away down in my heart—I felt it. I felt in loving that horrible
little—”
“I like that!”
“—it was you I was loving all the time! Oh, do look at poor mamma.”
“Cheer up, Mrs. Collins. I’m not so bad as all that!”
“Oh, Dick—Boo-hoo-o-o-o-o-o—I’ve nothing against you, and it’s r-r-really a
relief to know our Kitty is to marry someone like herself. B-b-b-b-ut I c-can’t
bear to think of all that money going off to f-found a home for
D-d-des—”
“Well, why should they have it? 69Kitty won’t be twenty-one till next week, will
she? Well, we can get married to-day. See? Then we’ll take a dizzy whirl around
the world on Uncle Dan’s money.”
“But how can we? If I marry you, Dick, you know very well I’ll lose the money.
Under the will I’ve simply got to marry a man of title.”
“And so you will, when you tie up to me, Kitty.”
“Please don’t fool any more, Dick dear.”
“I’m not fooling. I never was more serious in my life. In America Taku lent me
his title, didn’t he? In Japan he sold it to me! Legally and bindingly by law,
and now by every legal right and title. I am, in fact, the Count
Toodle-oodle-oodle-oodle, umpty dumpty Ichijo!”
THE END.
