"I confess!" he cried. "It was I who climbed on to the railway car! It was I who stabbed the American man in the tunnel and robbed him of his papers! The others are innocent. Marki, who brought the car for me, knew nothing. Those who saw me return to this house knew nothing. No man was my confidant. I alone am guilty! I thought they could not discover the truth, but they have hunted me down. He is there--the doctor who bandaged my knee. I told him that it was a bicycle accident. Listen! It was Iwho killed the young American Vanderpole. I followed him from the Savoy Hotel. I dressed myself in the likeness of my master, and Ientered his taxi as a pleasant jest. Then I strangled him and Irobbed him too! He saw me--that man!" Soto cried, pointing to the youth who stood at the Inspector's left hand. "He was on his bicycle. He skidded and fell through watching me. I told my master that I was in trouble, and he has tried to shield me, but he did not know the truth. If he had, he would have given me over as I give myself now. What I did I did because I love Japan and because I hate America!"His speech ended in a fit of breathlessness. He lay there, gasping. The doctor bent forward, looking at him first in perplexity and afterwards in amazement. Then very slowly, and with the remnants of doubt still in his tone, he answered Inspector Jacks' unspoken question.
"He is the image of the man who came to me that night," he declared. "He is wearing the same clothes, too.""What do you say?" the Inspector whispered hoarsely to the youth on his other side. "Don't hurry. Look at him carefully."The young man hesitated.
"He is the same height and figure as the man I saw enter the taxi," he said. "I believe that it is he."Inspector Jacks stepped forward, but the Prince held out his hand.
"Wait!" he ordered, and his voice was sterner than any there had ever heard him use. There was a fire in his eyes from which the man at his feet appeared to shrink.
"Soto," the Prince said, and he spoke in his own language, so that no person in that room understood him save the one whom he addressed,--"why have you done this?"The man lay there, resting now upon his side, and supporting himself by the palm of his right hand. His upturned face seemed to have in it all the passionate pleading of a dumb animal.
"Illustrious Prince," he answered, speaking also in his own tongue, "I did it for Japan! Who are you to blame me, who have offered his own life so freely? I have no weight in the world.
For you the future is big. You will go back to Japan, you will sit at the right hand of the emperor. You will tell him of the follies and the wisdom of these strange countries. You will guide him in difficulties. Your hand will be upon his as he writes across the sheets of time, for the glory of the Motherland.
Banzai, illustrious Prince! I, too, am of the immortals!"He suddenly collapsed. The doctor bent over him, but the Prince shook his head slowly.
"It is useless," he said. "The man has confessed his crime. He has told me the whole truth. He has taken poison."Lady Grace began to cry softly. The air of the room seemed heavy with pent-up emotions. The Prince moved slowly toward the door and threw it open. He turned towards them all.
"Will you leave me?" he asked. "I wish to be alone."His eyes were like the eyes of a blind man.
One by one they left the room, Inspector Jacks amongst them. The only person who spoke, even in the hall, was the Inspector.
"It was the Prince who brought the doctor here," he muttered. "He must have known! At least he must have known!"Mr. Haviland touched him on the arm.
"Inspector Jacks!" he whispered.
Inspector Jacks saluted.
"The murderer is dead," he continued, speaking still under his breath. "Silence is a wonderful gift, Mr. Jacks. Sometimes its reward is greater even than the reward of action."They passed from the house, and once more its air of deep silence was unbroken. The Prince stood in the middle of that strange room, whose furnishings and atmosphere seemed, indeed, so marvellously reminiscent of some far distant land. He looked down upon the now lifeless figure, raised the still, white fingers in his for a moment, and laid them reverently down. Then his head went upward, and his eyes seemed to be seeking the heavens.
"So do the great die," he murmured. "Already the Gods of our fathers are calling you Soto the Faithful. Banzai!"
