CHAPTER XI
A STUDENT PRINCE
The Imperial Hotel afforded the travelers every conceivable luxury, perfect service, and cosmopolitan meals. Dulcie found her room a bower of flowers. She had her personal maid, a demure, slant-eyed little thing. Little Kamani did not seem to sense any handicap in the fact that neither could speak the other’s language. Smiles made easy contact.
Very early the following morning, the lobby was filled with important-looking Japanese, all in immaculate European clothes. Only in their homes, or on very special state occasions, do the modern Japanese wear the beautiful kimonas of the old regime. Many of the men present were members of the Imperial household.
As Dulcie stood talking to Doctor Trigg, Wally joined them.
“Well, Dulcie, how do you like this crazy country? The people—aren’t they a riot? And they take themselves so seriously, too.”
“Keep still, Wally!” said Dulcie, hotly. “I think you are perfectly inexcusable, the way you air your views.”
“They don’t understand,” said Wally carelessly. “Sort of half-witted, anyhow.”
At that moment a young Japanese who was standing directly behind Wally turned to look at him. As he did so, he saw Doctor Trigg. A look of amazement flickered across his placid countenance. He stepped quickly around the group, and with an apologetic bow to Dulcie, hastened to the doctor with outstretched hands.
“Doctor Trigg!” he exclaimed in fluent English. “Well, well, what do you think of this? Fortune attends me!” He shook the doctor’s hands, and almost embraced him. “Surely you remember me?”
“I most certainly do,” exclaimed Doctor Trigg. “Well, my dear boy, this certainly is a delightful reunion. Of course I haven’t forgotten you!” He turned to Dulcie. “Let me present to you one of my old and most promising students.” He hesitated. “What’s your title over here, Hata? Prince, I believe?”
The Prince bowed deeply to Dulcie.
“Mr. Cram, Prince Hata.”
Again the Prince bowed; but this time it was a haughty salutation, and his black eyes regarded the smiling countenance before him curiously. He turned abruptly to Doctor Trigg.
“You came in the Moonbeam, I take it, sir. How delightful! I have already paid compliments of day to your distinguished young captain. Do please consider yourself most particularly my guest during your stay; and Miss Hammond, if she will be so gracious, must meet my honored mother and my sisters. And you must see something of our Tokio; not this make-believe Paris, but the old city. For it still exists, hidden away. And I have a million questions to ask you, Doctor Trigg, about Princeton.”
“Doctor Sims is in the party, too,” said the professor.
“Truly, this is the happy day of fulfilled desires!” exclaimed the Prince.
Wally broke into the conversation. Here was a prince! He had heard that the Japanese nobility were very exclusive. What an incident to tell back home! Doc calling him “my dear boy,” too, and patting him on the back. It was time he asserted himself.
“I’m a Princeton man, too,” he said, smiling ingratiatingly.
Prince Hata looked at him pleasantly. His face did not change, his voice when he spoke was gentle and courteous.
“Indeed!” he said, but Wally felt as though a sizable pail of ice water had been dumped over him.
“Where is the dear doctor?” Hata asked, turning to the older man. “Does he still roar horribly? Such a bluff! And does he still collect—what is it? Oh, yes, epitaphs. I will make him very happy. We have some wonderful ones near the temple on my father’s estate. Shall we go and find him?” He turned, and they started out. Wally pressed close to the young nobleman, but at the door Hata faced him, and bowed.
“Good-bye,” he said distinctly. “It may be that we shall meet again.” He turned and joined the others, who had gone forward.
Walter Cram gazed after the trim, dignified little figure. He felt the hot flush of mortification in his face. The darned Jap! he had heard every word he had said in the lobby. He wondered if the chauffeur of the night before had also understood English. There was the big car waiting at the curb. Wally’s curiosity drove him on. He crossed the sidewalk and spoke to the driver.
“Are you detailed to look after our party today?” he asked.
“Yes, sir, for the duration of your stay,” came the instant answer in perfect English.
Wally turned and went into the hotel. He found his way to the men’s lounge, and to a big wing chair in a corner. There he sat and thought, cursing himself for his breaks.
Prince Hata and the two old men talked of the days, only two or three years back, when Hata had been at Princeton. It had not occurred to either of them that they might see this former pupil, and here they were, walking slowly up and down, arm in arm. But here the two who had been teachers, and therefore in authority, were the guests, and Hata, talking fast, was planning all sorts of wonderful entertainments for them.
Prince Hata and his two old teachers started gaily off to look at temples and jade and epitaphs. Hata had even remembered epitaphs! They would have a grand time, and it was easy to see that Prince Hata was hungry to hear all about Princeton.
Dulcie found her father and David in close consultation in the reading room, while near the door half a dozen Japanese officers waited patiently for the conversation to end. This was no place for Dulcie. She went down to the lobby again and found Red, scarcely recognizable in white suit and shoes, his coppery hair painstakingly flat, his eyes bluer than ever.
“Well, I certainly am glad to see you!” Dulcie exclaimed, dragging him toward two big chairs in a corner. “Such a time!” and she told him about Wally and the Prince.
“Honestly, Miss Hammond, that lad makes me just sick with disgust, but what can be done? There’s no chance to lock him up, and there’s no use warnin’ him to keep a civil tongue in his head, because he just don’t know when he’s insultin’. Gosh, what do you suppose he said and did at Friedrichshafen, when no one was with him? I dunno, but I bet it was awful. And he speaks good German, so he could make all his friendly comments as clear as sea-water, and as bitter.”
“Well, I’m too ashamed for words,” said Dulcie. “Last night in the car I know that chauffeur understood what he said. These people are so perfectly and beautifully polite; so gentle, and self-effacing, and yet so efficient. You must meet Prince Hata, Red. He simply oozes aristocracy, yet Doctor Trigg hugged him and called him his dear boy, and now he’s taken them off to find old jade and tombstones. And that man last night who put us in the car. He never smiled when dear Doctor Trigg spouted his Japanese at him. He was so proud of his Japanese and, Red, he had looked at the wrong line in the book! He thought he said ‘Good-night, and thank you’, but he had said, ‘You have stolen the rice of my father’!”
“God love him!” cried Red, after a shout of laughter. “He said that, did he?”
“Yes, and the man just smiled politely and bowed.”
“Well, Wally is just the cross we’ll have to bear, Miss Hammond.”
“We won’t worry over him, at any rate,” Dulcie replied. “I’ve a grand morning ahead of me. I’m going to take Kamani, my little maid, and an interpreter, and lots of money, and we are going shopping. Imagine it! Shopping in Tokio!”
“It looks just like New York to me,” said Red, “except for the people.”
“Not where we are going. We are going to explore. Here they come now. Good-bye!”
“Good luck!” said Red. He went off to find David, and met him coming down the grand staircase.
“How about a drive, Red?” he called as soon as he caught sight of him. “I’m free for the rest of the morning, and we might see something of the city.”
“Fine!” agreed Red. “I believe that the car that brought Miss Hammond and the professors in last night is assigned to us.”
“Good!” cried David.
They located the car, and found the same young driver at the wheel.
“You speak English, of course?” David said, his candid eyes smiling.
“Yess, sir.”
“I thought so,” David said. “Well, how about a drive this morning? We are crazy to see the city, and I bet you can tell us all about it.”
“It will be to me a great happiness,” the young Japanese answered.
“Come on then, Red; we’re off!” They hopped in and the car started smoothly away.
A short distance from the hotel, their driver called to a youth who was standing at the curb. They conversed in a chopped sibilant jargon, then the driver asked permission to take on another driver, so that he himself might be free to designate and explain points of interest.
“Of course,” said David. “And you had better come over in back so you won’t have to shout.”
He came readily enough and sat on one of the little folding seats, with many apologies for occupying a place in front of them.
Then began such a story of Japan and of Tokio that the past lived and the present blossomed for them. The Japanese, he said, had never been a roving people. They did not live by conquest. Japan’s rulers are well beloved, guiding their industrious subjects with kindly wisdom, as they forge ahead in agriculture and the arts on a high plane of civilization. Centuries ago, while all the rest of the world was new and racked by conflict, civil and foreign, the Japanese were taught to read and write.
They drove through miles of streets as modern as the newest of American cities. Block after block of beautiful office buildings and shops with great windows full of the most up-to-date gowns and Paris ties, socks, and shirts. Snappy gloves laid over correct walking sticks that would have been a credit to the most exclusive Fifth Avenue shop. There were magnificent banks; and movie houses everywhere.
“How big is this place, anyhow?” Red demanded at length.
“They say it is a good bit bigger than Philadelphia,” said David. “And Philly is some town, you know.”
It was strange indeed to see on all sides such perfect order and co-operation in a land so crowded that it was impossible to spare room for the domestic animals, the horses and cows so common to the rest of the world.
Their guide dwelt upon the thousands of students, men and women, who had gone abroad to be educated, and to absorb new and advanced ideas, until Japan in her stupendous mental growth had supplied her people with universities and technical schools of their own. He showed them silkworms on their trays in warm rooms, endlessly eating the mulberry leaves heaped about them. They saw skeins of queer raw silk, and were given a strand for a souvenir.
Then they went down to the wharves; and saw the agile little fishermen on their slow-moving boats.
“Those boats look nice and peaceful,” said Red, staring at a dark, sullen ship.
“Their dreadnaughts, over at Yokohama, are not so peaceful. They have to have ’em for protection,” said David. “All countries have to have protective navies.”
“They sure looked as though they could protect, all right.”
“We will try to go to Yokohama,” said the guide, “but not today. Not plenty enough time.”
Driving a little way beyond the city, they saw tiny farms, perhaps two and a half acres in extent, all under the most intensive cultivation. On the way back they entered the old part of the city, where they saw temples lovely as dreams. They went through small shops, where men were decorating exquisite pieces of porcelain, painting on silk, or carving precious stones, ivory, and teak.
“Take me home,” moaned David at last, as he paid for just one more purchase. “I mustn’t buy another thing.”
“But they are so cheap,” murmured Red, arranging a whole procession of tiny elephants and regarding them with fascinated eyes. “I’ve a notion our lad here keeps a critical eye on the price tags. These storekeepers are always castin’ eyes at him.”
“Well, take your elephants, and let’s go. I know you are going to buy them.”
“This has been simply great,” David told their guide when they arrived at their hotel. “I never had a better time in my life. Thanks a lot. I wish you would tell us your name.”
The young man hesitated. “It iss most hard to speak it, that name,” he said, “but in your America, iss not Bill the often name of the chauffeur?”
The boys laughed.
“Yeah, it’s American, all right,” said Red.
“All right, Bill,” said David as he shook the young man’s hand heartily. “Whatever you say goes. Thanks a whole lot for the ride, and everything. Gee, it’s been wonderful!”
In the lobby they found Mr. Hammond waiting, as the Moonbeam people drifted in by twos and threes. The last to appear was Prince Hata, piloting his two professors. Doctor Trigg was wreathed in smiles. Doctor Sims, looking almost sprightly, clutched his precious notebook and a small parcel.
“Well, well, here’s our pretty girl!” said Doctor Trigg, smiling at Dulcie. “Thanks to Hata, here, we have had a wonderful morning—wonderful. If we were obliged to leave Japan now, at once, I should still feel repaid for the journey. Our old pupil has done so much for us,” he patted the Prince fondly.
“It would be many times impossible for me or mine to do enough for you, sir. I was such a stupid boy, and you both were so always patient.”
“Tut, tut, Hata, you always had a very retentive mind. Well, Miss Dulcie, I saw a little trinket, which Hata secured for me, and I have brought it to you. I want you to accept it with an old man’s affection.”
“Ha—grr-r-r-r-r, same here!” said Doctor Sims, dropping his parcel into Dulcie’s lap.
She opened the quaint worn metal cases. In each nestled a jewel of purest jade; a necklace from Doctor Trigg, and from Doctor Sims a bracelet. Dulcie had never seen anything quite so lovely.
“Oh, you dears, you shouldn’t have done it,” she sighed, brooding lovingly over the jewels.
“Mere trifles,” said Doctor Sims. “I think Hata, here, beat the shopkeepers down.”
Prince Hata smiled. “They received their price,” he assured them. “Quite most satisfactory.”
Dulcie looked at him suspiciously. She knew a little about jade. But the dark face was bland and impassive. After all, whatever Hata had done, he had done to give happiness to his two old friends. Dulcie rallied a diplomacy equal to his own. “They are perfect,” she said. “And I love you both for them. I shall keep them all my life, and remember how I came by them, and what they mean.”
“We have a most old saying in Japan, Miss Hammond,” said Prince Hata. “‘The jewel is never so lovely as the wearer.’ I mourn that I shall not see you again today except in my capacity as official. There is a garden party to stroll into this afternoon, and tonight enters a great dinner. Afterwards an entertainment for the officers and crew. You might enjoy to go. It is permissible. The Geisha girls will dance.
“Tomorrow, Miss Hammond, I do trust that you will graciously allow my mother to receive you. She is unfortunately unable to leave her home. If you would so benevolently come to her?”
“I would love to,” cried Dulcie.
“Thank you. Then I will so arrange, and send you word.” He made his cordial, graceful farewells and departed.
“Well, Prince Hata’s mother must be a princess,” mused Dulcie.
“She is the Emperor’s aunt,” said Doctor Trigg, absently.
“Aunt!” cried Dulcie. “Aunt! Then Prince Hata is the Emperor’s cousin!”
“Quite likely,” said Doctor Trigg. “I say, Sims, those manuscripts Hata showed us—”
“Oh, what have I let myself in for!” cried Dulcie, interrupting. “I don’t know how to behave before emperors’ aunts.”
“Pshaw!” laughed Mr. Hammond. “Don’t forget that you yourself are the heir of the ages.”
“Certainly!” said Doctor Trigg. “Besides, she is a very agreeable old lady. A trifle ceremonious, but very agreeable. We dropped in this morning.”
“To see the Princess?” demanded Dulcie.
“Yes,” said Doctor Trigg. “Unofficially, of course, unofficially. The old lady does not give audiences to men as a rule, but we were her son’s teachers, you see, and she seemed to have an idea that she wanted to thank us personally for the attention we had given him during his course at Princeton. Hata took us to the palace to see some manuscripts. She heard we were there, so she sent word for us to drop in and see her.”
“Simple, like that,” murmured Dulcie. “They just dropped in!”
Mr. Hammond laughed.
“By the way, Dulcie, did you know that Mr. Hamilton has left us? He had to get back to Paris by the quickest route. He’s flying to Baku, then to Moscow, then straight over. He has to attend a big directors’ meeting of their Paris house.”
“What a shame!” cried Dulcie. “Goodness, daddy, I’m glad you aren’t a big business man. It’s no wonder they get ‘tired’, is it?” she added wickedly.