Page:Modern Japanese Stories.pdf/46

 “Good heavens! If you aren’t careful, I’ll tell them in America that a Japanese gentleman admitted his country was backward. In fact. I’ll say it was a Japanese Government official. You are a Government official, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m in the Government.”

“And behaving yourself very correctly, no doubt?”

“Frighteningly so! I’ve become a real Fürst, you know. Tonight’s the only exception.”

“I’m very honoured!” She slowly undid the buttons of her long gloves, took them off and held out her right hand to Watanabé. It was a beautiful, dazzlingly white hand. He clasped it firmly, amazed at its coldness. Without removing her hand from Watanabé’s grasp, she looked steadily at him. Her large, brown eyes seemed with their dark shadows to have grown to twice their former size.

“Would you like me to kiss you?” she said.

Watanabé made a wry face. “We are in Japan,” he said.

Without any warning, the door was flung open and the waiter appeared. “Dinner is served, sir.”

“We are in Japan,” repeated Watanabé. He got up and led the woman into the little dining-room. The waiter suddenly turned on the glaring overhead lights.

The woman sat down opposite Watanabé and glanced round the room. “They’ve given us a chambre séparée,” she said, laughing. “How exciting!” She straightened her back and looked directly at Watanabé as if to see how he would react.

“I’m sure it’s quite by chance,” he said calmly.

Three waiters were in constant attendance on the two of them. One poured out sherry, the other served slices of melon and the third bustled about ineffectually.

“The place is alive with waiters,” said Watanabé.

“Yes, and they seem to be a clumsy lot,” she said, squaring her elbows as she started on her melon. “They’re just as bad at my hotel.”

“I expect you and Kosinsky find they get in your way. Always barging in without knocking….”