The Ends of the Earth (11 page)

He gave Appleby an hour to settle in, then called at his room with a bottle of whisky to ease the stresses of the long journey.

‘This had better be worth my while,’ was Appleby’s gruff greeting. ‘There’s plenty for me to be doing in London.’

‘It’s worth your while, I promise.’ Max poured them both a generous measure of Scotch. ‘Cheers.’

‘What are we drinking to?’

‘The snaring of Fritz Lemmer.’

‘A heart-warming toast. But how do we achieve it?’

‘I tried to inveigle my way back into his circle – the strategy we agreed with C – but Lemmer had other ideas. He had Krenz send me off in pursuit of Anna Schmidt to Marseilles, but it was a trap. The plan was to kill me in a faked suicide, attributed to remorse following the murder of a private detective who’d followed me from Orkney. You should hold on to your hat, because the agent Lemmer entrusted with my elimination was Pierre Dombreux.’

Appleby reacted to this announcement with a measured frown. ‘You keep yourself busy, Max, I’ll say that. Dombreux?’

‘It was somebody else’s body in that canal in Petrograd. He’s working for Lemmer. And now he’s working for us as well.’

‘How did you pull
that
off?’

Max recounted then all that had happened to him in Marseilles. Appleby listened patiently and thoughtfully, slowly filling and lighting his pipe as the story proceeded. He raised his eyebrows occasionally in a signal of surprise and smiled once, when Max mentioned shooting Meadows in the foot.

‘Lemmer is en route to Japan with Tomura,’ Max concluded. ‘He thinks I’m dead, which is how I’d like it to stay until I catch up with him. I believe Dombreux, with his life depending on it, will have pulled off the deception. Letting him go was a risk, but I secured more than just his cooperation in return. I secured something I reckon we can use to bring Lemmer down, scotching his plans to sell his network of spies to the Japanese and identifying those spies into the bargain.’

‘And what might that be?’

‘His son, Horace. Fritz Lemmer’s son.’

At last, Appleby looked impressed. ‘Lemmer has a son?’

‘According to Dombreux, yes. Born in Berlin in 1904 to a mother now deceased. He goes by her maiden name: Hanckel. Eugen Hanckel. He’s been a pupil for the past three years at Le Rosey, a private boarding school at Rolle, on Lake Geneva, ten miles or so west of Lausanne.’

Appleby chewed vigorously on his pipe. ‘We’ve never heard a whisper of there being a son. Lemmer’s rumoured to have visited Switzerland quite often in recent years. I saw nothing significant in that. The country was an intelligence gold mine during the war and a lot of wealthy Germans salted money away there as insurance against defeat. But a son installed at a Swiss boarding school would also explain it, of course, if we can believe Dombreux.’

‘I believe him,’ said Max. ‘What’s the alternative? That he made it up to talk his way out of trouble? I doubt even he can think that fast. A name. A year of birth. A specific school. And the address of a Lausanne lawyer who pays the fees and reports back to Lemmer. Marcel Dulière.
Notaire
of discretion.’

Appleby took a prowl to the window and back again, then said, ‘If it’s true, we may just have him. Ties of blood are the ties that bind. A son?’ He nodded approvingly. ‘That would be more than a chink in his armour.’

‘Dombreux’s offered to meet us in Lausanne tomorrow.’

‘You think he’ll turn up?’

‘I don’t know. But we should.’

‘How did he come by this information?’

‘He wouldn’t say.’

‘No. Of course he wouldn’t. Dombreux’s clearly a slippery customer. We can’t rely on him, Max. You understand that?’

‘I’m relying on him to save his skin along with mine.’

‘Mmm. We’ll go to Lausanne and look for supporting evidence. If I’m satisfied, on a balance of probability, that the boy exists and is Lemmer’s son …’

‘Yes? What then?’

‘We’ll be able to apply more pressure than Lemmer’s used to bearing. The result could be … gratifying, let’s say.’

‘I’ll follow him to Japan. I’ll be happy to apply that pressure. Once he’s recovered from the shock of realizing I’m not dead.’

‘Japan’s a long way. Coordinating our actions won’t be easy.’

‘What sort of action do you have in mind?’

‘When the time’s right, we take the boy.’ Appleby looked squarely at Max. ‘We can’t afford to be squeamish.’

Max nodded in appreciation of the point. ‘Until then, I need Lemmer and everyone else to think I’m dead.’

‘I’ll do what I can on that front. Some false sightings of the private detective – MacGregor, did you say? – in Nice, perhaps. A forged letter to his client reporting he’s on your trail there. Whatever’s needed to stop the French police suspecting his is the body in the villa. Lemmer may have left someone in Marseilles to confirm Dombreux’s version of events. Meadows, maybe. You can’t go back there. And you can’t contact anyone other than me. Dead men have to keep to the shadows.’

‘I can do that.’

‘No need to hide in a corner here, though. I think we owe ourselves a good dinner, don’t you?’

They did not have to go far to find that good dinner. Hearty food and heady wine at the Brasserie Georges answered their needs amply. But they did not ease all of Appleby’s anxieties.

‘In ordinary circumstances, Max, I’d condemn this scheme as crazily risky. Dombreux will use us for his own ends, no question about it. We have no way of knowing what le Singe is up to either. I’m sure he’s set on doing more than saving your bacon at convenient intervals. And then there’s Morahan and his crew. I haven’t dared tell C about the money I’ve paid that man on your behalf.’

‘It was my money, Horace.’

‘Considering how your father came by a lot of it, I’m not sure that’s strictly true. The Service can’t be party to a feud between you and Count Tomura. Try to remember that.’

‘But if we land Lemmer and Tomura in the same net?’

‘No one will complain. On the other hand, if it goes wrong …’

‘You had nothing to do with it. I acted on my own initiative. I’ve never been employed by the Secret Service. You’ll disown me. And I won’t object.’

Appleby studied Max over a half-raised glass of Burgundy. ‘Maybe you won’t. But I will, even while I’m disowning you.’

Max raised his own glass. ‘Thanks, Horace. That’s nice to know.’

It was a short walk back to the hotel through the mild night air. When Appleby delved in his pocket, Max assumed he was looking for his pipe. But he produced an envelope instead, which he thrust into Max’s hand.

‘Bedtime reading for you.’

‘What is it?’

‘A report by our ambassador in Tokyo on the ramifications of the attempt on the Tsarevich’s life in 1891. There was no Secret Service then, of course. I had to pull a few strings to extract it from Foreign Office files. I’m breaking every rule in the book by showing it to you, so I’d be grateful if you let me have it back in the morning.’

‘Why
are
you showing it to me?’

‘Because it contains some interesting information about your father. And Tomura. And Lemmer. See what you make of it.’

IN CONFIDENCE

TOKYO, 8th June 1891
Ref. HF/MEB/TODM/CAH

For the personal attention of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State, LONDON

The events that so seriously marred the Tsarevich’s visit to Japan last month have significant potential adverse consequences for British interests in this country, which this report summarizes, together with actions taken to limit the effect of those consequences.

Hopes were high that the Tsarevich’s visit would markedly improve Russo-Japanese relations, thereby alleviating tension between the two powers in Manchuria and Korea. Extensive preparations were made in Tokyo to receive and entertain him. He was due to arrive in the capital on Tuesday 12th May, after landing at Kobe a few days before and proceeding to Kyoto, the former capital.

On Monday 11th May, he took an excursion to Lake Biwa, lunching after a cruise on the lake at Ohtsu. It was while his party was leaving Ohtsu to return to Kyoto, travelling in rickshaws, that he was set upon by a policeman wielding a sword, who struck him on the head. Fortunately, the injury was not serious and the assailant was swiftly overpowered by the rickshaw drivers. The Tsarevich’s advisors nevertheless recommended he abandon his tour and a few days later he sailed home from Kobe without visiting Tokyo.

The Japanese government apologized fulsomely for the outrage. The Emperor visited the Tsarevich before he left Kobe. A woman committed suicide, leaving a note expressing the hope that her act would atone for the shame brought upon her nation. Several ministers resigned. Yet the damage was done. A genuine rapprochement with Russia has at the very least been delayed, which will inevitably encourage Germany to resume its efforts to foster conflict between the two countries. This cannot be to our strategic advantage.

The Japanese authorities have been quick to cast the Tsarevich’s would-be assassin, Tsuda Sanzo, as a madman acting alone, but there are indications they do not necessarily believe this to be the case. An Inspector Kuroda has been detailed to investigate Tsuda’s background. His inquiries have led him to contact officials at several foreign legations. It appears he suspects active collaboration between the German Naval Attaché, Fritz Lemmer, and a militaristic Japanese politician, Baron Tomura Iwazu. This, at any rate, is the conclusion of 2nd Secretary Maxted, who was deputed to deal with Inspector Kuroda on our behalf.

Maxted believes Tomura to be a leading member of Dark Ocean, a secret society of ultranationalist persuasion founded in 1881 following the suppression of the Samurai revolt led by Saigo Takamori. Dark Ocean is believed to have been responsible for the attempted assassination of Foreign Minister Okuma in October 1889. The man who attacked him, Kurushima Tsuneki, committed suicide immediately afterwards. Tsuda Sanzo may have intended to do the same after attacking the Tsarevich, but was apprehended before he had the chance. He has not, so far as we are aware, admitted Dark Ocean membership. But the organization represents a serious attempt to steer Japan on to a more aggressive path in its relations with the Western powers. The Germans may see assisting its endeavours as a way of weakening the position of Russia – and Great Britain – in this region. From our point of view, this would be a very serious development.

Much of this is supposition, although there is general consensus that Herr Lemmer represents a new force in Germany’s pursuit of her interests, reflective perhaps of a greater degree of assertiveness on the part of the Kaiser following his removal of Bismarck from the chancellery last year.

The Japanese authorities will obviously handle their investigation of the assassination attempt against the Tsarevich as they see fit, although Maxted reports that Kuroda appears doubtful he will be allowed to take his inquiries to a proper conclusion. The balance of power within the Japanese government is, as ever, difficult to assess. Dark Ocean may well enjoy sympathy for their cause in high circles.

The decision to send Maxted back to London at short notice, for reassignment elsewhere (as per legation cable 91/471), was taken when it became apparent he could be accused of a conflict of interest and might also be in some personal danger. His acquaintance with Baron Tomura and his late wife, who was of English birth, could be seen in some quarters as a reason to doubt the validity, or at the very least the impartiality, of his assessment of the situation.

Account was also taken of the death of Baron Tomura’s English father-in-law, Claude Farngold, in a fire at his warehouse in Yokohama in October 1889. Some of the circumstances of the fire were suspicious and it occurred only eight days after the attempted assassination of Foreign Minister Okuma. If Mr Farngold was killed because he had learnt, perhaps through his daughter, of Tomura’s involvement in the outrage, it would suggest Tomura is capable of extreme ruthlessness.

There is no solid evidence to be offered in substantiation of these speculations. Nor as yet are there grounds for complaining to the Japanese or the Germans about Herr Lemmer’s activities in this country, although we have taken steps to discourage members of the British community from entering into any dealings with Lemmer, or, indeed, with Baron Tomura.

Vigilance will be maintained on the issues raised and an early report made of any significant developments.

H. FRASER

Max felt the report raised more questions than it supplied answers. It was far from clear to him, for instance, whether the Ambassador intended any criticism of his father, although he supposed compromising oneself to the extent of being sent back to London post haste was not the best way to manage a diplomatic career. Lady Maxted had never said anything implying they had left Japan under a cloud.

Given her reticence on many matters, however, that meant little.

Their train left Lyons so early a hurried cup of coffee at the station was their only breakfast. Appleby had to follow that with a pipeful of tobacco before he could offer much in the way of conversation.

‘Spot anything useful in the report, Max?’ he asked, glowering out at the mist-wreathed French countryside.

‘Well, it appears Lemmer and Tomura may have been helping each other for a long time.’

‘And your father was the man who uncovered their collaboration.’

‘Yes. Small thanks though he got for it.’

‘You don’t believe he was sent home for his own safety?’

‘I don’t know what to believe. The report skates over quite a lot.’

‘It does, doesn’t it? Perhaps you should press the author for more details.’

‘The Ambassador?’

‘No, no. Fraser’s long dead, I’m afraid. But he didn’t write the report. A lesson in bureaucracy for you, Max. The first set of initials in a ministerial reference is the name of the fellow whose signature the document’s going out under. The last set is the name of the fellow who actually wrote the document. The number of initials between the first and last tells you how many levels in the hierarchy the writer is from the signatory. That report was written by Second Secretary Cyril Hodgson.’