Interpreter Iishino and Chief Ohira led Sano down the main street of Deshima, under mellow sunlight that had warmed the air with the deepening afternoon. “What are the names of the two barbarians presently on the island?” Sano asked.

“Assistant Trade Director Maarten deGraeff,” Chief Ohira said, “and Nicolaes Huygens, ship surgeon.”

Dr. Ito’s source of information about foreign science! The letter beneath Sano’s sash seemed to expand. To cover his eagerness, he said quickly, “What sort of relationships did the barbarians have with Director Spaen? Were they friendly? Did they have any disagreements?”

Ohira frowned. “The law prohibits my forming a close acquaintance with barbarians. I’m not in a position to know how they feel about one another. And I can assure you that they always behave civilly in my presence. I don’t tolerate unruliness.”

“The barbarians try not to let us interpreters overhear anything important,” Iishino said. “But sometimes they fail.” He pantomimed listening at a door. “I once heard Spaen and Assistant Director deGraeff arguing about ‘private trade.’ I don’t know what that meant, because they saw me and stopped talking.”

“And Dr. Huygens?” Sano said.

“He takes meals with the others and treats them when they’re sick, but otherwise he keeps to himself.”

“This is where Assistant Director deGraeff lives,” Ohira announced.

Sano followed Ohira up to the balcony of a house near the west guard station, glad to learn of Spaen’s acrimonious relations with at least one comrade. So much the easier to implicate a barbarian in the crime. Only the thought of the Dutch ship dampened Sano’s rising spirits. How would the barbarian crew react to news of Spaen’s murder?

Guards admitted Sano, Ohira, and Iishino to an office whose basic layout resembled Director Spaen’s. But the walls were bare, the floor uncluttered. Stacked ledgers stood on the desk, edges perfectly aligned. The only personal item visible was a small framed picture, turned facedown. Two more guards and a servant kept watch over Assistant Director deGraeff, who sat at the desk, spine straight, writing with an inked goose quill. He wore a brown coat, black knee-length trousers, stockings, and shoes, and a wide-collared white shirt. His stench permeated the hot, stuffy atmosphere.

“The honorable investigator will speak with you now!” Chief Ohira barked at the Dutchman.

Interpreter Iishino translated. The guards yanked the barbarian out of his seat and shoved him onto the floor, shouting, “Bow down!”

The barbarian prostrated himself. Alarmed by the tone Deshima’s staff had set for the interview, Sano said, “Please get up and return to your seat.” This man was a representative of the powerful nation whose ship waited offshore, and Sano saw nothing to be gained from antagonizing witnesses. When the barbarian had resumed his place, Sano eyed him cautiously.