An Affair of Three Nations
Summary
In the complex web of international espionage, Ashton-Kirk, a brilliant and affluent young detective, is drawn into a perilous game of cat and mouse when Stella Morse, the secretary and niece of Dr. Morse, solicits his expertise to unravel the mystery behind a series of ominous letters threatening the physician's life. As Ashton-Kirk delves deeper, he discovers that the Japanese spy network in Washington has been secretly manipulating events, offering a substantial sum to the degenerate son of Russian Count Drevonoff to pilfer a copy of a clandestine treaty forged between Russia and the United States during the Russo-Japanese War. The count, wrongly accused of theft and subsequently disgraced, had unwittingly passed the document to Dr. Morse, who treated his wounds on the front lines. Following Dr. Morse's tragic demise, Ashton-Kirk skillfully proves that the murder was an unfortunate accident perpetrated by Nanon, the housekeeper, and successfully retrieves the treaty, thereby preventing a catastrophic war between the United States and Japan.
Synopsis
Ashton-Kirk, a wealthy young detective who delights in solving mysteries involving ancient tablets, forgotten books, documents and treaties, is asked by Stella Morse, the secretary and niece of Dr. Morse, to investigate the origin of mysterious letters threatening the physician's life. Ashton-Kirk learns from the Secretary of State that the head of the Japanese spy network in Washington offered the dissolute son of Russian Count Drevonoff a large sum of money to steal a copy of a secret treaty conducted between Russia and the United States during the Russo-Japanese War. The count, who discovered the treaty in his son's possession, was thought to have stolen it and sent to war in disgrace. Dr. Morse, who treated the injured count at the front, unwittingly obtained the document. Although Dr. Morse is subsequently killed, Ashton-Kirk proves that the murder was accidentally committed by Nanon, the housekeeper. Ashton-Kirk then secures the copy of the treaty and safely delivers it to the Secretary of State, thus averting war between the United States and Japan.
