Subtitled: Being the Secret History of the Russo-Japanese War. Serialized in 7 issues of Pearson's Magazine (US), March - September 1905, before publication as a book.
Andrea V is summoned by the Marquis of Bedale in London on behalf of the British Government. War between Russia and Japan was just underway with small skirmishes acting as a prelude to full-force hostilities. England had promised to come to the aid of Japan in the event of a second power joining with Russia and that was expected to happen. V is hired to find some way to keep that from happening.