By evening, the once-boisterous Embassy Street had fallen silent. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the demonstrators had long since scattered like birds and beasts.
Military police who had rushed over upon hearing the news had already sealed off the scene. The embassy district was now guarded "every five steps by a sentry, every ten by a watchman."
The smell of gunpowder still hung in the air, while the shattered remnants of Russian-style buildings silently accused all that had happened during the day.
Every entertainment venue had shut its doors. Even the crowds who normally loved a spectacle had locked themselves indoors, afraid of getting dragged into trouble.
Instead, the embassies that had previously kept their doors shut became active. Everyone had been cowardly when facing a mob, but once the Japanese Government was involved, their courage returned.
The military police's fearsome reputation could intimidate Japanese civilians, but it could not deter foreign diplomats. Influenced by traditional culture, Europe possessed an especially strong sense of grieving for the rabbit when the fox died.
They were all foreign diplomatic personnel. If they did not step forward and speak out now, what had happened to the Russian diplomats today might happen to them tomorrow.
The embassies of every nation unanimously condemned the day's outrageous breach of convention, including Britain, Japan's ally.
Faced with these exalted ambassadors who could not be argued with, cursed at, or touched, the military police responsible for sealing off the scene suffered miserably.
Some hot-tempered fellows simply rushed at the military police blocking their way, throwing punches and kicks. Quite a few men had already been beaten black and blue.
One had to admire the Japanese people's resilience. Even after being beaten, they still greeted others with smiling faces. In any case, they had plenty of men, while