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“I’m going to be frank with you, Lieutenant,” Sharpless said as he tapped the ash from his cigar, “I found quite the phrase 'a real American wife' quite disturbing. Your intention then is to play house with this girl for a few days, then leave her behind?”
“It’s all in good fun! It’s not as if Butterfly doesn’t know what it means to marry a foreign sailor on shore leave. She’s probably done it a half-dozen times before!”
Sharpless shook his head grimly. “I’m afraid I must disagree with you. I happened to meet the young lady at the consulate when she was making an inquiry about emigration to the states. We began the process but explained to her that we couldn’t complete the entry permits until she had a certificate of marriage. That does not sound like a young woman enjoying the trade of a series of foreign sailors.”
“She’s clearly planning on using me to be able to immigrate! It’s not as though she's completely innocent.”
“Damn it, man!” Sharpless threw his cigar butt into the garden. “If you’re looking for some companionship while you’re in this country, why not just go to a brothel? Nagasaki has plenty of those!”
“But none of those places have a girl as young as Butterfly! She’s only fifteen years old!”
“Fifteen? Fifteen?”
Pinkerton was downcast as he stood handcuffed between a burly U.S. Marine and two Japanese police officers. “Now gentlemen,” Sharpless said to the latter, “Lance Corporal Shaughnessy will see to it that you aren’t harassed by any sailors as you make your way to the port.” He turned to the Marine. “Once you’ve gotten to the Abraham Lincoln, have the policemen release the Lieutenant from his restraints, then give this letter to the captain.”
Sharpless turned to Pinkerton. “That letter is a notice that you are officially banned from going ashore in Nagasaki as well as all other Japanese ports. Incidentally, I’m also telegraphing every consulate in Asia, encouraging them to ban you from their ports as well.” His eyes narrowed. “You’re leaving behind a distraught fifteen-year-old child who’s also been disowned by her relations.” He smiled. “But my wife and I have thought for some time about adopting a child, so perhaps it will turn out all right after all.”