I daresay nobody will ever hear about the business."

Von Moll was angry; but he was no more ready than he had been at first
with a suitable answer for Gorman. He was dimly aware that if he gave
way to his feelings, if he even allowed his anger to appear, this
grey-haired, bantering Irishman would be gratified. He had just sense
enough to realize that he must make some pretence at laughing. It was,
of course, impossible for him to regard disrespectful remarks about
the German navy as a joke, but he succeeded in giving a kind of hoarse
cackle.

Smith was conscious of a want of harmony in the party. He became most
vigilantly attentive to the two men on whom he waited. Von Moll drank
sherry with his soup and two glasses of hock while he ate his fish.
Smith poured him out a glass of champagne. For Gorman he opened a
bottle of Irish whisky. Then he handed round an entree, a fine example
of his powers as a cook.

The Queen, too, was aware that von Moll's temper had been ruffled. She
turned to him with a smile and made a banal, but quite harmless
remark.

"I think Salissa is a perfectly sweet island," she said, "don't you?"

Von Moll thought it an exceedingly dull hole and wished to say so
plainly. Perhaps it was the sight of the champagne foaming pleasantly
in his glass which made him restrain himself.

"No doubt it is pleasant as a holiday resort," he said. "For a few
weeks one might find life agreeable enough; but after that----"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh," said the Queen, "I've been here for more than two months already
and I like it better every day."

"Really?" said von Moll. "What a pity that you are leaving so soon."

"But I'm not leaving. What makes you think I am?"

"I understand," said von Moll, "that Mr. Donovan has resold the island
to King Konrad Karl."

"Whatever put that into your head?" said the Queen.

"I am perhaps mistaken," said von Moll, "in saying that the island has
already been resold; but very soon it will be."

"Oh no, it won't," said the Queen. "It's my island, you know, my very
own, and I wouldn't part with it for anything you could offer me."

"I understand," said von Moll, "that it is the Emperor's wish that the
island should revert to the Crown of Megalia."

He spoke with a certain ponderous assurance. There was evidently no
doubt whatever in his mind that the Emperor's wish settled the matter.
The Queen's next remark must have startled him.

"What on earth has the E