At last Doffen thought he ought to say something, and observed with the utmost coolness:
"Your daughter danced very nicely last night."
"H'm." The Admiral only grunted, and looked out of the window. Doffen imagined he had not heard.
"I was saying, Admiral, your daughter gave a deuced fine performance last night." Doffen raised his voice a little, thinking the Admiral must be hard of hearing.
"And what the devil's that got to do with you?" Doffen slammed down the lid of his desk with a bang.
"To do with me? Why, I paid for my ticket, anyway."
"I didn't ask her to dance for you, my lad, and devil take me but it shall be the last time."
"What's that to do with me?" retorted Doffen coldly.
The Admiral began to feel in his element; here at last was a man who could stand up to him.
"Can't you see she's like a young palm? Haven't you got a spice of feeling in you, man?"