Doffen spent the evening helping Missa and the Princess with their packing.
She promised to write and let him know how she got on, and gave him a photo of herself at parting, with the inscription: "To my true friend Doffen, from Baby."
Doffen kept it near his heart.
Missa gave him her photo too, but that he quietly put away in a back pocket.
Next morning he went down to the quay to see them off. The Princess stood at the stern of the ship, and waved to him. He was proud to think that he was the only one she waved to, he was the one to receive her farewell smile. And so the Princess set out into the wide world.
When the Admiral returned he found the following letter awaiting him:
"Dear Father,—Missa and I have decided to go for a little trip to Paris, possibly also London, New York, San Francisco, etc. We couldn't stand it any longer, living in that old town of yours.
"I have drawn £1000 from Eriksen; I hope you won't mind. I don't think we could really manage with less.
"And, please, don't be nastier than usual to Eriksen about it. I made him do it.