Plainly something was seriously wrong, but if the Prince expected the Admiral to make any anxious inquiries about his health, or to express regret for the scene of an hour before, he was disappointed. Beyond cocking an amused eye at him, now and again, the Admiral took no notice of him. So it was the Prince who had to open the conversation, which he did as soon as the servants had withdrawn.
"Admiral Pachmann," he began, with heavy dignity, "I did not like the way in which this evening you spoke of me. It appeared to me almost insulting."
"Insulting, Your Highness!" protested the Admiral. "You astonish me. I imagined myself speaking most respectfully."
"It was insulting," repeated the Prince doggedly.
"Surely you misunderstood me!" said the Admiral, with deep concern. "Let me see—what was it I said? I do not remember the exact words, but it was to the effect, was it not, that your health was threatened by over-study and that the Emperor had instructed you to take a vacation?"
"There was more than that."
"I emphatically denied that there was any truth in that absurd rumour about the bar-maid."
"She was not a bar-maid."
The Admiral laughed.
"Was she not? Then I was misinformed. But that is a detail."