“He went as near to censure as I have ever heard him when speaking of any of the institutions of our country,” the Prime Minister declared. “I will ask him about it directly we get the chance. You shall see how he will evade the point.”
“You will have to be quick if you mean to get hold of him,” the Duke remarked. “See, the game is over and there he goes with Penelope.”
The Prime Minister rose to his feet and intercepted them on their way to the door.
“Miss Morse,” he said, “may we ransom the Prince? We want to talk to him.”
“Do you insinuate,” she laughed, “that he is a captive of mine?”
“We are all captives of Miss Morse’s,” Bransome said with a bow, “and all enemies of Somerfield’s.”
Somerfield, hearing his name, came up to them. The Duchess, too, strolled over to the fire. The Prime Minister and Bransome returned with Maiyo towards the corner of the room where they had been sitting.
“Prince,” the Prime Minister said, “we have been talking about your speech at the Herrick Club last night.”
The Prince smiled a little gravely.
“Did I say too much?” he asked. “It all came as a surprise to me—the toast and everything connected with it. I saw my name down to reply, and it seemed discourteous of me not to speak. But, as yet, I do not altogether understand these functions. I did not altogether understand, for instance, how much I might say and how much I ought to leave unsaid.”