“The fin champagne, your Majesty, was brought from the cellars of Louis Philippe by my father. I trust your Majesty will approve.”
Ughtred sipped it, and did approve. He accepted some coffee also, and broke a roll in his fingers.
“This is my longest fast,” he explained, laughing. “We ride out at six to escape the heat. Part of my afternoon I spend at the barracks and part at the House of Laws.”
“It appears to me, sir, that you find pretty considerable to do,” Mr. Van Decht remarked. “I’d an idea that royalty had an easier time of it.”
“A good many people share that idea, Mr. Van Decht,” Ughtred answered, good-humouredly. “For myself, I never worked half so hard in all my life. But then, it is work I love, and for my country, which is very dear to me. Some day I hope, when things are more settled, to be able to drop the military part of my labours, and give all my attention to the development of my country.”
Mr. Van Decht nodded. He was greatly enjoying the fin champagne.
“You’re right there, sir,” he declared. “Make a nation strong commercially, and she’ll hold her own in time against the world. I guess you’re a travelled man, sir, and you won’t mind a stranger remarking that in some ways you’re a little behind the times here.”
Sara’s eyes twinkled with amusement. The young officer, who understood a little English, glanced at Reist, and was speechless.
“You mustn’t mind father,” Sara exclaimed. “You know he’s a terrible democrat, and utilitarian to the backbone. He’s dying to introduce electric cars here and electric light.”