“By the way, Smith, what’s your Christian name?”
“Edward, sir.”
“I asked,” said Gorman, “because I’d a sort of idea that Captain von Moll called you Fritz last night.”
“Very likely, sir. I didn’t notice. It struck me, sir—I don’t know whether you noticed it—that the German gentleman wasn’t quite himself after dinner. He might have called me Fritz, mistaking me for some one else. I understand, sir, that Fritz is a common name in Germany.”
“Very likely,” said Gorman.
Smith left the room. In ten minutes he was back again.
“Luncheon is served, sir. In the small verandah at the south end of the palace. Shall I show you the way?”
He guided Gorman to the small verandah, a pleasant, shady place, opening off the room in which they had dined the night before.
“Is the Queen coming?” asked Gorman.