“I beg your Royal Highness’s pardon.”
“And you ought, boy. What more have you to say?”
“That I was wrong, sir. I believed it could not be true. I have found out since that it was as you said.”
“Hah! You ought always to believe what a royal personage says—eh, Murray?”
The captain bowed, and smiled grimly.
“Don’t agree with me,” said the Prince sharply. “Well, boy, you are very sorry, eh?”
“Yes, your Royal Highness, I am very sorry,” said Frank firmly. “I know better now, and I apologise to you.”
The Prince, moving himself round in his chair, frowning to hide a feeling of amusement, stared hard at the lad as if to look him down, and frowned in all seriousness as he found the boy looked him full in the eyes without a quiver of the lid.
“Humph! So you, my page, consider it your duty to come and apologise to me for doubting my word?”
“Yes, your Highness, and to ask your forgiveness.”