FURTHER PASSAGES AT NO. 300 PORTLAND PLACE
The Princess was amused.
"Aha, les Anglais! Très bons enfants!"
The royal eyebrows had an uplift of mischievous pleasure.
"And this, dear Baron," said her Royal Highness, "is my good friend Colonel Coverdale, who has smelt powder in the wars of his country."
Fitz's open rudeness seemed to help the Ambassador to sustain his poise. He bowed and offered his hand to the Chief Constable in a fashion precisely similar to that he had used to the husband of the Princess.
The Chief Constable shook hands with the Ambassador. It was amusing to observe the manner in which each of these big dogs looked over the other. The representative of Ferdinand the Twelfth was a man of greater calibre than his first appearance had led us to believe.
"It is pleasant, madam," said he, "to find you surrounded by your English friends."
The dark eyes brimmed with meaning.
"Confess, Baron, that you did not think I had so many."