"I am at a loss, madam, to read your thoughts."
"Liar!" muttered Fitz in my ear.
"Your Excellency appears to have a store of natural simplicity," said the Princess.
The Ambassador bowed.
"Is it not a great thing to have, madam, in these days?"
"Has it not occurred to your Excellency that it is a luxury that those who would serve their Sovereign occasionally deny themselves?"
"If it pleases your Royal Highness to exercise your delightful wit at the expense of the humblest servant of the good King!"
"It does not please me, Excellency. It grieves me to the heart."
With an address that was remarkable the Princess changed her tone. Quite suddenly the clear and mellow inflection of light banter was exchanged for one of coldly wrought reproof.
"I am sorry, madam," said the Ambassador, simply and with sincerity; "I am a thousand times sorry. I can never forgive myself if I have wounded the susceptibilities of your Royal Highness. Already I had hoped I had made it clear that the least of your servants has not been a free agent in all that has been done. I am the humble instrument of an august master."