Coverdale's intention was pacific, and he is a man of weight, but the principals in this affair were likely to be too much for him.
"Arbuthnot," said Fitz, "be good enough to accompany the Princess to the Savoy. We will come on presently."
For a moment the issue hung in the balance. The Ambassador had demanded satisfaction and Fitz was more than willing to grant it. But Coverdale was equally resolute. To the best of my capacity I seconded his efforts, but with men so headstrong and so implacable it was almost impossible to exert any kind of authority.
"If you don't care to support me," said Fitz to Coverdale, "perhaps you will not mind taking the place of Arbuthnot. I daresay you other fellows will come on to the ballroom."
To our dismay, Fitz, with a reassumption of the Napoleonic manner, turned towards the staircase.
"What is to be done?" I inquired of the Chief Constable anxiously. "I am a man of peace myself, but one of us must see him through."
"I agree with you—the cursed firebrand! But one of us must stay, and the other must look after the Princess."
The Chief Constable did not conceal the fact that he had a predilection for the latter duty.
"I don't know much about affairs of honour," said I, "and I should greatly prefer that a man of more experience took a thing like this in hand; but I can quite believe that your official position——"
"Official position be damned!" said the Chief Constable. "If you honestly think I shall be of more use than you, there is no more to be said. We are here to make ourselves useful and we must see this thing through."