Anne had forgotten her weariness now.
"There seems to be something, at least, in the American Navy that you find worthy of close interest," she said.
An expression of indifference settled upon the Prince's face.
"Ah, if you know of the Navy, you know the nations are always interested in the new devices and plans of other nations. I once paid fifteen thousand roubles for the plans of an English fort."
"And so diplomacy is stealing or buying information, then?"
"Diplomacy is anything, Anne."
"You interest me, Prince Koltsoff."
"But the D'Estang—I imagine she was not successful with her torpedoing." Inwardly he was cursing Yeasky, as he had been all the evening; Yeasky had never missed a trip of the D'Estang.
Anne, beginning to see, had worked into her cool, malicious mood.
"You must not be so imaginative," she gaped [Transcriber's note: gasped?]. "And now if you 'll excuse me—it's two o'clock."