“La Motte is a wearisome time,” remarked the first gentleman-in-waiting to cover a somewhat heavy pause.
“He finds it difficult to discover anything wearable, Mynheer,” answered the Prince calmly.
And to point his dislike of M. Heenvliet he approached Mr. Bromley, turning his back on the other.
“Are not you cold, Bromley? There should have been a fire here.”
“Indeed I think so, Highness,” answered the Englishman, who was not cold in the least, but who would have seconded the Prince in anything, even at the risk of his own disgrace.
It seemed that M. Heenvliet was about to answer this thrust at the management of the Palace, when M. Van Ghent entered with a vexed and flushed countenance.
“What is the cause of this delay?” he demanded, looking about him.
The Prince was coldly silent.
“His Highness complains of the gloves brought him,” answered M. Heenvliet, “and takes this occasion to complain of the way in which he is served.”