Poor Admiral Essiter, perceiving on the threshold that he was intruding upon a domestic difference, wished heartily that he had not thought of following up his official visit of congratulation to Prince Romanos with one of condolence to the defeated candidate. He knew something of Eirene by personal experience, and more by report, and the sight of the black-edged paper on the table suggested to him that she was about to separate from Maurice owing to his ill-success in the election, and that he had been pitched upon to assist at the final arrangements. For all the magnificence of his appearance, and his natural coolness, he came very near retreating ignominiously, and Eirene saw it.
“Come in, please, and shut the door,” she said imperiously. “I wish to make a confession in your presence, sir. I have forged my husband’s signature to that paper.”
“Really, Eirene!” said Maurice indignantly. “My wife is not quite herself, Admiral. I signed the paper with my own hand. She doesn’t know what she is saying.”
“Of course not—very natural,” murmured the Admiral soothingly. “This is rather an inconvenient time, isn’t it? You would rather I called another day?”
“No, no!” cried Eirene. “You are to stay. Don’t mind what my husband says.”
“But I must pay a little attention to him in his own house, mustn’t I?” said the Admiral, in the genial voice which had so many times averted a break-up of the European Concert. “You can speak frankly to me, Teffany, you know. If there is anything I can help to arrange, you have only to say so. If not, I go, seeing nothing and remembering nothing.”
“If nothing else will satisfy my wife——” began Maurice unwillingly.
“Nothing will,” said Eirene, with such determination that her husband and the Admiral alike bowed to it.
“Then may I suggest that we should sit down?” said the arbitrator pleasantly, drawing forward a chair for Eirene. “This is not a court-martial, is it?—merely a little friendly talk. You were going to tell me something, Princess?”
“I want you to know,” said Eirene, leaning forward in her chair, with her hands clasped rigidly on her knee, “that I have deceived Maurice and disgraced him——”