Part 23 (1/2)

Gorman explained who he was and said that Donovan was unable to be present at dinner owing to the condition of his heart. Von Moll said that he derived equal pleasure from meeting Mr. Gorman. Then the Queen swept into the hall, followed by Kalliope. She was dressed in a pale-blue gown which glittered with sequins. She wore a diamond star in her hair. She walked slowly and held herself very erect. Kalliope, walking behind her, added to the dignity of her entrance.

Von Moll stepped forward, stood in the middle of the floor, clicked his heels together and bowed low. The Queen, ignoring him for the moment, shook hands warmly with Gorman and welcomed him to Salissa.

Then she held out her hand to von Moll. He bent over it and touched it with his lips.

”I have to tender an apology,” he said. ”This morning, much to my regret, some of my men stopped your boat. They have been placed under arrest.”

Gorman is of opinion that von Moll was genuinely anxious to make himself agreeable to the Queen. He probably could not help looking her over from head to foot as a man might look over a horse he thought of buying. That was simply his nature. He regarded women as useful and desirable cattle. It would not have occurred to him that any woman would think of herself as his equal.

The Queen flushed a little under his gaze; but she accepted the apology at its face value.

”Oh, it's all right,” she said. ”But I hope you have not punished the men. I wouldn't like to think of their getting into trouble through me.”

”You are kind,” said von Moll, ”but it is necessary to maintain discipline. The men exceeded their orders.”

Then Smith announced that dinner was served. The Queen led the way into the dining-room. She took her place at the head of the table.

Gorman and von Moll sat one on each side of her. Von Moll's eyes wandered over the appointments of the meal, the tall silver candlesticks, the exquisite linen, the fine gla.s.s. They rested with particular pleasure on the menu card which stood in front of him. It promised a luxurious dinner. He tucked his napkin under his chin with an air of satisfaction.

Kalliope stood behind the Queen's chair and waited on her. Smith served the two men. At the vacant end of the table stood the three island girls whom Smith had in training. They were no particular use, but they were pretty girls and they added something to the dignity of the scene. They were elaborately dressed in a glorified form of the bright costume of the island women. Gorman noticed that von Moll eyed them with appreciation.

”I do wish you'd tell me,” said the Queen, ”why you didn't want me to go to the cave this morning.”

”My orders,” said von Moll, ”were not meant to apply to you. I merely wished to prevent the islanders from interfering with my men at their work. That is all.”

”It sounds very interesting,” said Gorman, ”but I don't know what happened. Do tell me.”

”It was rather exciting,” said the Queen. ”Two of Captain von Moll's men stopped our boat and Kalliope hit one of them with an oar. Did he lose many teeth?”

Von Moll drew himself up stiffly. He would have been better pleased if the Queen had tendered some apology to him and promised that the over-daring Kalliope should be punished. It is a serious thing to strike a seaman of the Imperial navy, a man wearing the Emperor's uniform. In von Moll's opinion such conduct could not, without grave impropriety, be described as ”rather fun.” He was not at all sure that the German navy would not suffer in prestige among the islanders.

”The man,” he said stiffly, ”had three teeth broken.”

”Oh,” said the Queen, ”I'm so sorry, and I'm afraid there's no dentist on the island. Still it was his own fault, wasn't it?”

”I am sure,” said von Moll, ”that you will punish the girl suitably.”

The Queen looked at him with astonishment. She had not the slightest intention of punis.h.i.+ng Kalliope. It seemed to her extraordinary that von Moll should suggest such a thing. She was a little inclined to be angry. Then she thought that von Moll must be making a joke. He looked rather grim and solemn; but perhaps that was the way all Germans looked when they made jokes. She laughed in polite appreciation of von Moll's attempt at humour.

Gorman, watching with twinkling eyes, was greatly pleased. Von Moll was evidently another Steinwitz in seriousness and pompous dignity. It was a delightfully amusing trait in the German character.

”I'm still rather in the dark,” he said. ”Who's Kalliope?”

”My maid,” said the Queen. ”There she is.”

Gorman glanced at Kalliope who was at the moment placing a plate before her mistress. The girl grinned at him in a friendly way. She was quite aware that she was the subject of conversation.

”It strikes me, von Moll,” said Gorman, ”that your navy hasn't come very well out of its first regular sea battle.”

Von Moll's face hardened disagreeably. It was an outrageous thing that an Irishman, a mere civilian, who apparently had no right to wear a uniform of any kind, should poke fun at the Imperial navy. He wished very much to make some reply which would crush Gorman and leave him writhing like a worm. Unfortunately it is very difficult to make that kind of reply to a man who insists on laughing when serious subjects are under discussion. Gorman, still watching von Moll closely, felt pleased.

”I hope the Press won't get hold of the story,” he said. ”Just imagine the headlines. 'Grave International Crisis.' 'Naval Encounter in the Cyrenian Sea.' 'Imperial Gunboat'--they'd be sure to say gunboat, you know--'attacked by a girl.' If it had been a man! But a girl! However, I won't mention the matter. If you fix that fellow up with a set of false teeth I daresay n.o.body will ever hear about the business.”