“I thought nothing ever got on your nerves,” answered Sir Roger, stopping abruptly--“You seem to take serious matters coolly enough!” “Serious matters demand coolness,” replied Von Glauben. “We should only let steam out over trifles. Have you seen his Majesty this morning?” “Yes. I am to see him again at noon.” “When do you go off duty?” “Not for a month, at least.” “Much may happen in that month,” said the Professor sententiously; “_Your_ hair may grow white with the strangeness of your experiences!” Sir Roger met his eyes, and they both laughed. “Though it is no laughing matter,” resumed Von Glauben. “Upon my soul as a German,--if I have any soul of that nationality,--I think it may be a serious business!” “You have come round to my opinion then,” said De Launay. “I told you from the first that it was serious!” “The King does not think it so,” rejoined Von Glauben. “I was summoned to his presence early this morning, and found him in the fullest health and highest spirits.” “Why did he send for you then?” enquired De Launay. “To feel his pulse and look at his tongue! To make a little game of me before he stepped out of his dressing-gown! And I enjoyed it, of course,--one must always enjoy Royal pleasantries! I think, Roger, his Majesty wishes this entire affair treated as a pleasantry,--by us at any rate, however seriously he may regard it himself.” De Launay was silent for a minute or two, then he said abruptly: “The Premier is summoned to a private audience of the King at noon.” “Ah!” And Von Glauben drew a cluster of the overhanging philadelphus flowers down to his nose and smelt them approvingly. “And”--went on De Launay, speaking more deliberately, “this afternoon their Majesties sail to The Islands----” Von Glauben jumped excitedly to his feet. “Not possible!” Sir Roger looked at him with a dawning amusement beginning to twinkle in his clear blue eyes. “Quite possible! So possible, that the Royal yacht is ordered to be in readiness at three o’clock. Their Majesties and suite will dine on board, in order to enjoy the return sail by moonlight.” The Professor’s countenance was a study. Anxiety and vexation struggled with the shrewd kindness and humour of his natural expression, and his suppressed feelings found vent in a smothered exclamation, which sounded very much like the worst of blasphemous oaths used in dire extremity by the soldiers of the Fatherland. “What ails you?” demanded De Launay; “You seem strangely upset for a man of cool nerve!” “Upset? Who--what can upset me? Nothing! Roger, if I did not respect you so much, I should call you an ass!” Sir Roger laughed. “Call me an ass, by all means,” he said, “if it will relieve your feelings;--but in justice to me, let me know why you do so! What is my offence? I give you a piece of commonplace information concerning the movements of the Court this afternoon, and you jump off your seat as if an adder had bitten you. Why?”