He suddenly whipped out his gun and pointed it at his doctor.

As an added precaution the Vizeadmiral ordered his ships to hoist the British white ensign as the two grey monsters ploughed northwest, their elegantly sheered bows driving through the heavy seas, throwing the spray high over their towering fore-bridges.

He maintained -- the thought is not unnatural in a royal historiographer -- that the generous actions of great princes are often twisted and misrepresented by interested critics.

'I'll see to that for you, Miss Clara,' he said obligingly.