"That's as good as to say that your interpretation of international law is superior to mine. It may be. But the matter will have to come before the superior courts before anything's settled."
"It's not that, sir," said Smith. "I'm not afraid of the law."
"Oh," said Donovan, "you're inclined to think that the German captain may trample on the law?"
"Seeing as how you've no guns, sir, he might."
"Smith," said Donovan, "just look out of that window and tell me what banner the Queen has flying from the flagpost. Old Glory, isn't it?"
"Well," said Donovan, "I guess that's good."
Smith appears to have been remarkably cool. Both Donovan and Gorman agree that he showed no sign of fear or excitement. Yet he must have known that he was in serious danger. He had been a member of the German Secret Service. He had deserted it, revealed its secrets and acted against his employers. He had very good reason to expect to be hanged or shot within the next couple of hours. He cannot, I imagine, have placed much confidence in the protection afforded by the American flag. But he seems to have had a profound belief in Donovan.
When the Queen and Kalliope, wind torn and dishevelled, reached the palace, it was Smith who met them and in answer to her eager questions told the Queen that the submarine was German. He added that the captain would probably come ashore. He asked where the Queen would like to receive him.
"I'm afraid, your Majesty," he said, "that there may be some trouble. I mean to say that it won't be quite a friendly visit to your Majesty. He'll be expecting a supply of petrol, and----"
The Queen gave a little gasp of surprise. Then she burst into a peal of laughter.
"There's not a drop left," she said. "He'll be just mad. I wonder what he'll say. Do you think he'll be rude?"
"Quite possibly, your Majesty," said Smith. "The Germans haven't got very good manners."
"We'll have him in the big hall, Smith. And we'll all be there. If he's nice about the petrol and takes it as a joke we'll ask him to dinner. If he's rude he can just go back to his old submarine and sulk by himself."
Smith was quick in making preparations for the reception in the great hall. But the captain of the submarine reached the landing steps before the party in the palace was ready for him. The Queen hurried into the hall and took her seat on a chair which Smith placed for her. Konrad Karl ran to warn his Corinne to stay in her room and keep the door locked. Smith went to summon Donovan. Gorman, eager now and full of curiosity, stood at the door of the hall to watch the landing of the German officer. As the Queen took her seat he turned to her.