"Yes, but the Admiral's a bit superstitious. I'm not sure how he'd take it, during the grand debut of the new flagship.

"As for the other . . . well, I don't think the servants here are quite so used to their strange Queen and her mad friends as they are at home. They've so much less exposure to me, after all.

"But I'm very glad to hear you and Marian are enjoying yourselves."