Meantime the policeman frowned.

It was incredible; his excellency could not possibly have intended any wrong, it was only a harmless pleasantry.

Gretchen's lips quivered; the law of redress in Ehrenstein had no niche for the goose-girl.
"Good evening, colonel," said Carmichael pleasantly.

"Why can't your bandmaster give us light opera once in a while ?" The colonel pulled his mustache in chagrin, but he did not give Carmichael the credit for bringing about this cheapening sense.

For the time being Gretchen was freed from annoyance.