He was evidently on the point of losing his temper, and Barker repented him too late of his attempt to extract the required information.

Now he changed his tone.
"Excuse me, Claudius, I did not mean to offend you." "You did not offend me at all, Barker.

But please--do not ask me any more questions about it." Claudius was perfectly calm again.
"No indeed, my dear fellow, I would not think of it;--and I don't seem to think that I should advise anybody else to," he added mentally.

He made up his mind that it must be something very serious, or Claudius, who was so rarely excited, would hardly have behaved as he had done.

He made a few remarks about the weather, which had certainly not improved since morning; and then, resolving that he would find out what was the matter before he was much older, he glided down the ladder and went aft.
Lady Victoria had disappeared, and her brother was trying to light a short black pipe.
"Duke," Barker began, "what the deuce is the matter with Claudius this morning ?" "Don't know, I'm sure.