In Germany, however, the "naval holiday" soon became an object of derision.

The official answer was that Germany had a definite naval law and that the Government could not entertain any suggestion of departing from it.

Great Britain then answered that, for every keel Germany laid down, the Admiralty would lay down two.

The outcome, therefore, of this attempt at friendship was that the two nations had been placed farther apart than ever.
The dates of this discussion, it will be observed, almost corresponded with the period covered by the Tyrrell visit to America.

This fact, and Page's letters of this period, had apparently implanted in Colonel House's mind an ambition for definite action.