"My grandfather's portrait is downstairs, did you know?" The admiral said languidly, much later. He tried to re-fasten his cuffs, but was having trouble with the cufflinks. "Help, please?" he begged. Alice, still very uncertain, had been studying the bell pull and debating whether or not to summon a maid. She seemed happy to give up the worry for a moment.

"I guess you've been here before, then," she said, fixing his shirt.

"To the restaurant, many times," he replied. "I've never used the private rooms before. I never had a good reason." Horace clasped her hand affectionately. "I used to come here a lot with my grandfather, and other family. He was fond of the place. I think he first visited it shortly after it opened, back in 1798." The admiral looked around happily. "I think this was very nice. Would you like to come back here?"

"I hope they wash the furniture well," she fretted.

"Undoubtedly they shall, but such worries are for servants, and you are no longer a servant." Alice went silent, and toyed with the new bracelet Sir Horace had given her. Without a second thought the admiral tugged on the bell and summoned the servants to help them dress.

As the car pulled away the admiral leaned back into the rear seat. Sighing happily, if tired, he picked up Alice's hand and kissed it quickly.

"I'm a very happy man," he said. Then he looked out the window and started to laugh. "Look at that!"

"Horace, I don't see!" Alice protested, trying to see what was so funny.

"Look at the carriage over there. See the coat of arms?"

"Yes," she said, unsure where he was going.

"Describe it.

"Well, there's two animals, one on the upper left and the other on the bottom right. They look somewhat like the royal standard. Are they lions?"

"Yes, they are. Go on," he encouraged her. "What is in the other two quarters of the shield?"

"Well, they look like three bows in each quarter."

"Exactly!" He laughed. "I should explain. That carriage belongs to the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Claude George Bowes-Lyon."

"Bowes-Lyon? You mean, it's a pun? Is that what heraldry is?"

"That's what German heraldry is," he said a bit disdainfully. "Bad puns and crossword clues. Real heraldry is different. That's mine over there." The Montverre arms were carved and painted onto the inside of the car doors, as the admiral had felt putting them on the outside was too showy. "Montverre translates as verdant green mountain. But you don't see a green mountain, do you?" Alice looked at the coat of arms. "That's Norman in origin—" The admiral paused to yawn broadly. "I think I need a bit of a rest. Not as young as I was."

When the Rolls rolled up outside No. 14 Gaither Way Alice had to nudge the admiral awake. Kinver himself opened the door and helped steady the admiral.

"Kinver, is there a cinematograph theatre in the area?" Sir Horace asked.

"I believe there is, sir," the butler replied, carefully expressionless.

"Oh good. Please arrange tickets for later tonight if you can." Sir Horace helped Alice alight from the car. "Alice, my dear, I give you my word we will go out to the cinema later tonight but at the moment – could you please show me your bedroom?"