He was hopelessly in the wrong, and he behaved like a common young bounder." The Ambassador shook his head slowly.
"Mr.Norgate," he said, "I am very sorry for you, but you are under a misapprehension shared by many young men.

You believe that there is a universal standard of manners and deportment, and a universal series of customs for all nations.

You have our English standard of manners in your mind, manners which range from a ploughboy to a king, and you seem to take it for granted that these are also subscribed to in other countries.
In my position I do not wish to say too much, but let me tell you that in Germany they are not.

If a prince here chooses to behave like a ploughboy, he is right where the ploughboy would be wrong." There was a moment's silence.

Norgate was looking a little dazed.
"Then you mean to defend--" he began.
"Certainly not," the Ambassador interrupted.