best route； they came together at the place Trannel had appointed for
their next reunion。
He showed himself a guide so admirably qualified that he found a way for
them to objects of interest that had at first denied themselves in
anticipation of the visit from the queens； when they all sat down at
lunch in the restaurant which he found for them； he could justifiably
boast that he would get them into the Town Hall； which they had been told
was barred for the day against anything but sovereign curiosity。 He was
now on the best term with Boyne； who seemed to have lost all diffidence
of him； and treated him with an easy familiarity that showed itself in
his slapping him on the shoulder and making dints in his hat。 Trannel
seemed to enjoy these caresses； and； when they parted again for the
afternoon's sight…seeing； Ellen had no longer a qualm in letting Boyne
drive off with him。
He had； in fact； known how to make himself very acceptable to Boyne。 He
knew all the originals of his heroical romances； and was able to give the
real names and the geographical position of those princesses who had been
in love with American adventurers。 Under promise of secrecy he disclosed
the real names of the adventurers themselves； now obscured in the titles
given them to render them worthy their union with sovereigns。 He resumed
his fascinating confidences when they drove off after luncheon； and he
resumed them after each separation from the rest of the party。 Boyne
listened with a flushed face and starting eyes； and when at last Trannel
offered； upon a pledge of the most sacred nature from him never to reveal
a word of what he said； he began to relate an adventure of which he was
himself the hero。 It was a bold travesty of one of the latest romances
that Boyne had read； involving the experience of an American very little
older than Boyne himself； to whom a wilful young crown…princess； in a
little state which Trannel would not name even to Boyne； had made
advances such as he could not refuse to meet without cruelty。 He was
himself deeply in love with her； but he felt bound in honor not to
encourage her infatuation as long as he could help； for he had been
received by her whole family with such kindness and confidence that he
had to consider them。
〃Oh； pshaw！〃 Boyne broke in upon him； doubting； and yet wishing not to
doubt； 〃that's the same as the story of 'Hector Folleyne'。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Trannel； quietly。 〃I thought you would recognize it。〃
〃Well； but；〃 Boyne went on； 〃Hector married the princess！〃
〃In the book； yes。 The fellow I gave the story to said it would never do
not to have him marry her； and it would help to disguise the fact。
That's what he said； after he had given the whole thing away。〃
〃And do you mean to say it was you？ Oh； you can't stuff me！ How did you
get out of marrying her； I should like to know； when the chancellor came
to you and said that the whole family wanted you to； for fear it would
kill her if〃
〃Well； there was a scene； I can't deny that。 We had a regular family
conclavefather； mother； Aunt Hitty； and all the folksand we kept it
up pretty much all night。 The princess wasn't there； of course； and I
could convince them that I was right。 If she had been； I don't believe I
could have held out。 But they had to listen to reason； and I got away
between two days。〃
〃But why didn't you marry her？〃
〃Well； for one thing； as I told you； I thought 1 ought to consider her
family。 Then there was a good fellow； the crown…prince of Saxe…
Wolfenhutten； who was dead in love with her； and was engaged to her
before I turned up。 I had been at school with him； and I felt awfully
sorry for him； and I thought I ought to sacrifice myself a little to him。
But I suppose the thing that influenced me most was finding out that if I
married the princess I should have to give up my American citizenship and
become her subject。〃
〃Well？〃 Boyne panted。
〃Well； would you have done it？〃
〃Couldn't you have got along without doing that？〃
〃That was the only thing I couldn't get around； somehow。 So I left。〃
〃And the princess； did shedie？〃
〃It takes a good deal more than that to kill a fifteen…year…old
princess；〃 said Trannel； and he gave a harsh laugh。 〃She married Saxe…
Wolfenhutten。〃 Boyne was silent。 〃Now； I don't want you to speak of
this till after I leave Scheveningenespecially to Miss Lottie。 You
know how girls are； and I think Miss Lottie is waiting to get a bind on
me； anyway。 If she heard how I was cut out of my chance with that
princess she'd never let me believe I gave her up of my own free will？〃
〃NO； no； I won't tell her。〃
Boyne remained in a silent rapture； and he did not notice they were no
longer following the rest of their party in the other carriage。 This had
turned down a corner； at which Mr。 Breckon； sitting on the front seat；
had risen and beckoned their driver to follow； but their driver； who
appeared afterwards to have not too much a head of his own； or no head at
all； had continued straight on； in the rear of a tram…car； which was
slowly finding its way through the momently thickening crowd。 Boyne was
first aware that it was a humorous crowd when； at a turn of the street；
their equipage was greeted with ironical cheers by a group of gay young
Dutchmen on the sidewalk。 Then he saw that the sidewalks were packed
with people； who spread into the street almost to the tram； and that the
house fronts were dotted with smiling Dutch faces； the faces of pretty
Dutch girls； who seemed to share the amusement of the young fellows
below。
Trannel lay back in the carriage。 〃This is something like；〃 he said。
〃Boyne； they're on to the distinguished young Ohioanthe only Ohioan out
of office in Europe。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Boyne； trying to enjoy it。 〃 I wonder what they are holloing
at。〃
Trannel laughed。 〃They're holloing at your Baedeker； my dear boy。 They
never saw one before；〃 and Boyne was aware that he was holding his red…
backed guide conspicuously in view on his lap。 〃They know you're a
foreigner by it。〃
〃Don't you think we ought to turn down somewhere？ I don't see poppa
anywhere。〃 He rose and looked anxiously back over the top of their
carriage。 The crowd； closing in behind it； hailed his troubled face with
cries that were taken up by the throng on the sidewalks。 Boyne turned
about to find that the tram…car which they had been following had
disappeared round a corner； but their driver was still keeping on。 At a
wilder burst of applause Trannel took off his hat and bowed to the crowd；
right and left。
〃Bow； bow！〃 he said to Boyne。 〃They'll be calling for a speech the next
thing。 Bow； I tell you！〃
〃Tell him to turn round！〃 cried the boy。
〃I can't speak Dutch；〃 said Trannel； and Boyne leaned forward and poked
the driver in the back。
〃Go back！〃 he commanded。
The driver shook his head and pointed forward with his whip。 〃He's all
right；〃 said Trannel。 〃He can't turn now。 We've got to take the next
corner。〃 The street in front was empty； and the people were crowding
back on the sidewalks。 Loud； vague noises made themselves heard round
the corner to which the driver had pointed。 〃By Jove！〃 Trannel said；
〃I believe they're coming round that way。〃
〃Who are coming？〃 Boyne palpitated。
〃The queens。〃
〃The queens？〃 Boyne gasped； it seemed to him that he shrieked the words。
〃Yes。 And there's a tobacconist's now；〃 said Trannel； as if that were
what he had been looking for all along。 〃I want some cigarettes。〃
He leaped lightly from the carriage； and pushed his way out of sight on
the sidewalk。 Boyne remained alone in the vehicle； staring wildly round；
the driver kept slowly and stupidly on； Boyne did not know how much
farther。 He could not speak； he felt as if he could not stir。 But the
moment came when he could not be still。 He gave a galvanic jump to the
ground； and the friendly crowd on the sidewalk welcomed him to its ranks
and closed about him。 The driver had taken the lefthand corner； just
before a plain carriage with the Queen and the queen…mother came in sight
round the right。 The young Queen was bowing to the people； gently； and
with a sort of mechanical regularity。 Now and then a brighter smile than
that she conventionally wore lighted up her face。 The simple progress
was absolutely without state； except for the aide…de…camp on horseback
who rode beside the carriage； a little to the front。
Boyne stood motionless on the curb； where a friendly tall Dutchman had
placed him in front that he might see the Queen。
〃Hello！〃 said the voice of Trannel； and elbowing his way to Boyne's
side； he laughed and coughed through the smoke of his cigarette。 〃I was
afraid you had lost me。 Where's your carriage？〃
Boyne did not notice his mockeries。 He was entranced in that beatific
vision； his boy…heart went out in worship to the pretty young creature
with a reverence that could not be uttered。 The tears came into his
eyes。
〃There； there！ She's bowing to you； Boyne。 she's smiling right at you。
By Jove！ She's beckoning to you！〃
〃You be still！〃 Boyne retorted； finding his tongue。 〃She isn't doing
any such a thing。〃
〃She is； I swear she is！ She's doing it again！ She's stopping the
carriage。 Oh； go out and see what she wants！ Don't you know that a
queen's wish is a command？ You've got to go！〃
Boyne never could tell just how it happened。 The carriage did seem to be
stopping； and the Queen seemed to be looking at him。 He thought he must；
and he started into the street towards her； and the carriage came abreast
of him。 He had almost reached the carriage when the aide turned and
spurred his horse before him。 Four strong hands that were like iron
clamps were laid one on each of Boyne's elbows and shoulders； and he was
haled away； as if by superhuman force。 〃Mr。 Trannel！〃 he called out。
in his agony； but the wretch had disappeared； and Boyne was left with his
captors； to whom he could have said nothing if he could have thought of
anything to say。
The detectives pulled him through the crowd and hurried him swiftly down
the side street。 A little curiosity straggled after him in the shape of
smal