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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
small Dutch boys； too short to look over the shoulders of men at the
queens； and too weak to make their way through them to the front； but for
them； Boyne seemed alone in the world with the relentless officers； who
were dragging him forward and hurting him so with the grip of their iron
hands。 He lifted up his face to entreat them not to hold him so tight；
and suddenly it was as if he beheld an angel standing in his path。 It
was Breckon who was there； staring at him aghast。
〃Why； Boyne！〃 he cried。
〃Oh； Mr。 Breckon！〃 Boyne wailed back。 〃Is it you？ Oh； do tell them I
didn't mean to do anything！ I thought she beckoned to me。〃
〃Who？ Who beckoned to you？〃
〃The Queen！〃 Boyne sobbed； while the detectives pulled him relentlessly
on。
Breckon addressed them suavely in their owe tongue which had never come
in more deferential politeness from human lips。 He ventured the belief
that there was a mistake； he assured them that he knew their prisoner；
and that he was the son of a most respectable American family； whom they
could find at the Kurhaus in Scheveningen。 He added some irrelevancies；
and got for all answer that they had made Boyne's arrest for sufficient
reasons； and were taking him to prison。 If his friends wished to
intervene in his behalf they could do so before the magistrate； but for
the present they must admonish Mr。 Breckon not to put himself in the way
of the law。
〃Don't go； Mr。 Breckon！〃 Boyne implored him； as his captors made him
quicken his pace after slowing a little for their colloquy with Breckon。
〃Oh； where is poppa？ He could get me away。 Oh； where is poppa？〃
〃Don't！ Don't call out； Boyne；〃 Breckon entreated。 〃Your father is
right here at the end of the street。 He's in the carriage there with
Miss Kenton。 I was coming to look for you。 Don't cry out so！〃
〃No； no； I won't； Mr。 Breckon。 I'll be perfectly quiet now。 Only do get
poppa quick！ He can tell them in a minute that it's all right！〃
He made a prodigious effort to control himself； while Breckon ran a
little ahead； with some wild notion of preparing Ellen。 As he
disappeared at the corner； Boyne choked a sob into a muffed bellow； and
was able to meet the astonished eyes of his father and sister in this
degree of triumph。
They had not in the least understood Breckon's explanation； and； in fact；
it had not been very lucid。 At sight of her brother strenuously upheld
between the detectives； and dragged along the sidewalk； Ellen sprang from
the carriage and ran towards him。 〃Why； what's the matter with Boyne？〃
she demanded。 〃Are you hurt； Boyne； dear？ Are they taking him to the
hospital？〃
Before he could answer； and quite before the judge could reach the
tragical group； she had flung her arms round Boyne's neck； and was
kissing his tear…drabbled face； while he lamented back； 〃They're taking
me to prison。〃
〃Taking you to prison？ I should like to know what for！ What are you
taking my brother to prison for？〃 she challenged the detectives； who
paused； bewildered； while all the little Dutch boys round admired this
obstruction of the law； and several Dutch housewives； too old to go out
to see the queens； looked down from their windows。 It was wholly
illegal； but the detectives were human。 They could snub such a friend of
their prisoner as Breckon； but they could not meet the dovelike ferocity
of Ellen with unkindness。 They explained as well as they might； and at a
suggestion which Kenton made through Breckon； they admitted that it was
not beside their duty to take Boyne directly to a magistrate； who could
pass upon his case； and even release him upon proper evidence of his
harmlessness； and sufficient security for any demand that justice might
make for his future appearance。
〃Then；〃 said the judge； quietly； 〃tell them that we will go with them。
It will be all right； Boyne。 Ellen； you and I will get back into the
carriage； and〃
〃No！〃 Boyne roared。 〃Don't leave me； Nelly！〃
〃Indeed； I won't leave you； Boyne！ Mr。 Breckon； you get into the
carriage with poppa； and I〃
〃I think I had better go with you； Miss Kenton；〃 said Breckon； and in a
tender superfluity they both accompanied Boyne on foot； while the judge
remounted to his place in the carriage and kept abreast of them on their
way to the magistrate's。
XXIV。
The magistrate conceived of Boyne's case with a readiness that gave the
judge a high opinion of his personal and national intelligence。 He even
smiled a little； in accepting the explanation which Breckon was able to
make him from Boyne； but he thought his duty to give the boy a fatherly
warning for the future。 He remarked to Breckon that it was well for
Boyne that the affair had not happened in Germany； where it would have
been found a much more serious matter； though； indeed； he added； it had
to be seriously regarded anywhere in these times； when the lives of
sovereigns were so much at the mercy of all sorts of madmen and
miscreants。 He relaxed a little from his severity in his admonition to
say directly to Boyne that queens； even when they wished to speak with
people； did not beckon them in the public streets。 When this speech
translated to Boyne by Breckon； whom the magistrate complimented on the
perfection of his Dutch； Boyne hung his head sheepishly； and could not be
restored to his characteristic dignity again in the magistrate's
presence。 The judge gratefully shook hands with the friendly justice；
and made him a little speech of thanks； which Breckon interpreted； and
then the justice shook hand with the judge； and gracefully accepted the
introduction which he offered him to Ellen。 They parted with reciprocal
praises and obeisances； which included even the detectives。 The judge
had some question； which he submitted to Breckon； whether he ought not to
offer them something； but Breckon thought not。
Breckon found it hard to abdicate the sort of authority in which his
knowledge of Dutch had placed him； and when he protested that he had done
nothing but act as interpreter； Ellen said； 〃Yes； but we couldn't have
done anything wi