unsuspecting crowd, like a football player diving for a
tackle, Philip hurled himself upon a little dark man standing close to
the open door of the court carriage. From the rear Philip seized
him around the waist and locked his arms behind him, elbow to elbow.
Philip's face, appearing over the man's shoulder, stared straight into
that of the policeman.

"He has a bomb in his right-hand pocket!" yelled Philip. "I can hold him
while you take it! But, for Heaven's sake, don't drop it!" Philip turned
upon the crowd. "Run! all of you!" he shouted. "Run like the devil!"

At that instant the boy King and his Queen Mother, herself still young
and beautiful, and cloaked with a dignity and sorrow that her robes of
mourning could not intensify, appeared in the doorway.

"Go back, sir!" warned Philip. "He means to kill you!"

At the words and at sight of the struggling men, the great lady swayed
helplessly, her eyes filled with terror. Her son sprang protectingly
in front of her. But the danger was past. A second policeman was now
holding the maniac by the wrists, forcing his arms above his head;
Philip's arms, like a lariat, were wound around his chest; and from his
pocket the first policeman gingerly drew forth a round, black object of
the size of a glass fire-grenade. He held it high in the air, and waved
his free hand warningly. But the warning was unobserved. There was no
one remaining to observe it. Leaving the would-be assassin struggling
and biting in the grasp of the stalwart policeman, and the other
policeman unhappily holding the bomb at arm's length, Philip sought to
escape into the Ritz. But the young King broke through the circle of
attendants and stopped him.

"I must thank you," said the boy eagerly; "and I wish you to tell me how
you came to suspect the man's purpose."

Unable to speak the truth, Philip, the would-be writer of fiction, began
to improvise fluently.

"To learn their purpose, sir," he said, "is my business. I am of the
International Police, and in the secret service of your Majesty."

"Then I must know your name," said the King, and added with a dignity
that was most becoming, "You will find we are not ungrateful."

Philip smiled mysteriously and shook his head.

"I said in your secret service," he repeated. "Did even your Majesty
know me, my usefulness would be at an end." He pointed toward the two
policemen. "If you desire to be just, as well as gracious, those are the
men to reward."