he continued:

"Would you mind runnin' down to ask who that man is, Miss Margaret?
Seems to me I know that bicycle."

Courtesying in silence, the maid backed out of the room and hurried down
the stairs quite afire with the eagerness of her curiosity. This
strange, bright-wheeled thing to which the American princess so easily
applied a name, could only be some wonderful product of the New World.
She was overjoyed at the thought that she was to be the first to closely
examine and perhaps to touch this curiosity.

Her plans were delayed, however, for when she reached the court-yard she
found herself restrained by a row of men with halberds, one of whom
informed her that her Majesty was returning from chapel.

The Queen and her retinue were obliged to pass across the courtyard on
the way to the apartment where Elizabeth was to take her evening meal.
Her progress at such times was magnificently accompanied, and was often
much delayed by her stopping to notice her favorites as she passed them,
and even at times to receive petitions.

Copernicus, who, as we have seen, had just arrived, was inclined to
bewail the interruption caused by this procession, but his companion
insisted that, on the contrary, all was for the best.

"Why, man," said he, "Dame Fortune hath us in her good books for a
surety. What! Could we have planned all better had we willed it? To meet
the Queen in progress from chapel! 'Twill go hard but Sir Percevall
shall win his suit--and you, Master Droop, your monopolies. Mark me
now--mark me well!"

So saying, the fat knight advanced and joined one of the long lines of
courtiers already forming a hedge on each side of the direct way which
the Queen was to traverse. Droop, leaning his bicycle against the palace
wall and taking in his hands his phonograph and box of cylinders, placed
himself behind his guide and watched the proceedings with eager
curiosity.

A door opened at one end of the lane between the two courtiers and there
appeared the first of a long procession of splendidly apparelled
gentlemen-in-waiting, walking bareheaded two by two. Of these, the first
were simple untitled knights and gentlemen. These were followed by
barons, then earls, and lastly knights of the garter, each gentleman
vying with the others in richness of apparel and lavish display of
collars, orders, jewelled scabbards, and heavy chains of gold.

Behind these there came three abreast. These were the Lord High
Chancellor, i