ination. She felt
sure that if Droop reached the Panchronicon alone, he would depart
alone, and then what was to become of Phoebe and herself?

Just as the Queen's eyes were opening and her face began to show a
return of her passion with recollection of its cause, Rebecca had an
inspiration, and with the promptitude of a desperate resolution, she
acted upon it.

"Look a-here, your Majesty!" she said, vigorously, "let me speak alone
with you a minute and I'll save you a lot of trouble. I know where that
man keeps more of them machines."

This was a new idea to Elizabeth, who had destroyed, as she supposed,
the only existing specimen of the malignant instrument.

With a gesture she sent her attendants to the opposite end of the room.

"Now speak, woman! What would you counsel?" she said.

"Why, this," said Rebecca, hurriedly. "You don't want any more o' them
things talkin' all over London, I'm sure."

A groan that was half a growl broke from the sorely tried sovereign.

"Of course you don't. Well--I told you him and I come from America
together. I know where he keeps all his phonograph things, and I know
how to get there. But you must be quick or else he'll get there fust and
take 'em away."

"You speak truly, Lady Rebecca," said the Queen. "How would you go--by
what conveyance? Will you have horses--men-at-arms?"

"No, indeed!" was the reply. "Jest let me hev a swift boat, with plenty
o' men to row it, so's to go real fast. Then I'll want a carryall or a
buggy in Southwark----"

"A carryall--a buggy!" Elizabeth broke in. "What may these be?"

"Oh, any kind of a carriage, you know, 'cause I'll hev to ride some
distance into the country."

"But why such haste?" asked the Queen. "Had this American a horse?"

"He had a bicycle an' that's wuss," said Rebecca. "But ef I can start
right away and take a short cut by the river while he finds his way
through all them dirty, dark streets, I'll get there fust an' get the
rest of his phonographs."

"Your wit is nimble and methinks most sound," said the Queen,
decisively. Then, turning to the group of ladies, she continued:

"Send us our chamberlain, my Lady Temple, and delay not, we charge you!"

In ten minutes Rebecca found herself once more upon the dark, still
river, watching the slippery writhings of the moonbeams' path. She was
alone, save for the ten stalwart rowers and two officers; but in one
hand was her faithful umbrella, while in the other she felt the