the kentons-第34章

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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
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