Sir Percevall did not reply. His attention had been caught by the arrival of a strangely dressed woman, apparently attended by six maids of honor.
Turning to a gentleman at his elbow:
"Can you tell me, sir," he said, "who is yonder stranger in outlandish apparel?"
Following the speaker's eyes, the gentleman stared for a few moments and then replied:
"Marry, sir, it can but be the American princess with her retinue. They say that her Majesty much affects this strange new-comer."
It was, indeed, Rebecca who, in response to an invitation brought by a page in the Queen's livery, was on the way to take supper with Elizabeth. On her arrival at the anteroom door, an attendant went in before the Queen to announce her presence; and, while awaiting admission, Rebecca gazed about her with a curiosity still unsatisfied.
"There, now," she was saying, "'twas suttenly too bad to send you off on a wild-goose chase, Miss Margaret. Ef you could hev found the man, I'd hev ben glad, though."
At that very moment, a voice close beside her made her start violently.
"Well—well! I declare! Rebecca Wise, how do you do!"
She turned and saw him of whom she was at that moment speaking, and lo! to her amazement, it was Copernicus Droop who held out his right hand.