Part 14 (1/2)

said Queen Elizabeth. ”But it isn't Sir Walter's fault. He told me he tried to have them establish a Ladies' Day, and that they agreed to do so, but have since resisted all his efforts to have a date set for the function.”

”It would be great fun to steal in there now, wouldn't it,” giggled Ophelia. ”There doesn't seem to be anybody about to prevent our doing so.”

”That's true,” said Xanthippe. ”All the windows are closed, as if there wasn't a soul there. I've half a mind to take a peep in at the house.”

”I am with you,” said Elizabeth, her face lighting up with pleasure. It was a great novelty, and an unpleasant one to her, to find some place where she could not go. ”Let's do it,” she added.

So the three women tiptoed softly up the gang-plank, and, silently boarding the house-boat, peeped in at the windows. What they saw merely whetted their curiosity.

”I must see more,” cried Elizabeth, rus.h.i.+ng around to the door, which opened at her touch. Xanthippe and Ophelia followed close on her heels, and shortly they found themselves, open-mouthed in wondering admiration, in the billiard-room of the floating palace, and Richard, the ghost of the best billiard-room attendant in or out of Hades, stood before them.

”Excuse me,” he said, very much upset by the sudden apparition of the ladies. ”I'm very sorry, but ladies are not admitted here.”

”We are equally sorry,” retorted Elizabeth, a.s.suming her most imperious manner, ”that your masters have seen fit to prohibit our being here; but, now that we are here, we intend to make the most of the opportunity, particularly as there seem to be no members about. What has become of them all?”

Richard smiled broadly. ”I don't know where they are,” he replied; but it was evident that he was not telling the exact truth.

”Oh, come, my boy,” said the Queen, kindly, ”you do know. Sir Walter told me you knew everything. Where are they?”

”Well, if you must know, ma'am,” returned Richard, captivated by the Queen's manner, ”they've all gone down the river to see a prize-fight between Goliath and Samson.”

”See there!” cried Xanthippe. ”That's what this club makes possible.

Socrates told me he was coming here to take luncheon with Carlyle, and they've both of 'em gone off to a disgusting prize-fight!”

”Yes, ma'am, they have,” said Richard; ”and if Goliath wins, I don't think Mr. Socrates will get home this evening.”

”Betting, eh?” said Xanthippe, scornfully.

”Yes, ma'am,” returned Richard.

”More club!” cried Xanthippe.