"That's right, Sir Kenneth," the Queen said. "The country needs me, and I'm happy to serve. That is the job of a sovereign." "Fine," Malone said, hoping it was. "Well, then," said Her Majesty, "that settles that. We have a whole night ahead of us, Sir Kenneth. What do you say we make a night of it?" "Knight who?" Malone said. He felt confused again. It seemed as if he was always feeling confused lately. "Don't be silly, Sir Kenneth," Her Majesty said. "There are times and times." "Sure," Malone said at random. _And time and a half_, he thought. _Possibly for overtime._ "What is Your Majesty thinking of?" he asked with trepidation. "I want to take a tour of Las Vegas," Her Majesty said primly. Lady Barbara shook her head. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Your Majesty," she said. "And why not, pray?" Her Majesty said. "No. I can see what you're thinking. It's not safe to let me go wandering around in a strange city, and particularly if that city is Las Vegas. Well, dear, I can assure you that it's perfectly safe." "We've got work to do," Boyd contributed. Malone said nothing. He stared bleakly at the hood ornament on the car. "I have made my wishes known," the Queen said. Lady Barbara said: "But--" Boyd, however, knew when to give in. "Yes, Your Majesty," he said. She smiled graciously at him, and answered Lady Barbara only by a slight lift of her regal eyebrow. Malone had been thinking about something else. When he was sure he had a firm grip on himself he turned. "Your Majesty, tell me something," he said. "You can read my mind, right?" "Well, of course, Sir Kenneth," Her Majesty said. "I thought I'd proved that to you. And, as for what you're about to ask--" "No," Malone said. "Please. Let me ask the questions before you answer them. It's less confusing that way. I'll cheerfully admit that it shouldn't be--but it is. Please?" "Certainly, Sir Kenneth, if you wish," the Queen said. She folded her hands in her lap and waited quietly. "Okay," Malone said. "Now, if you can read my mind, then you must know that I don't _really_ believe that you are Queen Elizabeth of England. The First, I mean." "Mr. Malone," Barbara Wilson said suddenly. "I--" "It's all right, child," the Queen said. "He doesn't disturb me. And I do wish you'd call him Sir Kenneth. That's his title, you know." "Now that's what I mean," Malone said. "Why do you want us to _act_ as if we believe you, when you know we don't?" "Because that's the way people do act," the Queen said calmly. "Very few people really believe that their so-called superiors _are_ superior. Almost none of them do, in fact." "Now wait a minute," Boyd began.