The waterman, now convinced that his fare was a lunatic, could think of naught better than to use soothing tones and to reply promptly, however absurd her questions. "I' faith," he said, in a mild voice, "I' faith, mistress, her Gracious Majesty is of the line of Tudor. Methought----" But he broke off in horror. Waving her umbrella high above her head, Rebecca, still standing upright in the boat, was calling at the top of her voice: "Hallo there! Mrs. Tudor! Stop the ship, will ye! I want to speak to Mrs. Tudor a minute!" All nature seemed to shiver and shrink in silence at this enormous breach of etiquette--to use a mild term. Involuntarily the ten pairs of oars in the royal barge hung in mid-air, paralyzed by that sudden outrage. The great, glittering structure, impelled by momentum, glided forward directly under the bows of Rebecca's boat and not a hundred yards away. Again Rebecca's cry was borne shrill and clear across the water. "Hallo! Hallo there! Ain't Mrs. Tudor on the ship? I want to speak to her!" Then, turning to the stupefied and trembling waterman: "Why don't you row, you? What's the matter, anyway? Don't ye see they've stopped to wait fer us?" Someone spoke within the after cabin. The command was repeated in gruff tones by a man's voice, and the ten pairs of oars fell as one into the water and were held rigid to check the progress of the barge. "Wherry, ahoy!" a hail came from the deck. "Ay, ay, sir!" the waterman cried. "Come alongside!" "Ay, ay, sir!" Pale and weak with dread, the boatman pulled as well as he could toward the splendid vessel ahead, while Rebecca resumed her seat, quite satisfied that all was as it should be. A few strokes of the oars brought them to the barge's side, and Rebecca's waterman threw a rope to one of the crew. A young man in uniform glowered down upon them, and to him the waterman turned, pulling off his cap and speaking with the utmost humility. "The jade is moon-struck, your worship!" he exclaimed, eagerly. "I would not for a thousand pound----" "Moon-struck!" snapped the lieutenant. "Who gave thee commission to ferry madmen, fellow?" The poor waterman, at his wits' end, was about to reply when Rebecca interposed. "Young man," she said, standing up, "I'll thank you to 'tend to business. Is Mrs. Victoria Tudor at home?" At this moment a young gentleman, magnificently apparelled, stepped forth from the after cabin and approached the man in uniform. "Lieutenant," he said, "her Majesty commands that the woman be brought before her in person. As for you," he continued, turning to the waterman, "return whence you came, and choose your fares better henceforth." Two of the barge's crew extended each a hand to Rebecca. "Bend onto that, Poll!" said one, grinning. "Well, I declare!" exclaimed Rebecca. "I never see sech impident help in all my born days! Ain't ye got any steps for a body to climb?" A second gorgeously dressed attendant backed hastily out of the cabin.