"Yes; to the very steps of the guillotine, Miss Claiborne. But the
looting of the temples and the plundering of banks--if the thing is bound
to be--I should like to share in the general joy. But I have an idea,
Miss Claiborne," he exclaimed, as though with inspiration.

"Yes--you have an idea--"

"Let me be the man on horseback; and you might be--"

"Yes--the suspense is terrible!--what might I be, your Majesty?"

"Well, we should call you--"

He hesitated, and she wondered whether he would be bold enough to meet
the issue offered by this turn of their nonsense.

"I seem to give your Majesty difficulty; the silence isn't flattering,"
she said mockingly; but she was conscious of a certain excitement as she
walked the deck beside him.

"Oh, pardon me! The difficulty is only as to title--you would, of course,
occupy the dais; but whether you should be queen or empress--that's the
rub! If America is to be an empire, then of course you would be an
empress. So there you are answered."

They passed laughingly on to the other phases of the matter in the
whimsical vein that was natural in her, and to which he responded. They
watched the lights of an east-bound steamer that was passing near. The
exchange of rocket signals--that pretty and graceful parley between ships
that pass in the night--interested them for a moment. Then the deck