pital, too," Barbara said, and
added: "Your Majesty," just in time.

"But if I did, dear," Her Majesty said, "you'd lose your chance to
become a Duchess, and that wouldn't be at all nice. Besides, I'm having
so much _fun_!" She trilled a laugh again. "Riding around like this is
just wonderful!" she said.

_And you're important for national security_, Malone said to himself.

"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.

* * * * *

"O.K.," Malone said. "Now