Страница 161 из 167

"Why, there they are!" said the King triumphantly, pointing to

the tarts on the table. "Nothing can be clearer than that. Then

again-'before she had this fit-' you never had fits, my dear, I

think?" he said to the Queen.

"Never!" said the Queen furiously, throwing an inkstand at the

Lizard as she spoke. (The unfortunate little Bill had left off

writing on his slate with one finger, as he found it made no

mark; but he now hastily began again, using the ink, that was

trickling down his face, as long as it lasted.)

"Then the words don't fit you," said the King, looking round the

court with a smile. There was a dead silence.

"It's a pun!" the King added in an offended tone, and everybody

laughed, "Let the jury consider their verdict," the King said,

for about the twentieth time that day.

"No, no!" said the Queen. "Sentence first-verdict afterwards."

"Stuff and nonsense!" said Alice loudly. "The idea of having the

sentence first!"

"Hold your tongue!" said the Queen, turning purple.