He denies it, said the King: leave out that part.
Well, at any rate, the Dormouse said the Hatter went on, looking
anxiously round to see if he would deny it too: but the Dormouse denied
nothing, being fast asleep.
After that, continued the Hatter, I cut some more bread-and-butter
But what did the Dormouse say? one of the jury asked.
That I can t remember, said the Hatter.
You _must_ remember, remarked the King, or I ll have you executed.
The miserable Hatter dropped his teacup and bread-and-butter, and went
down on one knee. I m a poor man, your Majesty, he began.
You re a _very_ poor _speaker_, said the King.
Here one of the guinea-pigs cheered, and was immediately suppressed by
the officers of the court. (As that is rather a hard word, I will just
explain to you how it was done. They had a large canvas bag, which tied
up at the mouth with strings: into this they slipped the guinea-pig,
head first, and then sat upon it.)
I m glad I ve seen that done, thought Alice. I ve so often read in
the newspapers, at the end of trials, There was some attempts at
applause, which was immediately suppressed by the officers of the
court, and I never understood what it meant till now.
If that s all you know about it, you may stand down, continued the
King.
I can t go no lower, said the Hatter: I m on the floor, as it is.
Then you may _sit_ down, the King replied.
Here the other guinea-pig cheered, and was suppressed.
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