There’s the King’s messenger—he’s in prison being punished; and the trial doesn’t even begin till next Wednesday; and of course the crime comes last of all.


Alice

Suppose he never commits the crime?

White Queen

[Binding the plaster with ribbon.]

That would be all the better, wouldn’t it?

Alice

Of course it would be all the better, but it wouldn’t be all the better his being punished.

White Queen

You’re wrong there, at any rate; were you ever punished?