'You wait. I've been in court once or twice with papa, and seen him prove all sorts of things. First, we must have in the fellow who sold the poison—the apothecary, you know. Oh, I say, though, I forgot that—he's the judge; that won't do!'
'Then you can't prove it after all—I'm so glad!' cried the Queen, with her eyes sparkling.
'One would think you rather liked being poisoned,' said Archie, in an offended tone.
'I like magnesia, and it isn't poison, really—it's medicine.'
'It isn't magnesia now; it's arsenic; and she shan't get off like this. I'll call the apothecary's young man, he'll prove it (this brick is the apothecary's young man). There, he says it's all right; she did it right enough. Now for the sentence! (put a penwiper on the judge's head, will you, Winnie; it's solemner).'
'What's a sentence?' asked Winifred, much disturbed at these ill-omened arrangements.
'You'll see; this is the judge talking now: "Lady Ethelinda, you've been found guilty of very bad conduct; you've put arsenic in your beloved Queen's tea!"'
'Why, I haven't had tea yet!' protested the Sovereign.
"Her Majesty is respectfully ordered not to interrupt the judge when he's summing up; it puts him out. Well, as I was saying, Lady Ethelinda, I'm sorry to tell you that we shall have to cut your head off!"'
'What have I done?' thought the jester; 'she'll think I'm in earnest; she'll never forgive me!'