‘Will you be quiet, you naughty old man?—leave the room or I will send for the police.’
But Merrymineral answered:
‘Oh, send for the police and the soldiers and sailors and candlestick-makers.’
So the Princess rang the bell that stood on the table: a page at once appeared at the door.
‘Send for a policeman and ask him to step this way.’
The page looked astonished, but he saluted and left the room. Almost immediately a policeman came in—for you see there was one always on the palace steps. He entered the room with a low bow.
‘Take the Chancellor out of the room,’ said the Princess, ‘and put him in prison for three days.’
But the policeman shook his head.
‘Excuse me, mum—I mean your most gracious Majesty—but it is against the law to imprison a member of Parliament, much less a chancellor.’