“Oh! I quite enjoyed it!” said the Dodo. “That’s a very nice Executioner you have.”
“Yes; isn’t he?” agreed the Court Glover. “Pity he laughs so much, though, it spoils the effect. Well, having done my duty, I must be off. Any message for the Little Panjandrum?”
“Oh! can’t we go back with you in the balloon?” asked Marjorie, eagerly, for it seemed to her a capital opportunity of getting away from this strange place.
“H’m! I’m afraid not,” said the Court Glover, reflectively. “You see, it only holds two comfortably.”
“Where do you want to go to?” asked the Archæopteryx.
“England!” said the children, all together.
“Oh! that’s all right. I’ll tell you the way to get there,” said the Palæotherium.
And the Court Glover and the Executioner began to undo the cords which held the balloon to the palm tree.
“You might leave me your card,” said the Dodo to the Executioner, pressing a small coin into his hand. “I shall probably go in for a complete course of execution when I get back again; and, besides, the address of a good, reliable Executioner is a handy thing to have in the house.”
The Executioner giggled, and handed the bird his card, and then both he and the Court Glover got into the car, and the balloon was soon vanishing in the distance.