As the judge leaned down to study and rearrange the reports before him, Toffee turned quickly to Marc.
"Do you still have the elixir?" she asked.
"Huh?" Marc said, his eyes on Julie.
"The elixir," Toffee said. "Give it to me!"
"Oh, that," Marc murmured. He reached into his pocket, extracted the partially filled bottle and handed it over. "Here."
"Thanks," Toffee said. She advanced happily to the bench and stood for a moment gazing soulfully into the judge's scowling countenance.
"If you need some help," she said demurely, "I'll be glad to give you a hand. You'll probably never figure it out all by yourself."
"What!" the judge said, infuriated.
"Well, let's face it," Toffee said innocently, "with a muckle-head like you running the show we'll never get anywhere."
"You are in contempt!" the judge screamed. "I thought so all along!"