"I think he'll appreciate rule two," whispered the clown. "He's quite polite himself."
"Theodore," said the Queen, her face beginning to work curiously, "Theodore, I believe they stole the jam. Bears and little boys are always stealing jam. And what right have they here without titles? Where are their titles?"
"Adorable Queen," said the clown, half rising and pointing with his paw to the buttons, "those are the badges of our order. We belong, your Highness, to the ancient and honorable Order of Bachelors, and are at present lords of all we survey."
"Do you believe that?" The Queen turned and squarely faced the King.
"No!" said Theodore emphatically, turning to squarely face the Queen. "How could I, when there is no such place. Where is this All-we-survey?" he asked sternly. "Is it in Oz?"
Notta was so surprised at the sudden turn the conversation had taken that he sat down with a thump.
"He's a dorm!" screeched the Queen, her voice rising higher and higher. "He's a dorm—that's what he is!"
"What's a dorm?" gasped Bob, so surprised that he forgot to be frightened.
"A dorm is an animal that lies dormant in cold weather, like a bear or a 'possum, my dear Buttons," explained the King, shaking his finger at Bob, "but he's got no business here now."
"I see it all," panted the Queen beginning to wave her arms. "He didn't come here to sleep but to steal! Theodore, he has stolen the jam!"