Collar the Dormouse! Behead the Dormouse! Turn that Dormouse out of court! Suppress him! Pinch him! Off with his whiskers! [_The whole court is in confusion, turning the DORMOUSE out, and while it is settling down again the DUCHESS disappears._] WHITE RABBIT The Duchess! COURT She's gone--she's gone. KING Never mind! [_In a low tone to the QUEEN._] Really, my dear, _you_ must cross-examine the next witness. It quite makes my forehead ache! Call the next witness! WHITE RABBIT [_Fumbles with the parchment, then cries in a shrill little voice._] Alice! ALICE Here! KING What do you know about this business? ALICE Nothing whatever. KING [_To the jury._] That's very important. WHITE RABBIT _Un_important, your Majesty means, of course. KING _Un_important, of course I meant. Important--unimportant--unimportant-- important. Consider your verdict! [_Some of the jury write "important" and some write "unimportant."_] WHITE RABBIT There's more evidence to come yet, please your Majesty; this paper has just been picked up. QUEEN What's in it? WHITE RABBIT [_Fumbles with a huge envelope._] I haven't opened it yet, but it seems to be a letter, written by the prisoner to--to somebody. KING It must have been that unless it was written to nobody, which isn't usual, you know. ALICE Who is it directed to? WHITE RABBIT It isn't directed at all; in fact, there's nothing written on the _outside_. [_Takes out a tiny piece of paper._] It isn't a letter at all; it's a set of verses. QUEEN Are they in the prisoner's handwriting? [_The jury brightens up._] WHITE RABBIT [_Looks at the KNAVE'S hand. KNAVE hides his hand; the chains rattle._] No, they're not, and that's the queerest thing about it. [_The jury looks puzzled._] KING He must have imitated somebody else's hand! KNAVE Please, your Majesty, I didn't write it and they can't prove I did; there's no name signed at the end. KING If you didn't sign it that only makes the matter worse. You _must_ have meant some mischief, or else you'd have signed your name like an honest man. [_At this there is a general clapping of hands._] QUEEN That _proves_ his guilt. ALICE It proves nothing of the sort! Why, you don't even know what they're about. KING Read them! WHITE RABBIT [_Puts on his monocle._] Where shall I begin, please your Majesty? KING Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end, then stop. WHITE RABBIT "They told me you had been to her, And mentioned me to him; She gave me a good character, But said I could not swim. "I gave her one, they gave him two, You gave us three or more; They all returned from him to you, Though they were mine before. "My notion was that you had been (Before she had this fit) An obstacle that came between Him, and ourselves, and it.