"I dare say," the judge said dryly. "And may I ask, since you were out merely sniffing the flowers, how you all happened to be armed with guns?" "Well," Hotstuff said vaguely, "we botanists can't be too careful, you know. There might be snakes." "There _are_ snakes," the judge said evenly, "and this courtroom is fairly crawling with them. Don't tell me that you were shooting up the countryside just to be on the safe side. Don't tell me that!" "No, sir," Hotstuff said sullenly. "I was goin' to, but I won't." Floss stepped forward, her hair in wild disarray. "Look, your honor," she said, "I guess we might as well come clean. We was only out doin' a little job for Pillsworth." "What!" the judge said. "You mean to say this Pillsworth commissioned you to do murder for him?" "Well, not exactly murder," Floss said ingenuously. "We was just arrangin' a little accident--outa gratitude." "This Pillsworth is a veritable fiend!" the judge said hollowly. "He's even managed to corrupt the underworld!" He glanced around the room. "Where's this bus thief I've heard about?" The disconsolate driver shuffled forward. "That's me, I guess," he said. The judge studied the man pettishly. "You admit stealing this bus?" "I guess I did steal it," the driver said, "if you want to be technical about it." "And I do," the judge said. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?" "Well," the driver reflected, "I didn't exactly steal it with malice aforethought. That is I wasn't even thinking about stealing it until Pillsworth came along and asked me about it." "Don't tell me this Pillsworth persuaded you to take the bus?" "Well, the money was quite an inducement." * * * * * For a moment, the judge appeared to brood into space, then, decisively, he turned to Sergeant Feeney. "Wake this Pillsworth monster up," he said. "Yes, your honor," the sergeant said and advanced toward Marc. "I'll help," Floss said, joining him. "I'll loosen his tie." "Thanks, miss," the sergeant said. "And I'll rub his wrists." The court became quiet with speculation as Floss and the sergeant labored to arouse Marc. The stillness was soon shattered, however, as the door at the rear flew open and Julie, followed by Mario, flew down the aisle, her eyes ablaze. "Stop!" she yelled. "Stop everything!" "Madam!" the judge said, "the court is in session!" "That's just fine," Julie said. She looked around wildly. "Where is he? Have you got him under restraint?" "Have we got whom under restraint?" "My husband, Marcus Pillsworth. Is he tied up?" "He's under arrest," the judge said. "Should he be under restraint, too?" "Should he!" Julie said. "He's mad! He tried to shoot us and when that didn't work he chased us with this frightful bus!" "How awful!" the judge said. "Your husband appears to be a one-man crime wave." "Then he took the silver and my jewelry!" Julie nodded. She turned to Mario. "Isn't that right, Mario?" "Yes, Madonna," Mario said.