Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/148

120 "And what's that for?" sneered His Excellency. "We’ve only got to make people think he's dead! We haven't got to kill him! And made of tin, too!" he snarled, contemptuously bending the blade round his thumb. Now, Madam, you'll be good enough to explain. First, what do you call me Benjamin for?"

"It's part of the Conspiracy, Love! One must have an alias, you know——"

"Oh, an alias, is it? Well! And next, what did you get this dagger for? Come, no evasions! You ca'n't deceive me!"

"I got it for——for——for——" the detected Conspirator stammered, trying her best to put on the assassin-expression that she had been practising at the looking-glass. "For——"

"For what, Madam!"

"Well, for eighteenpence, if you must know, dearest! That's what I got it for, on my——"

" Now don't say your Word and Honour!" groaned the other Conspirator. "Why, they aren't worth half the money, put together!"

"On my birthday" my Lady concluded in a meek whisper. "One must have a dagger, you know. It's part of the—— ——"