paroles de chanson II. Evidence (?) - Mary Bichner

Well, I shan't go, at any rate, said Alice
Besides, that's not a regular rule
You invented it just now
It's the oldest rule in the book, said the King
Then it ought to be number one, said Alice
The King turned pale, and shut his notebook hastily
Consider your verdict, he said to the jury

There's more evidence to come yet, please your majesty
Said the White Rabbit, jumping up in a great hurry
This paper has just been picked up
What's in it? said the Queen
I haven't opened it yet, said the White Rabbit
But it seems to be a letter, written by the prisoner to, to somebody
It must have been that, said the King
Unless it was written by nobody, which isn't usual you know

Who is it directed to? said one of the juryman
It isn't directed at all, said the White Rabbit
In fact, there's nothing written on the outside
He unfolded the paper as he spoke, and added
It isn't a letter after all, it's a set of verses
Are they in the prisoner's handwriting? asked another of the juryman
No, they're not, said the White Rabbit
And that's the queerest thing about it
The jury all looked puzzled
He must have imitated somebody else's hand, said the King
The jury all brightened up again

Please, Your Majesty, said the Knave
I didn't write it, and they can't prove I did
There's no name signed at the end
If you didn't sign it, said the King, that only makes the matter worse
You must have meant some mischief
Or else you would have signed your name like an honest man
There was a general clapping of hands at this
It was the first really clever thing the King had said that day

That proves his guilt, said the Queen
It proves nothing of the sort! said Alice
Why, you don't even know what they're about!
Read them, said the King
The White Rabbit put on his spectacles
Where should I begin, please Your Majesty? he asked
Begin at the beginning, the King said, very gravely
And go on till you come to the end
Then stop
These were the verses the White Rabbit read