Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
18. The Trial of Eureka, the Kitten
"Thepigletisgone,andyouranoutoftheroomwhenJelliaopenedthedoor.So,ifyouareinnocent,Eureka,youmusttellthePrincesshowyoucametobeinherroom,andwhathasbecomeofthepiglet."
"Whoaccusesme?"askedthekitten,defiantly.
"Noone,"answeredOzma."Youractionsaloneaccuseyou.ThefactisthatIleftmylittlepetinmydressing-roomlyingasleepuponthetable;andyoumusthavestoleninwithoutmyknowingit.Whennextthedoorwasopenedyouranoutandhidyourself—andthepigletwasgone."
"That’snoneofmybusiness,"growledthekitten.
"Don’tbeimpudent,Eureka,"admonishedDorothy.
"Itisyouwhoareimpudent,"saidEureka,"foraccusingmeofsuchacrimewhenyoucan’tproveitexceptbyguessing."
Ozmawasnowgreatlyincensedbythekitten’sconduct.ShesummonedherCaptain-General,andwhenthelong,leanofficerappearedshesaid:
"Carrythiscatawaytoprison,andkeepherinsafeconfinementuntilsheistriedbylawforthecrimeofmurder."
SotheCaptain-GeneraltookEurekafromthearmsofthenowweepingDorothyandinspiteofthekitten’ssnarlsandscratchescarrieditawaytoprison.
"Whatshallwedonow?"askedtheScarecrow,withasigh,forsuchacrimehadcastagloomoverallthecompany.
"IwillsummontheCourttomeetintheThroneRoomatthreeo’clock,"repliedOzma."Imyselfwillbethejudge,andthekittenshallhaveafairtrial."
"Whatwillhappenifsheisguilty?"askedDorothy.
"Shemustdie,"answeredthePrincess.
"Ninetimes?"enquiredtheScarecrow.
"Asmanytimesasisnecessary,"wasthereply.
