Озма з країни Оз

           "Theyarenotmyprisoners,butmyslaves,whomIpurchasedfromtheKingofEv."

           "Butthatwaswrong,"saidOzma.

           "AccordingtothelawsofEv,thekingcandonowrong,"answeredthemonarch,eyingaringofsmokehehadjustblownfromhismouth;"sothathehadaperfectrighttosellhisfamilytomeinexchangeforalonglife."

           "Youcheatedhim,though,"declaredDorothy;"fortheKingofEvdidnothavealonglife.Hejumpedintotheseaandwasdrowned."

           "Thatwasnotmyfault,"saidtheNomeKing,crossinghislegsandsmilingcontentedly."Igavehimthelonglife,allright;buthedestroyedit."

           "Thenhowcoulditbealonglife?"askedDorothy.

           "Easilyenough,"wasthereply."Nowsuppose,mydear,thatIgaveyouaprettydollinexchangeforalockofyourhair,andthatafteryouhadreceivedthedollyousmasheditintopiecesanddestroyedit.CouldyousaythatIhadnotgivenyouaprettydoll?"

           "No,"answeredDorothy.

           "Andcouldyou,infairness,askmetoreturntoyouthelockofhair,justbecauseyouhadsmashedthedoll?"

           "No,"saidDorothy,again.

           "Ofcoursenot,"theNomeKingreturned."NorwillIgiveuptheQueenandherchildrenbecausetheKingofEvdestroyedhislonglifebyjumpingintothesea.TheybelongtomeandIshallkeepthem."

           "Butyouaretreatingthemcruelly,"saidOzma,whowasmuchdistressedbytheKing’srefusal.

           "Inwhatway?"heasked.

           "Bymakingthemyourslaves,"saidshe.

           "Cruelty,"remarkedthemonarch,puffingoutwreathesofsmokeandwatchingthemfloatintotheair,"isathingIcan’tabide.