"Treason!" screamed Pompus, the first to recover from the shock. "Who dared put gunpowder in the cake?" Brushing the icing from his nose, he glared around angrily. The first person to catch his eye was Hashem, the cook, who stood trembling in the doorway.
"Dip him!" shouted the King furiously. And the Chief Dipper, only too glad of an excuse to escape, seized poor Hashem. "And him!" ordered the King, as Eejabo tried to sidle out of the room. "And them!" as all the other footmen started to run. Forming his victims in a line the Chief Dipper marched them sternly from the banquet hall.
"Oyez! Oyez Everybody shall be dipped!" mumbled the Prime Pumper, feebly raising his head.
"Oh, no! Oh, no! Nothing of the sort!" snapped the King, fanning poor Queen Pozy Pink with a plate. She had fainted dead away.
"What is the meaning of this outrage?" shouted Pompus, his anger rising again.
"How should I know?" wheezed Kabumpo, dragging Prince Pompadore from beneath the table and pouring a jug of cream over his head.
"Something hit me," moaned the Prince, opening his eyes.
26
