`Not at all,' said Alice: `she's so extremely--' Just then she noticed that the Queen was close behind her, listening: so she went on, `--likely to win, that it's hardly worth while finishing the game.' 

The Queen smiled and passed on. 

`Who ARE you talking to?' said the King, going up to Alice, and looking at the Cat's head with great curiosity. 

`It's a friend of mine--a Cheshire Cat,' said Alice: `allow me to introduce it.' 

`I don't like the look of it at all,' said the King: `however, it may kiss my hand if it likes.' 

`I'd rather not,' the Cat remarked. 

`Don't be impertinent,' said the King, `and don't look at me like that!' He got behind Alice as he spoke. 

`A cat may look at a king,' said Alice. `I've read that in some book, but I don't remember where.' 

`Well, it must be removed,' said the King very decidedly, and he called the Queen, who was passing at the moment, `My dear! I wish you would have this cat removed!' 

The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. `Off with his head!' she said, without even looking round. 

`I'll fetch the executioner myself,' said the King eagerly, and he hurried off.