I immediately said I would explain the document, and they crowded around.
And so I explained and explained and explained, and they took notes of all I said, but the more I explained the more they could not understand it, and when they desisted at last, I could not even understand it myself.

They said they believed it was an incendiary document, leveled at the government.

I declared solemnly that it was not, but they only shook their heads and would not be satisfied.

Then they consulted a good while; and finally they confiscated it.

I was very sorry for this, because I had worked a long time on that joke, and took a good deal of pride in it, and now I suppose I shall never see it any more.