When they found nothing, they all turned on the chambermaid, and accused her, not only of lying against the pages, but of having taken the things herself.

Their language and behaviour so disgusted Curdie, who could hear a great part of what passed, and he saw the danger of discovery now so much increased, that he began to devise how best at once to rid the palace of the whole pack of them.

That, however, would be small gain so long as the treacherous officers of state continued in it.

They must be first dealt with.

A thought came to him, and the longer he looked at it the better he liked it.
As soon as the servants were gone, quarrelling and accusing all the way, they returned and finished their supper.