human
He's mine! shouted the Arab, as soon as he could speak.
gpt
He belongs to me. I claim him for my own.
human
There's no harm in that, replied the Fresh-Air Fiend.
gpt
But one of the laws of this Isle is that no person shall be injured by any one except the kinglet. And every one here must obey the laws. So, unless you promise not to carve or to eat this man of gingerbread, who is now a subject of our kinglet, we must lock you up in prison.
human
I'll eat him as soon as I have the chance. I have a right to do so,
gpt
You're a bad man!
human
I'm not, answered Ali Dubh;
gpt
I'm a good man. And I paid Jules Grogrande fifty cents for this gingerbread imitation of a man, who is mixed with my own magic Elixir. Also I paid a witch nine dollars to transport me to wherever the gingerbread man might be--which is right here--that I might take possession of my own property. So I've got him, and he's paid for, and he's mine, and I claim the right to eat him whenever I please.
human
You'll do no such thing, declared Chick.
gpt
Why, John Dough is alive, and no one has a right to make him dead and then eat him--even if he _is_ paid for!
human
Don't worry, my Cherub, said the big-headed man, soothingly;
gpt
Never mind. My time will come. Some day I shall surely eat that gingerbread man, in spite of this Cherub and all the rest of you.