This is from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the scene near the end in the courtroom, where the King of Hearts is interrogating the Mad Hatter in front of a jury-box filled with various creatures. I quote it today as an example of sublime comic timing.
The miserable Hatter dropped the teacup and bread-and-butter, and went down on one knee. "I'm a poor man, your majesty," he began.
"You're a very poor speaker," said the King.
Here one of the guinea-pigs cheered, and was immediately suppressed by the officers of the court. (As that is rather a hard word, I will just explain to you how it was done. They had a large canvas bag, which tied up at the mouth with strings: into this they slipped the guinea-pig, head first, and then sat upon it.)
"I'm so glad I've seen that done," thought Alice. "I've so often read in the newspapers, at the end of trials, 'There was some attempt at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the officers of the court,' and I never understood what it meant till now."
"If that is all you know about it, you may stand down," continued the King.
"I can't go no lower," said the Hatter: "I'm on the floor, as it is."
"Then you may sit down," the King replied.
Here the other guinea-pig cheered, and was suppressed.