_] Cali--
THE PIGEON
This Cock, now--this Cock of yours--Is it true that his song attunes,
inspires, encourages, makes labour light, and keeps off birds of prey?
THE WHITE HEN
[_Pecking._] Perfectly true.
THE CHICK
[_Still hunting for his word._] Cali--Cali--
THE PIGEON
White Hen, is it true that by his song, defender of the warm and sacred
egg, he has frequently kept the lissome weasel from--
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Looking out between the bars._]--messing his shirtfront with omelette?
THE WHITE HEN
Perfectly true.
THE CHICK
Cali--
THE TURKEY
[_Helping him._] Gu?
THE CHICK
Gu--
THE PIGEON
Is it true--?
THE CHICK
[_Jumping for joy at having found._] Gula!
THE PIGEON
--true that, as report says, he has a secret for his amazing singing, a
secret whereby his crow becomes the brilliant burst of red which makes
the poppies of the field feel themselves contemptible imitations?
THE WHITE HEN
[_Weary of this questioning._] Perfectly true.
THE PIGEON
That secret, that great secret, is it known to anyone?
THE WHITE HEN
No.
THE PIGEON
He has not even told his Hen?
THE WHITE HEN
[_Correcting him._] His Hens.
THE PIGEON
[_Slightly shocked._] Ah, he has more than one?
THE BLACKBIRD
He crows, remember, you only coo.
THE PIGEON
Well, then, he has not even told his favourite?
THE TUFTED HEN
[_Promptly._] No, he has not!
THE WHITE HEN
[_As promptly.
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