_] What a bright mind, our little Scops!
SCOPS
At sight of the ill-omened bird--
ALL
[_Cackling and rocking._] Ha, ha!
THE GRAND-DUKE
[_Spreading his wings._] Hush! [_All suddenly still._]
SCOPS
Fled, with one arm across her eyes! The cage was left open, and the
whole fantastic host will meet Chantecler to-morrow at the--
ALL
[_With peals of laughter._] Guinea-hen's!
THE BLACKBIRD
He is not going. He has refused.
SCOPS
The devil!
THE CAT
[_Quietly._] Go on, Scops. He will be there.
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Looking at him from a distance._] What do you know about it, pocket
panther?
THE CAT
I saw a Pheasant-hen exciting his admiration, and I saw that he would
go.
THE BLACKBIRD
It's when you're sound asleep that you see everything!
THE GRAND-DUKE
[_To_ SCOPS.] Very well, then, let us suppose him going.
SCOPS
Chantecler, for all his fame, has retained his bluff country squire's
frankness. When he sees this--
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Prompting._] Tea-fight--
SCOPS
And the contortions of those--
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Same business._] Snobs--
SCOPS
In the presence of those--
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Same business._] Big guns--
SCOPS
He is sure to say things which they are equally sure to take up.
THE GRAND-DUKE
[_Thrilled._] And do you believe that a cock-fight--?
SCOPS
Such is my fond hope.
THE CAT
But listen, Scops. Suppose Chantecler should win?
SCOPS
Know, Angora, that there will be among those fancy cocks a genuine
game-cock, lean, with tawny wing, the same who--
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Seeing the_ OWLS _puff out their feathers for joy.
Pages:
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71