_] And after that we will eat the Blackbird for
dessert.
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Who has not caught the last sentence._] What did he say?
SCOPS
[_Quickly._] Nothing! [_In a still increasing frenzy of glee._] And
after that--
[_In the distance: Cock-a-doodle-doo! Instant silence. _SCOPS_ stops
short and collapses, as if mown down. All the puffed _OWLS_ appear
suddenly to have grown thin._]
ALL
[_Looking at one another and blinking._] What is it? What was that?
[_They hastily spread their wings and call to one another for flight._]
Grand-Duke! Minor! Minimus!
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Hopping from one to the other._] Going? So soon? Why, what's your
hurry?
VOICE
[_Of one of the_ NIGHT-BIRDS _calling to another._] Nyctalis!
THE BLACKBIRD
It's hours before daybreak. Oceans of time, you have!
AN OWL
Asio, are you coming?
ANOTHER OWL
[_Calling._] Nictea!
ANOTHER
[_Fluttering up to him._] Yes, my dear! [_They all stagger and trip over
their wings._]
THE BLACKBIRD
What makes them stumble?
THE NIGHT-BIRDS
[_Winking and blinking with marked evidences of pain._] Oh, how it
hurts! Ow! Ow!
THE BLACKBIRD
Lightning opthalmia, I declare! [_One by one the_ OWLS _fly off._]
THE GRAND-DUKE
[_The last to go, spins on himself with a cry of pain and rage._] How
does he contrive, that pernicious Cock, to have a voice that fairly puts
out your eyes! [_He heavily flaps off.
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