After passing through several splendid galleries, hung like balconies in the sky, our three cronies stopped in the hall; and the Cat at once addressed the meeting in a hushed voice:
“I have brought you here,” she said, “in order to discuss the position in which we are placed. Let us make the most of our last moment of liberty. …”
But she was interrupted by a furious uproar:
“Bow, wow, wow!”
“There now!” cried the Cat. “There’s that idiot of a Dog! He has scented us out! We can’t get a minute’s peace. Let us hide behind the balustrade. He had better not hear what I have to say to you.”
“It’s too late,” said Sugar, who was standing by the door.
And, sure enough, Tylô was coming up, jumping, barking, panting and delighted.
The Cat, when she saw him, turned away in disgust:
“He has put on the livery of one of the footmen of Cinderella’s coach. … It is just the thing for him: he has the soul of a flunkey!”
She ended these words with a “Fft! Fft!” and, stroking her whiskers, took up her stand, with a defiant air, between Sugar and Fire. The good Dog did not see her little game. He was wholly wrapped up in the pleasure of being gorgeously arrayed; and he danced round and round. It was really funny to see his velvet coat whirling like a merry-go-round, with the skirts opening every now and then and showing his little stumpy tail, which was all the more expressive as it had to express itself very briefly. For I need hardly tell you that Tylô, like every well-bred bulldog, had had his tail and his ears cropped as a puppy.
Poor fellow, he had long envied the tails of his brother dogs, which allowed them to use a much larger and more varied vocabulary. But physical deficiencies and the hardships of fortune strengthen our innermost qualities. Tylô’s soul, having no outward means of expressing itself, had only gained through silence; and his look, which was always filled with love, had become very eloquent.
Today his big dark eyes glistened with delight; he had suddenly changed into a man! He was all over magnificent clothes; and he was about to perform a grand errand across the world in company with the gods!
“There!” he said. “There! Aren’t we fine! … Just look at this lace and embroidery! … It’s real gold and no mistake!”
He did not see that the others were laughing at him, for, to tell the truth, he did look very comical; but, like all simple creatures, he had no sense of humour. He was so proud of his natural garment of yellow hair that he had put on no waistcoat, in order that no one might have a doubt as to where he sprang from. For the same reason, he had kept his collar, with his address on it. A big red velvet coat, heavily braided with gold-lace, reached to his knees; and the large pockets on either side would enable him, he thought, always to carry a few provisions; for Tylô was very greedy. On his left ear, he wore a little round cap with an osprey-feather in it and he kept it on his big square head by means of an elastic which cut his fat, loose cheeks in two. His other ear remained free. Cropped close to his head in the shape of a little paper screw-bag, this ear was the watchful receiver into which all the sounds of life fell, like pebbles disturbing its rest.
He had also encased his hind-legs in a pair of patent-leather riding-boots, with white tops; but his forepaws he considered of such use that nothing would have induced him to put them into gloves. Tylô had too natural a character to change his little ways all in a day; and, in spite of his new-blown honours, he allowed himself to do undignified things. He was at the present moment lying on the steps of the hall, scratching the ground and sniffing at the wall, when suddenly he gave a start and began to whine and whimper! His lower lip shook nervously as though he were going to cry.
“What’s the matter with the idiot now?” asked the Cat, who was watching him out of the corner of her eye.
But she at once understood. A very sweet song came from the distance; and Tylô could not endure music. The song drew nearer, a girl’s fresh voice filled the shadows of the lofty arches and Water appeared. Tall, slender and white as a pearl, she seemed to glide rather than to walk. Her movements were so soft and graceful that they were suspected rather than seen. A beautiful silvery dress waved and floated around her; and her hair decked with corals flowed below her knees.
When Fire caught sight of her, like the rude and spiteful fellow that he was, he sneered:
“She’s not brought her umbrella!”
But Water, who was really quite witty and who knew that she was the stronger of the two, chaffed him pleasantly and said, with a glance at his glowing nose:
“I beg your pardon? … I thought you might be speaking of a great red nose I saw the other day! …”
The others began to laugh and poke fun at Fire, whose face was always like a red-hot coal. Fire angrily jumped to the ceiling, keeping his revenge for later. Meanwhile, the Cat went up to Water, very cautiously, and paid her ever so many compliments on her dress. I need hardly tell you that she did not mean a word of it; but she wished to be friendly with everybody, for she wanted their votes, to carry out her plan; and she was anxious at not seeing Bread, because she did not want to speak before the meeting was complete:
“What can he be doing?” she mewed, time after time.
“He
