THE CAT He is!--And I am pleased to tell you, silent night-watchers that some of the day-birds are likewise with us. THE TURKEY [_Coming forward surrounded by a number of the barnyard constituents, obsequiously._] So it is settled for this evening, dear Round Eyes? You will be there? THE OWLS We will be there! All the Round Eyes of the neighbourhood will be there! THE BLACKBIRD That’s a show I’d like to see! PATOU [_In his sleep._] Grrrrrrr-- THE CAT [_To the startled_ NIGHT-BIRDS.] The dog is dreaming.--He growls in his sleep. CHANTECLER [_Inside the hen-house._] Coa-- THE OWLS [_Frightened._] Himself! THE TURKEY Fly! FIRST OWL No need. The night is dark. We can vanish by merely closing our eyes. [_They shut their luminous eyes. Darkness._ CHANTECLER _appears at the top of the ladder._] CHANTECLER [_To the_ BLACKBIRD.] Did you hear anything, Blackbird? THE BLACKBIRD I did, indeed, old chap. THE OWLS [_Frightened._] What’s this? THE BLACKBIRD A black conspiracy-- CHANTECLER Ah? THE BLACKBIRD [_With melodramatic emphasis._] Against you!--Tremble! CHANTECLER [_Going in again, unalarmed._] Joker! THE OWLS He has gone in. THE BLACKBIRD I have betrayed no one! AN OWL The Blackbird then is with us? THE BLACKBIRD No--but may I come and look on? AN OWL A Night-bird never eats a black bird. You can come. THE BLACKBIRD The password? THE OWL Terror and Talons! THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Putting her head out of the dog-kennel._] I can’t breathe in that stifling, low-roofed little house, and--[_Catching sight of the_ NIGHT-BIRDS.] Oh!--[_She darts aside, behind the kennel, and watches._] THE OWLS Hush! [_They close their eyes._ THE CAT _does the same. After a time, hearing no further sound, they open them again._] It was nothing. Let us be off. THE GROUP OF THE DISAFFECTED [_With fawning obsequiousness to the_ NIGHT-BIRDS.] Success to you, Owls,--success! THE OWL Thanks! But how is it that you are with us? THE CAT Ah, night brings out what daylight will not own to! I do not like the Cock because the Dog does.--There you have it! THE TURKEY I do not like him, for the reason that having known him as a Chick I cannot admit him as a Cock! A DUCK I do not like the Cock because, not being web-footed, he marks his passage by a track of stars! A CHICKEN I do not like the Cock because I’m such a homely bird! ANOTHER CHICKEN I do not like the Cock because he has his picture painted in purple on all the plates! ANOTHER CHICKEN I do not like the Cock because on all the steeples he has his statue in gilt-bronze! AN OWL [_To a big overgrown_ CHICKEN.] Well, well!--And you, Capon? THE CAPON [_Dryly._] I do not like the Cock! THE CUCKOO [_Beginning to strike eight inside the house._] Cuckoo! FIRST OWL The hour! CUCKOO Cuckoo! SECOND OWL Let us go! THE CUCKOO Cuckoo! FIRST OWL The moon! THE CUCKOO Cuckoo! FIRST OWL Silently cleave the blue air-- THE CUCKOO Cuckoo! THE MOLE [_Suddenly pushing up through the ground._]--the dark earth!