--Eagle, wilt thou never be less cruel? --No! But I may become very beautiful. Prometheus, enamoured of the future beauty of his eagle, gave him each day more to eat. One evening the eagle did not leave him. The next day it was the same. He fascinated the prisoner by his gnawings; and, the prisoner, who fascinated him by his caresses, languished and pined away for love, all day caressing his feathers, sleeping at night beneath his wings, and feeding him as he desired.--The eagle did not stir night or day. --Sweet eagle, who would have believed it? --Believed what? --That our love could be so charming. --Ah! Prometheus.... --Tell me, my sweet bird! Why am I shut up here? --What does that matter to thee? Am I not with thee? --Yes; it matters little! but art thou pleased with me, beautiful eagle? --Yes, if thou thinkest I am beautiful. III It was spring-time; around the bars of the tower the fragrant wisteria was in flower. --One day we will go away, said the eagle. --Really? cried Prometheus. --Because I am now very strong and thou art thinner. I can carry thee. --Eagle, my eagle!... Take me away. And the eagle carried him away. A CHAPTER WHILE WAITING THE NEXT ONE That evening Cocles and Damocles met each other. They chatted together; but with a certain embarrassment. --What can you expect? said Cocles, our points of view are so opposed. --Do you think so? replied Damocles. My only desire is that we understand each other. --You say that, but you only understand yourself. --And you, you do not even listen to what I say. --I know all that you would say. --Say it then if you know it. --You pretend to know it better than I do. --Alas! Cocles, you get cross;--but for the love of God tell me what ought I to do? --Ah! nothing more for me, I beg you; you have already given me a glass eye.... --Glass, in lack of a better, my Cocles. --Yes--after having half blinded me. --But it was not I, dear Cocles. --It was more or less; and in any case you can pay for the eye--thanks to my blow. --Cocles! forget the past!... --No doubt it pleases you to forget. --That’s not what I mean to say to you. --But what do you mean to say then? Go on, speak! --You do not listen to me. --Because I know all that you would say!... The discussion, for want of something new began to take a dangerous turn, when both men were suddenly arrested by an advertisement which ran as follows: THIS EVENING AT 8 O’CLOCK IN THE HALL OF THE NEW MOONS PROMETHEUS DELIVERED WILL SPEAK OF HIS EAGLE _At 8.30 the Eagle will be presented and will perform some tricks. At 9 o’clock a collection will be made by the waiter on behalf of Cocles’ hospital._ --I must see that, said Cocles. --I will go with you, said Damocles. IV In the Hall of the New Moons, at eight o’clock precisely, the crowd gathered. Cocles sat on the left; Damocles on the right; and the rest of the public in the middle.