BREAD I allowed myself to be convinced; but, at the last moment, Light decided on the moonbeam dress at the bottom of the chest with Catskin's treasures.... THE CAT Come, stop chattering, time presses.... Our future is at stake.... You have heard--the Fairy has just said so--that the end of this journey will, at the same time, mark the end of our lives.... It is our business, therefore, to prolong it as much as possible and by every possible means.... But there is another thing: we must think of the fate of our race and the destiny of our children.... BREAD Hear, hear!... The Cat is right!... THE CAT Listen to me!... All of us here present, Animals, Things and Elements, possess a soul which man does not yet know. That is why we retain a remnant of independence; but, if he finds the Blue Bird, he will know all, he will see all and we shall be completely at his mercy.... This is what I have just learned from my old friend, Night, who is also the guardian of the mysteries of Life.... It is to our interest, therefore, at all costs to prevent the finding of that bird, even if we have to go so far as to endanger the lives of the children themselves.... THE DOG (_indignantly_) What's the fellow saying?... Just say that again, will you, to see if I heard right?... BREAD Order! Order!... It's not your turn to speak!... I'm in the chair at this meeting.... FIRE Who made you chairman?... WATER (_to_ FIRE) Hold your tongue!... What are you interfering with?... FIRE I shall interfere where I choose.... And I want none of your remarks.... SUGAR (_concilatorily_) Excuse me.... Do not let us quarrel.... This is a serious moment.... We must, above all things, decide what measures to adopt.... BREAD I quite agree with Sugar and the Cat.... THE DOG This is ridiculous!... There is Man and that's all!... We have to obey him and do as he tells us!... That is the one and only fact!... I recognise no one but him!... Hurrah for Man!... Man for ever!... In life or death, all for Man!... Man is God!... BREAD I quite agree with the Dog. THE CAT (_to the_ DOG) But at least give your reasons.... THE DOG There are no reasons!... I love Man and that's enough!... If you do anything against him, I will throttle you first and I will go and tell him everything.... SUGAR (_intervening sweetly_) Excuse me.... Let us not embitter the discussion.... From a certain point of view, you are both of you right.... There is something to be said on both sides.... BREAD I quite agree with SUGAR!...