FIRE (_yelping_) Sugar-plum! Lollipop! Caramel!... TYLTYL But where are Tylette and Tylô gone to?... What are they doing?... (_The_ CAT _is heard to utter shrill cries_.) MYTYL (_alarmed_) It's Tylette crying!... He is being hurt!... (_Enter the_ CAT, _running, his hair on end and dishevelled, his clothes torn, holding his handkerchief to his cheek, as though he had the toothache. He utters angry groans and is closely pursued by the_ DOG, _who overwhelms him with bites, blows and kicks_.) THE DOG (_beating the_ CAT) There!... Have you had enough?... Do you want any more?... There! There! There!... LIGHT, TYLTYL and MYTYL (_rushing forward to part them_) Tylô!... Are you mad?... Well, I never!... Down!... Stop that, will you?... How dare you?... Wait, wait!... (_They part the_ DOG _and the_ CAT _by main force_.) LIGHT What is it?... What has happened?... THE CAT (_blubbering and wiping his eyes_) It's the Dog, Mrs. Light.... He insulted me, he put tin tacks in my food, he pulled my tail, he beat me; and I had done nothing, nothing, nothing at all!... THE DOG (_mimicking him_) Nothing, nothing, nothing at all!... (_In an undertone, with a mocking grimace_) Never mind, you've had some, you've had some and you're going to have some more!... MYTYL (_pressing the_ CAT _in her arms_) My poor Tylette, where has he hurt you?... Tell me.... I shall cry too.... LIGHT (_to the_ DOG, _severely_) Your conduct is all the more, unworthy since you have chosen for this disgraceful exhibition the already most painful moment when we are about to part from these poor children.... THE DOG (_suddenly sobered_) To part from these poor children?... LIGHT Yes; the hour which you know of is at hand.... We are going to return to silence.... We shall no longer be able to speak to them.... THE DOG (_suddenly uttering real howls of despair and flinging himself upon the_ CHILDREN, _whom he loads with violent and tumultuous caresses_.) No! No!... I refuse!... I refuse!... I shall always talk!... You will understand me now, will you not, my little god?... Yes! Yes! Yes!... And we shall tell each other everything, everything, everything!... And I shall be very good.... And I shall learn to read and write and play dominoes!... And I shall always be very clean.... And I shall never steal anything in the kitchen again.... Shall I do a wonderful trick for you?... Would you like me to kiss the Cat?... MYTYL (_to the_ CAT) And you, Tylette?... Have you nothing to say to us?... THE CAT (_in an affected and enigmatic tone_) I love you both as much as you deserve.... LIGHT Now let me, in my turn, children, give you a last kiss.... TYLTYL and MYTYL (_hanging on to_ LIGHT'S _dress_) No, no, no, Light!... Stay here with us!... Daddy won't mind.... We will tell mummy how kind you have been.... LIGHT Alas! I cannot!... This door is closed to us and I must leave you.... TYLTYL Where will you go all alone?...