“And what do you want, friend?” said she, rather disdainfully, for the dog looked somewhat out of case after his journey.
“I am going to see my cousin the cat,” answered he.
“Your cousin! marry come up,” said the magpie; “don’t you know she is going to be married to Reynard the fox? This is not a time for her to receive the visits of a brute like you.”
These words put the dog in such a passion that he very nearly bit the magpie for her uncivil mode of communicating such bad news. However, he curbed his temper, and, without answering her, went at once to the cat’s residence.
The cat was sitting at the window, and no sooner did the dog see her than he fairly lost his heart; never had he seen so charming a cat before. He advanced, wagging his tail, and with his most insinuating air, when the cat, getting up, clapped the window in his face, and lo! Reynard the fox appeared in her stead.
“Come out, thou rascal!” said the dog, showing his teeth; “come out, I challenge thee to single combat; I have not forgiven thy malice, and thou seest that I am no longer shut up in the cave, and unable to punish thee for thy wickedness.”
“Go home, silly one!” answered the fox, sneering; “thou hast no business here, and as for fighting thee—bah!” Then the fox left the window and disappeared. But the dog, thoroughly enraged, scratched lustily at the door, and made such a noise, that presently the cat herself came to the window.
“How now!” said she, angrily; “what means all this rudeness? Who are you, and what do you want at my house?”
“Oh, my dear cousin,” said the dog, “do not speak so severely. Know that I have come here on purpose to pay you a visit; and, whatever you do, let me beseech you not to listen to that villain Reynard,—you have no conception what a rogue he is!”
“What!” said the cat, blushing; “do you dare to abuse your betters in this fashion? I see you have a design on me. Go, this instant, or—”