‘And its tail?’ eagerly inquired Juno.
‘That is a secret,’ replied Ixion. ‘The tail is the most wonderful part of all.’
‘Oh! tell me, pray tell me!’
‘I forget.’
‘No, no, no; it is impossible!’ exclaimed the animated Juno. ‘Provoking mortal!’ continued the Goddess. ‘Let me entreat you; tell me immediately.’
‘There is a reason which prevents me.’
‘What can it be? How very odd! What reason can it possibly be? Now tell me; as a particular, a personal favour, I request you, do tell me.’
‘What! The tail or the reason? The tail is wonderful, but the reason is much more so. I can only tell one. Now choose.’
‘What provoking things these human beings are! The tail is wonderful, but the reason is much more so. Well then, the reason; no, the tail. Stop, now, as a particular favour, pray tell me both. What can the tail be made of and what can the reason be? I am literally dying of curiosity.’
‘Your Majesty has cut out that peacock wrong,’ remarked Ixion. ‘It is more like one of Minerva’s owls.’