"This is my sleeping place."
An embroidered quilt laid out on a plank, nothing more.
Indeed, a curious, most remarkable education.
Beside the bed stood a large copper cage.
"This is my pet bird," said the fair lady, pointing at the creature within.
It was a large black cock, which rose angrily as the strangers approached, and crowed in an agonized manner, shaking its red comb furiously.
"You see, this is my old comrade, who takes care of me! and is at the same time my clock, waking me at daybreak." And the lady's look became quite tender, as she placed her hand on the wrathful creature. At her gentle touch the bird clucked his satisfaction.
"When I go outside, he accompanies me, loose, like a dog."
The black monster, as long as he saw strangers, only noted in quiet tones the fact that he had remarked their presence, but as soon as Topándy stepped forward, he suddenly broke out into a clarion cry, as if he wished to arouse every hen-roost in the property to the fact that there was a fox in the garden. Every feather on his neck stood bolt upright, like a Spanish shirt-collar.
"He will soon be quiet," the young lady assured the guests:—"for he will listen to music."