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[_A long grating noise is heard within the house Crrrrrrr, then._]
THE CLOCK Cuckoo!
THE GREY HEN [_Leaving her hiding-place and running towards the cat-hole._] His voice!--Now through the kitty's little door I finally shall see him!
[_She thrusts her head into the hole. The_ CUCKOO'S _call is not repeated._] Oh, deary, deary me! I am too late! [_Calling._]
Bis! Encore!
CHANTECLER [_Turning around at the noise._] Eh?
THE GREY HEN [_Desperately, with her head in the cat-hole._] He has stopped!
THE BLACKBIRD It was the half-hour.
CHANTECLER [_Close behind the_ GREY HEN, _abruptly._] How does it happen, my love, that we are not in the fields?
THE GREY HEN [_Turning, scared._] Goodness gracious!
CHANTECLER What are we doing, my love, in the cat-hole?
THE GREY HEN [_Upset._] I was just taking a peep--
CHANTECLER To see whom?
THE GREY HEN [_More and more upset._] Oh--!
CHANTECLER [_Dramatically._] Who is it?
THE GREY HEN Oh--
CHANTECLER Confess!
THE GREY HEN [_In the voice of a woman caught in guilt._] The Cuckoo!
CHANTECLER [_Amazed._] You love him?--But wherefore?
THE GREY HEN [_Drops her eyes, then with emotion._] He is Swiss!
PATOU A bubble!
THE GREY HEN He is a thinker. He takes his airing--
CHANTECLER She loves a clock!
THE GREY HEN --always takes his airing at the same hour, like Kant.
CHANTECLER Like what?
THE GREY HEN Like Kant.
CHANTECLER Did one ever--! Out of my sight!
THE BLACKBIRD Trot, Kant you?
[THE GREY HEN _hurries off._]
CHANTECLER Here's a pretty--Wherever did she learn that Kant--?
PATOU At the Guinea-hen's.
CHANTECLER That foolish old party of the crazy cries and the white-plastered beak?
PATOU She has taken a day.
CHANTECLER A day off, do you mean?
PATOU No, a day at home.
CHANTECLER A day at--Where does she receive?
THE BLACKBIRD In a corner of the kitchen-garden.
PATOU Under the auspices of that strawman with the unsavoury old top-hat.
CHANTECLER The scarecrow?
THE BLACKBIRD Yes, his being there makes the affair select.
CHANTECLER [_Bewildered._] How is that?
THE BLACKBIRD Don't you see? He scares off all the puny fowl--. Poor relations are not wanted at a function.
CHANTECLER So the Guinea-hen has a day!
PATOU [_Phlegmatically._] A bubble!
CHANTECLER A balloon!
THE BLACKBIRD [_Imitating the_ GUINEA-HEN.] Mondays, my dear--
CHANTECLER And what do they do at that feather-brain's parties?
PATOU Cluck and cackle. The Turkey-c.o.c.k airs his social gifts, the Chick gets into society.
BLACKBIRD [_Imitating the_ GUINEA-HEN.] From five to six--
CHANTECLER Evening?
PATOU No, morning.
