e and fitted it so tight,
that the dog, not being able to turn round and scratch against it with
his forepaws, was made a close prisoner.

"Ha, ha!" cried Reynard, laughing outside; "amuse yourself with my poor
little sister, while I go and make your compliments to Mademoiselle the
Cat."

With that Reynard set off at an easy pace, never troubling his head
what became of the poor dog. When he arrived in the neighbourhood of the
beautiful cat's mansion, he resolved to pay a visit to a friend of his,
an old magpie that lived in a tree and was well acquainted with all the
news of the place. "For," thought Reynard, "I may as well know the blind
side of my mistress that is to be, and get round it at once."

The magpie received the fox with great cordiality, and inquired what
brought him so great a distance from home.

"Upon my word," said the fox, "nothing so much as the pleasure of seeing
your ladyship and hearing those agreeable anecdotes you tell with so
charming a grace; but to let you into a secret--be sure it don't go
further--"

"On the word of a magpie," interrupted the bird.

"Pardon me for doubting you," continued the fox; "I should have
recollected that a pie was a proverb for discretion. But, as I was
saying, you know her Majesty the lioness?"

"Surely," said the magpie, bridling.

"Well; she was pleased to fall in--that is to say--to--to--take a
caprice to your humble servant, and the lion grew so jealous that I
thought it prudent to decamp. A jealous lion is no joke, let me assure
your ladyship. But mum's the word."

So great a piece of news delighted the magpie. She could not but repay
it in kind, by all the news in her budget. She told the fox all the
scandal about Bruin and Gauntgrim, and she then fell to work on the poor
young cat. She did not spare her foibles, you may be quite sure. The
fox listened with great attention, and he learned enough to convince
him that however much the magpie might exaggerate, the cat was very
susceptible to flattery, and had a great deal of imagination.

When the magpie had finished she said, "But it must be very unfortunate
for you to be banished from so magnificent a court as that of the lion?"

"As to that," answered the fox, "I console myself for my exile with a
present his Majesty made me on parting, as a reward for my anxiety for
his honour and domestic tranquillity; namely, three hairs from the fifth
leg of the amoronthologosphorus. Only think of that, ma'am