, I was obliged to accept the
invitation."

"You could not do otherwise," said the unsuspecting young creature, who,
as I before said, was very susceptible to flattery.

"And only think how delicate his attentions are," said the fox. "As he
is very badly lodged for a beast of his rank, and his treasure takes up
the whole of the ground floor, he is forced to give the _fete_ in the
upper story, so he hangs out a basket for his guests, and draws them up
with his own claw. How condescending! But the great _are_ so amiable!"

The cat, brought up in seclusion, was all delight at the idea of seeing
such high life, and the lovers talked of nothing else all the next
day,--when Reynard, towards evening, putting his head out of the window,
saw his old friend the dog lying as usual and watching him very grimly.
"Ah, that cursed creature! I had quite forgotten him; what is to be
done now? He would make no bones of me if he once saw me set foot out of
doors."

With that, the fox began to cast in his head how he should get rid
of his rival, and at length he resolved on a very notable project; he
desired the cat to set out first, and wait for him at a turn in the road
a little way off. "For," said he, "if we go together we shall certainly
be insulted by the dog; and he will know that in the presence of a lady,
the custom of a beast of my fashion will not suffer me to avenge the
affront. But when I am alone, the creature is such a coward that he will
not dare say his soul's his own; leave the door open and I'll follow
immediately."

The cat's mind was so completely poisoned against her cousin that she
implicitly believed this account of his character; and accordingly, with
many recommendations to her lover not to sully his dignity by getting
into any sort of quarrel with the dog, she set off first.

The dog went up to her very humbly, and begged her to allow him to say a
few words to her; but she received him so haughtily, that his spirit was
up; and he walked back to the tree more than ever enraged against his
rival. But what was his joy when he saw that the cat had left the door
open! "Now, wretch," thought he, "you cannot escape me!" So he walked
briskly in at the back door. He was greatly surprised to find Reynard
lying down in the straw, panting as if his heart would break, and
rolling his eyes in the pangs of death.

"Ah, friend," said the fox, with a faltering voice, "you are avenged,
my hour is come; I am just going to g