gh give-and-take of the tavern had accustomed him
to that, and at first he defended himself with equanimity--but you must
remember that he was the man who could not suffer it to be said, in
opposition to his views, that horses were intelligent animals. So he
poured upon his wrath no small quantity of the excellent punch,
although he knew it was a dangerous policy.

"What was that you said just now, Herr Kosch, if I may inquire?" said
the courtier with mocking politeness. "What was that expression you
used? 'All those old barnyard cocks that were clustered around his
Excellency?' Do I quote the expression correctly?"

"You do," said the engraver harshly. "Scratching in the earth around
him to see what they can pick up--in a disgusting way, so I imagine.
Barnyard cocks--and barnyard hens!"

"Oh," said the courtier bitingly, "you have a singular conception of
our society here!"

"Society!" said the stranger scornfully. "Two-legged creatures like
those that run about everywhere, a crowing, clucking crowd! And then
one of them crows himself up in the big barnyard to the position of a
demigod! Lord, how the fellow must be bored with the rest of the
tribe!"

"And how do you feel, Mr. Barnyard Cock?" asked Sperber's nephew,
raising his glass. "Here's to you!"

"To you!" said Herr Kosch, bowing very low toward him and trying to fix
a somewhat unsteady gaze upon him. It seemed that in this firmly
organized body of his the eyes were not altogether obedient. "Barnyard
cock? Barnyard cock? Sir, I come from shimmering depths, from the
caverns under the earth. You think the earth ends there where you walk?
You think there is nothing moving under your feet. But the mole and the
rabbit burrow deep--very deep. Well, well, I'm not a barnyard ...
barnyard cock--that I'm not ... certainly not." And he shook his hard,
lined hand. "No ... no!"

"The fellow's drunk," muttered Herr Sperber. He no longer held
caressingly encircled the clear liquor in his glass, but looked at his
old friend's daughter, and saw how, pale and with big, wide-open eyes,
she watched anxiously every movement of the stranger. Old Sperber rose,
came quietly behind her chair, touched her on the shoulder, and said,
"I'll soon get rid of the fool for you--don't worry, Tubby." In reply
he got from her a glance full of rebellion, and yet uncertain, as if
seeking for help. "Listen, child, come with me through the garden," he
said, cheerfully and heartily. She shook he