CHANTECLER
[_Who has gone toward_ PATOU.] There, my dear boy, is a Hen with whom
one can have a bit of solid conversation.



SCENE SEVENTH

THE SAME, _the_ GUINEA-HEN, _and the whole_ POULTRY-YARD

_Cries outside, nearer and nearer,_ "Ah!--" _Enter all the_ HENS _in
tumult, preceded by the agitated_ GUINEA-HEN.


THE BLACKBIRD
[_In his cage._] The next course will be Guinea-hen!

THE GUINEA-HEN
[_Running to the_ PHEASANT-HEN.] Ah, my dear, my dear, my dear!--A
beauty, a very beauty!--We have come to make your acquaintance, my dear!

[_General admiration,_ "Ah!--" _The_ PHEASANT-HEN _is surrounded.
Conversation, cries, clucking._]

CHANTECLER
[_Watching the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _aside._] How well she walks, with free
and graceful gait!--[_He looks at the_ HENS.] So differently from my
Hens! [_Irritably, to the_ HENS.] Ladies, you walk as if you had
blisters! You walk as if you trod on your own eggs!