Scene SECOND

THE GUINEA-HEN. [To the PEACOCK, who enters slowly, with his head borne very stiff and high] Master, dear Master, would you be so extremely condescending as to come and stand with your back to these sunflowers? Peacock! Sunflowers! A study for Burne-Jones!

ALL. [Crowding around the PEACOCK.] Master! Master!

A CHICKEN. [Low to the DUCK.] A word from him can make one's fortune in society!

ANOTHER CHICKEN. [Who has succeeded in forcing his way to the PEACOCK, stammering with emotion.] Master, what do you think of my latest "cheep"?[Suspense. Religious silence.]

THE PEACOCK. [Solemnly, letting the word drop slowly from his beak.] Definitive.[Sensation]

A DUCK. [Trembling.] And my "quack"?[Suspense.]

THE PEACOCK. Ultimate![Sensation.]

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Delighted, to the HENS.] I may say that it is at my days most especially he throws off these specimens of a verbal art which might fairly be called ——

THE PEACOCK. Lapidary.

ALL THE HENS. [Rolling up their eyes.] Wonderful!

A HEN. [Coming forward, faint with emotion.] Master, high priest of taste, what do you think of my dress?[Suspense.]

THE PEACOCK. [After a glance.] Affirmative.[Sensation.]

THE TUFTED HEN. [Same business] And my bonnet?[Suspense]

THE PEACOCK. Absolute.[Sensation]

THE GUINEA-HEN. [In a burst of emotion] Our bonnets are absolute!

THE PHEASANT-HEN. [Affecting exclusive interest in the BEES.] Ah, there is the Choir Invisible striking up again!

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Presenting the young GUINEA-COCK to the PEACOCK.] My son! — What do you think of him?

THE PEACOCK. Plausible.

CHORUS OF WASPS. Busily buzzing——

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Overjoyed, running to the PHEASANT-HEN.] Oh, he said he was plausible!

THE PHEASANT-HEN. Who was?

THE GUINEA-HEN. My son!

CHORUS OF BEES. When July
Too hotly glows
Seek the shade
Inside the rose!

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Returning to the PEACOCK.] Does not the rhythm of that chorus impress you as ——

THE PEACOCK. Asunartetos!

A HEN. [To the GUINEA-HEN.] Your guest, my dear, can fit an epithet!

THE GUINEA-HEN. Pontiff of the Unexpected Adjective I call him!

THE PEACOCK. [Distilling his words, in a discordant haughty voice] True it is that——

THE GUINEA-HEN. Ah, this is most pleasant, most pleasant! He is going to talk to us.

THE PEACOCK. ——a Ruskin rather more refined, I hope, than the earlier one, with a tact——

THE GUINEA-HEN. Very true!

PEACOCK. —— a tact for which I stand largely in my own debt, I have constituted myself Petronius-Priest and Mascenas- Messiah, volatile volatiliser of words, and that, jeweled judge, I love by my cameos and filigrees of speech to represent the Taste of which I am the ——

PATOU. Oh, my poor head!

THE PEACOCK. [Nonchalantly.] —— shall I say guardian?

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Effervescently.] Do say guardian!

THE PEACOCK. No. Thesmothetes.[Respectful murmur of delight.]

THE GUINEA-HEN. [To the PHEASANT-HEN.] Now you have seen our Peacock! Aren't you excited?

THE PHEASANT-HEN. [Slightly bored.] Yes, — because I know the Cock is coming.

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Delighted.] To-day? He is coming to-day?[She announces to the general company, enthusiastically.] Chantecler!

THE PEACOCK. [Slightly miffed] A far greater triumph lies in store for you, fair friend.

THE GUINEA-HEN. Triumph?[The PEACOCK nods mysteriously] What triumph?

THE PEACOCK. [Walking away from her.] You shall see.

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Following him.] Of what triumph are you speaking?

THE PEACOCK. I said, "You shall see!"

MAGPIE. [Announcing.] Cock Braekel or Campine!