THE THREE OWLS
To-night, too-whit!

THE CAT
Pfitt!—­Where?

THE OWLS
The hollies, too-whoo!

THE CAT
What o’clock?

THE OWLS
Eight, too-whit! too-whoo!

FIRST OWL
Bats weaving soft black snares of flight—­

THE CAT
Are they with us?

THE THREE OWLS
They are!

FIRST OWL
Mole, burrowing from nether to upper night—­

THE CAT
Is she with us?

THE THREE OWLS
She is!

THE CAT [Talking toward the house-door.] You, strike your eight strokes bravely, Cuckoo of the little clock!

THE SCREECH-OWL
Is he with us?

THE CAT
He is!—­And I am pleased to tell you, silent night-watchers that some of
the day-birds are likewise with us.

THE TURKEY [Coming forward surrounded by a number of the barnyard constituents, obsequiously.] So it is settled for this evening, dear Round Eyes?  You will be there?

THE OWLS
We will be there!  All the Round Eyes of the neighbourhood will be there!

THE BLACKBIRD
That’s a show I’d like to see!

PATOU
[In his sleep.] Grrrrrrr—­

THE CAT [To the startled NIGHT-BIRDS.] The dog is dreaming.—­He growls in his sleep.

CHANTECLER
[Inside the hen-house.] Coa—­

THE OWLS
[Frightened.] Himself!

THE TURKEY
Fly!

FIRST OWL No need.  The night is dark.  We can vanish by merely closing our eyes. [They shut their luminous eyes.  Darkness. CHANTECLER appears at the top of the ladder.]

CHANTECLER
[To the BLACKBIRD.] Did you hear anything, Blackbird?

THE BLACKBIRD
I did, indeed, old chap.

THE OWLS
[Frightened.] What’s this?

THE BLACKBIRD
A black conspiracy—­

CHANTECLER
Ah?

THE BLACKBIRD
[With melodramatic emphasis.] Against you!—­Tremble!

CHANTECLER
[Going in again, unalarmed.] Joker!

THE OWLS
He has gone in.

THE BLACKBIRD
I have betrayed no one!

AN OWL
The Blackbird then is with us?

THE BLACKBIRD
No—­but may I come and look on?

AN OWL
A Night-bird never eats a black bird.  You can come.

THE BLACKBIRD
The password?

THE OWL
Terror and Talons!

THE PHEASANT-HEN [Putting her head out of the dog-kennel.] I can’t breathe in that stifling, low-roofed little house, and—­[Catching sight of the NIGHT-BIRDS.] Oh!—­[She darts aside, behind the kennel, and watches.]

THE OWLS Hush! [They close their eyes. THE CAT does the same.  After a time, hearing no further sound, they open them again.] It was nothing.  Let us be off.

THE GROUP OF THE DISAFFECTED
[With fawning obsequiousness to the NIGHT-BIRDS.] Success to you,
Owls,—­success!