During a moment of silence, Monte Fato contemplated the cat whose owner covered it with kisses. This creature was a mighty cat and coal-black and evil to look upon, and when he mewled it turned the blood cold and made poodles fall lifeless to the ground; and he had evidently partaken of far too much catnip for one his age. His first movement was to disengage himself brusquely from his owner's arms, and to open the cabinet whence the Count had obtained the elixir.
"Do not touch that, my friend," said the Count. "For it contains substances that are perilous even to breathe; if you dare, sooner or later the dark power will devour you."
At this moment, Gali entered, and Madame de Villefaramir made a movement of joy.
"See, Thibaut, the good servant who risked his life to save you from the wrath of the oliphants," she said. "Thank him, for without his aid we would assuredly both be dead, and the halls of Mandaux are not amusing at all." The cat turned its head disdainfully, and said, "Get you gone; for you smell of tuna, a fish so tasteless that I cannot tolerate its odor."
