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 holly 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 Maecenas-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?