My father is taking an evening stroll, and is very quick of hearing.

He has tied me up by my poor wings in the cavern, for he is mightily afraid of some beast running away with me.

You know I have all my fortune settled on myself." "Talk not of fortune," said the fox; "but how can I deliver you?
Shall I enter and gnaw the cord ?" "Alas!" answered the griffiness, "it is an immense chain I am bound with.

However, you may come in and talk more at your ease." The fox peeped cautiously all round, and seeing no sign of the griffin, he entered the lower cave and stole upstairs to the upper story; but as he went on, he saw immense piles of jewels and gold, and all sorts of treasure, so that the old griffin might well have laughed at the poor cat being called an heiress.

The fox was greatly pleased at such indisputable signs of wealth, and he entered the upper cave, resolved to be transported with the charms of the griffiness.
There was, however, a great chasm between the landing-place and the spot where the young lady was chained, and he found it impossible to pass; the cavern was very dark, but he saw enough of the figure of the griffiness to perceive, in spite of her petticoat, that she was the image of her father, and the most hideous heiress that the earth ever saw! However, he swallowed his disgust, and poured forth such a heap of compliments that the griffiness appeared entirely won.
He implored her to fly with him the first moment she was unchained.
"That is impossible," said she; "for my father never unchains me except in his presence, and then I cannot stir out of his sight." "The wretch!" cried Reynard, "what is to be done ?" "Why, there is only one thing I know of," answered the griffiness, "which is this: I always make his soup for him, and if I could mix something in it that would put him fast to sleep before he had time to chain me up again I might slip down and carry off all the treasure below on my back." "Charming!" exclaimed Reynard; "what invention! what wit! I will go and get some poppies directly." "Alas!" said the griffiness, "poppies have no effect upon griffins.