But mum's the word." So great a piece of news delighted the magpie.

She could not but repay it in kind, by all the news in her budget.

She told the fox all the scandal about Bruin and Gauntgrim, and she then fell to work on the poor young cat.

She did not spare her foibles, you may be quite sure.

The fox listened with great attention, and he learned enough to convince him that however much the magpie might exaggerate, the cat was very susceptible to flattery, and had a great deal of imagination.
When the magpie had finished she said, "But it must be very unfortunate for you to be banished from so magnificent a court as that of the lion ?" "As to that," answered the fox, "I console myself for my exile with a present his Majesty made me on parting, as a reward for my anxiety for his honour and domestic tranquillity; namely, three hairs from the fifth leg of the amoronthologosphorus.