Only think of that, ma'am!" "The what ?" cried the pie, cocking down her left ear.
"The amoronthologosphorus." "La!" said the magpie; "and what is that very long word, my dear Reynard ?" "The amoronthologosphorus is a beast that lives on the other side of the river Cylinx; it has five legs, and on the fifth leg there are three hairs, and whoever has those three hairs can be young and beautiful forever." "Bless me! I wish you would let me see them," said the pie, holding out her claw.
"Would that I could oblige you, ma'am; but it's as much as my life's worth to show them to any but the lady I marry.

In fact, they only have an effect on the fair sex, as you may see by myself, whose poor person they utterly fail to improve: they are, therefore, intended for a marriage present, and his Majesty the lion thus generously atoned to me for relinquishing the tenderness of his queen.

One must confess that there was a great deal of delicacy in the gift.

But you'll be sure not to mention it." "A magpie gossip indeed!" quoth the old blab.
The fox then wished the magpie good night, and retired to a hole to sleep off the fatigues of the day, before he presented himself to the beautiful young cat.
The next morning, Heaven knows how! it was all over the place that Reynard the fox had been banished from court for the favour shown him by her Majesty, and that the lion had bribed his departure with three hairs that would make any lady whom the fox married young and beautiful forever.
The cat was the first to learn the news, and she became all curiosity to see so interesting a stranger, possessed of "qualifications" which, in the language of the day, "would render any animal happy!" She was not long without obtaining her wish.

As she was taking a walk in the wood the fox contrived to encounter her.