Anfos, his brown, dog-like eyes growing suddenly
frightened.
'Leave him alone!' ordered Christophe sharply.
But Loup scowled; he was thoroughly out of temper.
Owing to the lateness of their arrival he had not
even managed to get a balloon, the supply, by that
time, having been exhausted: CI will surely break his
ridiculous clock if I may not have my gramophone!'
he threatened.
In that case you can go without your supper;'
remarked Marie.
§3
They made their way home in comparative silence,
Anfos diligently nursing his cuckoo-clock; Marie
keeping a watchful eye upon Loup; Christophe
apparently lost in thought, and Jouse staring down
at his shoes.
But after a while Jouse looked up grinning: *I
did not observe much fine business, Marioun; Louis
Quinze and Louis Seize are still on their thrones, and
I fancy they are perfectly safe to remain there. What
a scrap-heap — what rubbish! Yes, but also what an
insult to the common sense and good taste of our
town. I felt almost sorry for the impudent fellow.'
'I will break that ridiculous clock!' repeated Loup.
*No ... no ... it is beautiful . . .' Anfos whis-
pered.
But that evening poor Anfos broke it himself,
for he could not resist its affable inmate who burst
open his door, bowed, flapped his grey wings, and
then cuckooed in such an ingratiating manner that
Anfos must jump up and down for sheer joy, and
must move the hands of the clock round and round
so that he might go on hearing the cuckoo. This he
did such a number of consecutive times that the kind
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