TJie Book of Cats. 27 1 



put the keeper on a fresh scent, and ultimately led 

 to the discovery of the truth. The director there- 

 upon complained to his brother official, who only 

 replied by pointing to the thinly-tenanted pond, 

 and saying that he would not have his birds de- 

 stroyed if he could help it. The result was that a 

 fierce hostility reigned between the two establish- 

 ments, until an arrangement was made by their 

 respective heads. By this treaty it was stipulated 

 that the Director of the Imperial Printing Office 

 should, on his part, cause every outlet by which 

 the Cats gained access to the gardens of the 

 Director of the Archives to be carefully closed, and 

 every means taken to prevent such a contingency ; 

 while, on the other hand, Monsieur, the Director of 

 the Archives, agreed never to molest any Cat 

 belonging to the Imperial Printing Office, who 

 should, by some unforeseen accident, obtain ad- 

 mittance into his garden. And thus, by this 

 famous treaty, the horrors of civil war were 

 averted ! 



Perhaps as curious an instance as any on record, 

 where Puss's powers as a watchman have been 

 called into requisition, may be found in a fact just 

 communicated to me. There is, it appears, a 

 family now residing near Richmond, who have a 



