WONDERFtrL FEATS OF DOGS. 99 



around her are small bits of pasteboard^ bearing each a letter 

 of the alphabet. When a spectator gives a word, or asks for a 

 translation, Mile. Bianca seems to think a moment, half closes 

 her eyes, like a poet hunting for a rhyme, and moves around 

 the table, taking pasteboard, letter after letter, until she com- 

 pletes the word. She does this quietly, easily, without ever 

 being betrayed into hurry. The word formed, she gravely takes 

 her seat and gives one bark, as a printer places a period at the 

 end of a sentence. She plays cards, and forms nosegays in the 

 same way. While this intellectual animal is at work, her mas- 

 ter stands motionless, some three or four paces from the table, 

 but does not say a word. He sometimes disappears entirely 

 behind a door, and Mile. Bianca works wonders as effectually as 

 when he is present. I said to her tutor : ^ So your dog really 

 reads and understands what is said to her V 



"^ How can you doubt it, as you see she does so as well 

 when I am absent as when I am by her side V 



" ^ She really is the worthy peer of Munito, the Newton of 

 the canine race.' 



" ^Munito P quickly exclaimed Mile. Bianca's tutor, his lip 

 curling with contempt as he spoke. ' Munito was a miserable 

 humbug ; one of those dogs who abuse the public credulity.' 



" ^ What ? Munito a humbug ? You astound me !' 



" < Yes, sir ; and were Munito here, I should tell him so to 

 his face. Impostors and dogs of real talents should not be con- 

 founded. Munito did not know B from a bull's foot, while Bi- 

 anca has learned by rule. What she knows, she knows thor- 

 oughly.' 



" ^ Is it possible Munito knew nothing, and merely concerted 

 with his master to appear learned V 



" ^ You have hit the nail on the head.' 



*' * Do you mean to tell me there are pseudo savants among 

 dogs ? I thought men had a monopoly of that plague.' 



'^ ^ Dogs don't escape it.' 



" ^ Good heavens ! can a fellow trust neither man nor dog ? 

 Do enter into particulars ; and since I am doomed, it seems, to 

 lose one more illusion, let the loss, at least, turn to the profit 

 of my knowledge.' 



" ' I, too, was a dupe to Munito's merits ; but one fine morn- 

 ing the scales fell from my eyes, and I discovered the truth. Like 

 my Bianca — forgive me the oclious comparison, dear ! — Munito 

 stood in the center of a circle formed of bits of pasteboard 

 bearing letters, or figures, or colors. I grant you, Munito had 

 a good deal of brains j he was no fool, I admit, and his ear was 

 exquisitely delicate. Had he been trained by a good method; 



