Concerning Some Historic Cats 



rough as a file, uttering all the time little inarticulate 

 cries, which expressed as clearly as any words could 

 do his perfect satisfaction at having me with him 

 again. After these caresses he would perch himself 

 on the back of the bedstead and sleep there, carefully 

 balanced, like a bird on a branch. When I awoke, 

 he would come down and lie beside me until I got up. 



" Pierrot was as strict as a concierge in his notions 

 of the proper hour for all good people to return to 

 their homes. He did not approve of anything later 

 than midnight. In those days we had a little society 

 among friends, which we called ' The Four Candles,' 

 — the light in our place of meeting being restricted 

 to four candles in silver candlesticks, placed at the 

 four corners of the tables. Sometimes the talk 

 became so animated that I forgot all about time, 

 and twice or three times Pierrot sat up for me 

 until two o'clock in the morning. After a while, 

 however, my conduct in this respect displeased him, 

 and he retired to rest without me. I was touched by 

 this mute protest against my innocent dissipation, 

 and thenceforth came home regularly at twelve 

 o'clock. Nevertheless, Pierrot cherished the mem- 

 ory of my offence for some time ; he waited to test 

 the reality of my repentance, but when he was con- 

 vinced that my conversion was sincere, he deigned 

 to restore me to his good graces, and resumed his 

 nocturnal post in the anteroom. 



"To gain the friendship of a cat is a difficult 

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