"But it is very important that I know your name," the mouse said.

Chickenhound lay thinking about what the kindly old mouse had said.

The other mouse said, "Pleased to meet you," and did likewise.

Then the old mouse said: "It is easy to propose impossible remedies."

The first mouse says: "Let's drink one glass and sing."

The third mouse says: "Let's drink three glasses and go beat up the cat."

'Either one smart mouse or hungry as hell,' a new voice said.

I killed that mouse,' he said in a voice that was not quite steady.

Alas", said the mouse, "the whole world is growing smaller every day.

"We've got to put it over this time," said he to the mouse, who was watching him brightly from the top of the box.