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A Cat pounced on a Cock, and cast about for some good excuse for

making a meal off him, for Cats don't as a rule eat Cocks, and

she knew she ought not to. At last she said, "You make a great

nuisance of yourself at night by crowing and keeping people

awake: so I am going to make an end of you." But the Cock

defended himself by saying that he crowed in order that men might

wake up and set about the day's work in good time, and that they

really couldn't very well do without him. "That may be," said the

Cat, "but whether they can or not, I'm not going without my

dinner"; and she killed and ate him.

The want of a good excuse never kept a villain from crime.

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE