But it struck me, while I listened to you, as the biggest lie I ever heard.

I apologize for my incredulity." "It would be incredible," said Juventius Muso, "if told of any one except Hedulio and it would probably be untrue.

As it is told of Hedulio it is probably true and also entirely credible." "Why of Caius any more than any one else ?" queried Tanno.
Muso stared at him.
"I beg pardon," he said, "but I somehow got the idea that you were an old and close friend of our host." "I was and am," Tanno asserted.
"And know nothing," Muso pressed him, "of his marvellous powers over animals of all kinds, even over birds and fish ?" "Never heard he had any such powers." Tanno confessed.
"How's this, Hedulio ?" Juventius demanded of me.
"I suppose," I said, "that Tanno and I have mostly been together at Rome.
Animals are scarcer there than in the country and human beings more plentiful.

He knows more of my dealings with men and women than with other creatures." "Besides," Tanno cut in, "you must all remember that our Caius not only never boasts but is absurdly reticent about anything he has done of such a kind that most men would brag of it.

Towards his chums and cronies he is open-hearted and as unreserved as a friend could be about everything else, but especially close with them about such matters.