Obviously, I had to do some explaining, to convince them of my peaceful thoughts; but I couldn’t do it straight away, for my mouth was still wide open. I did not succeed in speaking, but not for lack of trying: I must have looked very comical, for they all burst into laughing. I eventually closed my mouth. I was squinting at the globules, all the while trying to be as honest as possible in my answers, to avoid any suspicion:
“I am a young Flea, as you can see!” I said in a high voice. “I live with my family in the Rat’s fur. Our little house is actually not far from here...” I added, pointing above me, wherefrom I had fallen.
When I had told them who I was, their faces were suddenly distorted with a terrible fear. They were scared of me! They stepped back a little, readying their weapons
