Suppose you had ten bits of sugar , and you met ten Prussian dogs , how many lumps would you , a French dog , give to each of the Prussians ? ' Lyda very decidedly replied to this with a cipher . ` But , suppose you divided your sugar with me , how many lumps would you give me ? ' Lyda took up the figure five and politely presented it to her master . '' `` Was n't she smart ? Sanch ca n't do that , '' exclaimed Ben , forced to own that the French doggie beat his cherished pet . `` He is not too old to learn . Shall I go on ? '' asked Miss Celia , seeing that the boys liked it , though Betty was absorbed with the doll , and Bab deep in a puzzle . `` Oh , yes ! What else did they do ? '' `` They played a game of dominoes together , sitting in chairs opposite each other , and touched the dominoes that were wanted ; but the man placed them and kept telling how the game went . Lyda was beaten , and hid under the sofa , evidently feeling very badly about it . Blanche was then surrounded with playing-cards , while her master held another pack and told us to choose a card ; then he asked her what one had been chosen , and she always took up the right one in her teeth . I was asked to go into another room , put a light on the floor with cards round it , and leave the doors nearly shut . Then the man begged some one to whisper in the dog 's ear what card she was to bring , and she went at once and fetched it , thus showing that she understood their names . Lyda did many tricks with the numbers , so curious that no dog could possibly understand them ; yet what the secret sign was I could not discover , but suppose it must have been in the tones of the master 's voice , for he certainly made none with either head or hands . `` It took an hour a day for eighteen months to educate a dog enough to appear in public , and -LRB- as you say , Ben -RRB- the night was the best time to give the lessons . Soon after this visit , the master died ; and these wonderful dogs were sold because their mistress did not know how to exhibit them . '' `` Would n't I have liked to see 'em and find out how they were taught !
XXXXX , you 'll have to study up lively , for I 'm not going to have you beaten by French dogs , '' said Ben , shaking his finger so sternly that Sancho grovelled at his feet and put both paws over his eyes in the most abject manner .
Bab Ben Blanche Celia Prussian Prussians Sanch months night playing-cards