Chapter 1: Introduction
Old Madame Bonfamille made a will, according to which her fortune was to be inherited by her cat, the Duchess. And after her death, the fortune would pass to the butler, Edgar. Edgar, who believed in the superstition that cats have nine lives, decided that he would not live to see the day when he would become rich. Therefore, he decided to get rid of the cat. In the evening, he put sleeping pills in her milk, and at night, he took her to the countryside and left her under the bridge in a basket. When the Duchess woke up, she was frightened. Since it was still night and it was raining, she decided to stay under the bridge for the time being and spend the night in the basket.In the morning, the Duchess was awakened by singing. Looking out of the basket, she saw a ginger cat walking along the riverbank, singing the following song:"I like cheech-a-cheech-chee-roni Like they make at home Or a healthy fish with a big backboneI'm Abraham DeLacey Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley O'Malley the alley cat!I've got that wanderlust Gotta walk the scene Gotta kick up highway dust Feel the grass that's greenGotta strut them city streets Showin' off my éclat, yeah Tellin' my friends of the social elite Or some cute cat I happen to meetThat I'm Abraham DeLacey Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley O'Malley the alley cat!I'm king of the highway Prince of the boulevard Duke of the avant-garde The world is my backyardSo if you're goin' my way That's the road you wanna seek Calcutta to Rome or Home Sweet Home in Paris...Magnifique, you all!I only got myself And this big old world But I sip that cup of life With my fingers curledI don't worry what road to takeI don't have to think of that Whatever I take is the road I make It's the road of life make no mistake, for meYeah, Abraham DeLacey Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley O'Malley the alley catThat's right And I'm very proud of that Yeah!"As he was singing, Thomas noticed the Duchess and, without stopping, began to flirt with her. He waved his paw at her, then climbed a tree and shook some white spring flowers at her. The Duchess responded by playfully licking her paw and brushing her fur on her face. When Thomas approached, she smiled and batted her eyelashes. "Bravo! Very good. You are a great talent.", she said. "Oh, thank you. And what might your name be?", O'Malley asking."My name is Duchess.", Duchess answered. "Duchess. Beautiful. Love it. And those eyes. Ooh. Why, your eyes are like sapphires, sparkling so bright. They make the morning radiant... and light.", Thomas moved closer to her. "Oh, c'est tres jolie, monsieur. Very poetic. But it is not quite Shakespeare.", Duchess said."Of course not. That's pure O'Malley, baby. Right off the cuff, yeah. I got a million of 'em.", Thomas said and winks. "Oh, no more, please. I am really in a great deal of trouble.", The Duchess pleaded. "Trouble? Helping beautiful dame-- uh, damsels in distress is my specialty. Now what's the hang-up, your ladyship?", O'Malley asked playfully. "Well, it is most important that I get back to Paris. So if you would be just so kindand show me the way.", Duchess answered.