Much pleased at seeing a way out of his dilemma, the sailor placed the dead animals on the counter.
“Now,” the old man said to Frank, “you can take these out into the back yard and skin them. Then you can go to work in that back room. You will find arsenical soap, cotton wool, wires, and everything else you require there. This has been a fine cat,” he said, looking at the animal.
“Yes, it has been a splendid creature,” Frank answered. “It is a magnificent macaw also.”
“Ah! you know it is a macaw!” the old man said.
“Of course,” Frank said simply; “it has a tail.”
The old man then furnished Frank with two or three sharp knives and scissors. Taking the bird and cat, he went out into the yard and in the course of an hour had skinned them both. Then he returned to the shop and set to work in the room behind.
“May I make a group of them?” he asked.
“Do them just as you like,” the old man said.
After settling upon his subject, Frank set to work, and, except that he went out for five minutes to buy and eat a penny loaf, continued his work till nightfall. The old man came in several times to look at him, but each time went out again without making a remark. At six o'clock Frank laid down his tools.
“I will come again tomorrow, sir,” he said.