Penny did not trust herself to speak for a moment. Carefully she controlled her voice as she said casually:
“How interesting, Mr. Saal, An octopus tattoo! Was the man a sailor?”
“He was an old salt all right, though he denied it.”
“What is his name?”
“I couldn’t tell you that,” answered Mr. Saal. “I have to protect my customers.”
“Tell me more about the tattoo,” urged Penny.
“It’s just a figure about so large—” Mr. Saal demonstrated with his hands, “on the man’s back. Funny place for a tattoo, ain’t it?”
“I should say so,” agreed Penny. “Is it merely a figure of an octopus? No words or anything like that?”
“There are two words. I took ’em off last week.”
“Two?” inquired Penny. “What are they, Mr. Saal?”