'
It was not merely that the large pictures of the wild animals in
action, the more than brassy sound of the cracked brass band,
delighted our eyes and ears. Our olfactories also were charmed. The
mousy scent of the animals mixed with the scent of sawdust, which to
adults was so objectionable, was characterised by us as delicious.
All these Wombwell delights came back to me as we entered Jamrach's,
and for a time the picture of Winifred prevented my seeing the famous
shop. When this passed I saw that the walls of the large room were
covered from top to bottom with cages, some of them full of wonderful
or beautiful birds, and others full of evil-faced, screeching
monkeys.
While D'Arcy was amusing himself with a blue-faced rib-nosed baboon,
I asked Mr. Jamrach, an extremely intelligent man, about the singing
girl and the Welsh air. But he could tell me nothing, and evidently
thought I had been hoaxed.
In a small case by itself was a beautiful jewelled cross, which
attracted D'Arcy's attention very much.
'This is not much in your line,' he said to Jamrach.
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