“Alas. No longer. ”
“ It’s most terribly clever the way it’s been done,” he said. “ it doesn’t look in the least bit dead. Who did it ”
“ I did ”
“ You did ?”
“Of course ,” she said. “ And have you met my little Basil as well?” She nodded towards the dachund curled up so comfortably in front of the fire. Billy looked at it. And suddenly, he realized that this animal motionless as the time been just as silent and motionless as the parrot. He put out a hand touched it gently on the top of its back. The back was hard and cold, and when he pushed the hair to one side with his fingers, he could see the skin underneath, greyish-black and dry perfectly preserved.