Summary

Chapter 12:

At the presentation of the Menagerie (which a passing Aristocrat describes as “a horrific carnival to entertain the city’s most despicable rabble” (207), Jack and Bess are very aware of the presence of Wild’s men, with Jack being particularly aware (and upset by) the “sound of the animal commodities … was we born or was we made … miserable, ghoulish Sobbing” (207). They make their way to the cage of the Lion-Man, ignoring the clearly false claims of the man exhibiting him and bribing (the exhibitor) to leave them alone. They can see that the Lion-Man is faked; the animal fur on his arms is starting to become unglued. They also discover that the man is articulate and well-spoken, with Bess speaking to him in much the same way when she asks for any information he has about Evans. With that, the Lion-Man...