Summary

The narration returns to Downing in the past, and to present-tense, third-person narration. “Enter twelve Gentlemen,” the narration begins (123), along with dozens of other folks there to see the aardvark. The visitors include Walter Potter, a man whom Downing considers a rival – he stuffs small animals and dresses / poses them as humans, and is very popular. Potter says he is there like everyone else, to see the aardvark. When Downing thinks enough people have gathered, he opens the door, leaves the running of the operation to his friend Skinner, and then goes to a pub down the road. This is what he always does, according to the narration, leaving his work to be perceived by Viewers once he has done all he can. As usual, he sits in a corner and has a beer, but before he does so, he orders an extravagant...