THE STOBY OF JACKO II. 129 



As for his monkey, Jacko II., 1 a bear's skin folded in 

 four would do famously for him. 



The move was effected that same evening, and Tony 

 fell asleep in a pleasantly warm atmosphere, delighted 

 with his happy idea. 



On waking next morning he felt puzzled as to where 

 he was for a few moments, but soon recognising the 

 studio, his eyes turned by instinct towards his easel. 



Jacko II. was seated on the back of a chair, just at 

 the height and within reach of the picture. For a moment 

 Tony imagined that the intelligent creature, who had 

 lived so long amongst pictures, had at length become a 

 connoisseur, and that, as he seemed to inspect the canvas 

 very closely, he was lost in admiration of the beauty of 

 its finish and details. But he soon found out his mistake. 

 Jacko adored white lead, and as the picture of Coligny 

 was nearly finished, and Tony had put in all his high 

 lights with this pigment, Jacko was busy passing his 

 tongue over every spot where he could find it. 



Tony sprang from his bed, and Jacko from his chair, 

 but it was too late. Every part of the canvas on which 

 there had been the smallest touch of white lead was 

 licked bare, and the Admiral himself had been, one might 

 almost say, swallowed whole ! 



Tony began by flying into a great rage with Jacko, 

 but, on second thoughts, reflecting that it was very much 

 his own fault for not tying the monkey up, he went in 

 search of a chain and a staple. 



He fixed the staple firmly into the wall, riveted one 

 end of the chain to it, and having thus prepared for 

 the coming night, he fell to work on his Coligny, and 

 succeeded in pretty well re-hanging him by five o'clock. 



Then, feeling he had done a good day's work, he 

 went out for a walk, dined at a restaurant, went to see a 

 play, and got home soon after eleven. 



1 To distinguish him from Jacko I., Decamps' monkey. 

 B K 



