Part 1, Chapter 9 Summary

Merivel becomes hung up about people in Russia and wonders how they stay warm in the winter. He visits Trench, his father's tailor and furrier, and orders ten raccoon tabards with wool lining for himself and all his household staff. Life otherwise becomes routine, with Celia becoming extremely bored. One night in his studio, where he has fallen asleep while drawing, Celia awakens him. The "Indian Nightingale" is ill. Merivel finds the bird on the bottom of the cage and obviously sick. To impress Celia, who begs him, he agrees to try and save the bird. He gives the bird a potion from a known apothecary, a green liquid body cleanser called Pill Fortis, while Celia sings to the bird. In the morning they awaken to find the bird dead, lying in a pool of greenish slime. Celia is so upset...