Остров доктора Моро
The Crying of the Puma.
"Iwasundertheimpression—thathishaircoveredhisears."
"Isawthemashestoopedbymetoputthatcoffeeyousenttomeonthetable.Andhiseyesshineinthedark."
BythistimeMontgomeryhadrecoveredfromthesurpriseofmyquestion."Ialwaysthought,"hesaiddeliberately,withacertainaccentuationofhisflavouringoflisp,"thattherewassomethingthematterwithhisears,fromthewayhecoveredthem.Whatweretheylike?"
Iwaspersuadedfromhismannerthatthisignorancewasapretence.Still,IcouldhardlytellthemanthatIthoughthimaliar."Pointed,"Isaid;"rathersmallandfurry,—distinctlyfurry.ButthewholemanisoneofthestrangestbeingsIeverseteyeson."
Asharp,hoarsecryofanimalpaincamefromtheenclosurebehindus.Itsdepthandvolumetestifiedtothepuma.IsawMontgomerywince.
"Yes?"hesaid.
"Wheredidyoupickupthecreature?"
"SanFrancisco.He’sanuglybrute,Iadmit.Half-witted,youknow.Can’trememberwherehecamefrom.ButI’musedtohim,youknow.Webothare.Howdoeshestrikeyou?"
"He’sunnatural,"Isaid."There’ssomethingabouthim—don’tthinkmefanciful,butitgivesmeanastylittlesensation,atighteningofmymuscles,whenhecomesnearme.It’satouch—ofthediabolical,infact."
MontgomeryhadstoppedeatingwhileItoldhimthis.
