Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Brazilian Cat
EverardKingcameout,andtakingtheironhandlewhichIhavementioned,hebegantoturnit.Ashedidsothelineofbarsinthecorridorbegantopassthroughaslotinthewallandclosedupthefrontofthisgrating,soastomakeaneffectivecage.Whenitwasinpositionheopenedthedooroncemoreandinvitedmeintotheroom,whichwasheavywiththepungent,mustysmellpeculiartothegreatcarnivora.
"That’showweworkit,"saidhe."Wegivehimtherunoftheroomforexercise,andthenatnightweputhiminhiscage.Youcanlethimoutbyturningthehandlefromthepassage,oryoucan,asyouhaveseen,coophimupinthesameway.No,no,youshouldnotdothat!"
Ihadputmyhandbetweenthebarstopattheglossy,heavingflank.Hepulleditback,withaseriousface.
"Iassureyouthatheisnotsafe.Don’timaginethatbecauseIcantakelibertieswithhimanyoneelsecan.Heisveryexclusiveinhisfriends—aren’tyou,Tommy?Ah,hehearshislunchcomingtohim!Don’tyou,boy?"
Astepsoundedinthestone-flaggedpassage,andthecreaturehadsprungtohisfeet,andwaspacingupanddownthenarrowcage,hisyelloweyesgleaming,andhisscarlettongueripplingandquiveringoverthewhitelineofhisjaggedteeth.Agroomenteredwithacoarsejointuponatray,andthrustitthroughthebarstohim.Hepouncedlightlyuponit,carrieditofftothecorner,andthere,holdingitbetweenhispaws,toreandwrenchedatit,raisinghisbloodymuzzleeverynowandthentolookatus.Itwasamalignantandyetfascinatingsight.
