Чорний кіт

           Secure,however,intheinscrutabilityofmyplaceofconcealment,Ifeltnoembarrassmentwhatever. Theofficersbademeaccompanythemintheirsearch. Theyleftnonookorcornerunexplored. Atlength,forthethirdorfourthtime,theydescendedintothecellar. Iquiverednotinamuscle.Myheartbeatcalmlyasthatofonewhoslumbersininnocence. Iwalkedthecellarfromendtoend.Ifoldedmyarmsuponmybosom,androamedeasilytoandfro.Thepolicewerethoroughlysatisfiedandpreparedtodepart. Thegleeatmyheartwastoostrongtoberestrained. Iburnedtosayifbutoneword,bywayoftriumph,andtorenderdoublysuretheirassuranceofmyguiltlessness. 

           "Gentlemen,"Isaidatlast,asthepartyascendedthesteps,"Idelighttohaveallayedyoursuspicions. Iwishyouallhealth,andalittlemorecourtesy. Bythebye,gentlemen,this—thisisaverywellconstructedhouse." (Intherabiddesiretosaysomethingeasily,IscarcelyknewwhatIutteredatall.)—"Imaysayanexcellentlywellconstructedhouse. Thesewalls—areyougoing,gentlemen? —thesewallsaresolidlyputtogether";andhere,throughthemerephrenzyofbravado,Irappedheavily,withacanewhichIheldinmyhand, uponthatveryportionofthebrick-workbehindwhichstoodthecorpseofthewifeofmybosom