Чорний кіт

           Itookfrommywaistcoat-pocketapen-knife,openedit,graspedthepoorbeastbythethroat,anddeliberatelycutoneofitseyesfromthesocket! Iblush,Iburn,Ishudder,whileIpenthedamnableatrocity. 

           Whenreasonreturnedwiththemorning—whenIhadsleptoffthefumesofthenight’sdebauch —Iexperiencedasentimenthalfofhorror,halfofremorse,forthecrimeofwhichIhadbeenguilty; butitwas,atbest,afeebleandequivocalfeeling,andthesoulremaineduntouched. Iagainplungedintoexcess,andsoondrownedinwineallmemoryofthedeed. 

           Inthemeantimethecatslowlyrecovered. Thesocketofthelosteyepresented,itistrue,afrightfulappearance,buthenolongerappearedtosufferanypain. Hewentaboutthehouseasusual,but,asmightbeexpected,fledinextremeterroratmyapproach. Ihadsomuchofmyoldheartleft,astobeatfirstgrievedbythisevidentdislikeonthepartofacreaturewhichhadoncesolovedme. Butthisfeelingsoongaveplacetoirritation. Andthencame,asiftomyfinalandirrevocableoverthrow,thespiritofPERVERSENESS. Ofthisspiritphilosophytakesnoaccount. YetIamnotmoresurethatmysoullives,thanIamthatperversenessisoneoftheprimitiveimpulsesofthehumanheart —oneoftheindivisibleprimaryfaculties,orsentiments,whichgivedirectiontothecharacterofMan.