Чорний кіт

           Whohasnot,ahundredtimes,foundhimselfcommittingavileorasillyaction,fornootherreasonthanbecauseheknowsheshouldnot? Havewenotaperpetualinclination,intheteethofourbestjudgment,toviolatethatwhichisLaw,merelybecauseweunderstandittobesuch? Thisspiritofperverseness,Isay,cametomyfinaloverthrow. Itwasthisunfathomablelongingofthesoultovexitself—toofferviolencetoitsownnature—todowrongforthewrong’ssakeonly—thaturgedmetocontinueandfinallytoconsummatetheinjuryIhadinflictedupontheunoffendingbrute. Onemorning,incoolblood,Islippedanooseaboutitsneckandhungittothelimbofatree; —hungitwiththetearsstreamingfrommyeyes,andwiththebitterestremorseatmyheart; —hungitbecauseIknewthatithadlovedme,andbecauseIfeltithadgivenmenoreasonofoffence; —hungitbecauseIknewthatinsodoingIwascommittingasin—adeadlysinthatwouldsojeopardizemyimmortalsoulastoplaceit —ifsuchathingwerepossible —evenbeyondthereachoftheinfinitemercyoftheMostMercifulandMostTerribleGod. 

           Onthenightofthedayonwhichthiscrueldeedwasdone,Iwasarousedfromsleepbythecryoffire. Thecurtainsofmybedwereinflames. Thewholehousewasblazing. Itwaswithgreatdifficultythatmywife,aservant,andmyself,madeourescapefromtheconflagration.Thedestructionwascomplete. Myentireworldlywealthwasswallowedup,andIresignedmyselfthenceforwardtodespair.