Чорний кіт

           Thefallingofotherwallshadcompressedthevictimofmycrueltyintothesubstanceofthefreshly-spreadplaster; thelimeofwhich,hadthenwiththeflames,andtheammoniafromthecarcass,accomplishedtheportraitureasIsawit. 

           AlthoughIthusreadilyaccountedtomyreason,ifnotaltogethertomyconscience,forthestartlingfact‘justdetailed, itdidnotthelessfalltomakeadeepimpressionuponmyfancy. FormonthsIcouldnotridmyselfofthephantasmofthecat; and,duringthisperiod,therecamebackintomyspiritahalf-sentimentthatseemed,butwasnot,remorse. Iwentsofarastoregretthelossoftheanimal,andtolookaboutme,amongthevilehauntswhichInowhabituallyfrequented, foranotherpetofthesamespecies,andofsomewhatsimilarappearance,withwhichtosupplyitsplace. 

           OnenightasIsat,halfstupefied,inadenofmorethaninfamy,myattentionwassuddenlydrawntosomeblackobject, reposingupontheheadofoneoftheimmensehogsheadsofGin,orofRum,whichconstitutedthechieffurnitureoftheapartment. Ihadbeenlookingsteadilyatthetopofthishogsheadforsomeminutes,andwhatnowcausedmesurprisewasthefactthatIhadnotsoonerperceivedtheobjectthereupon. Iapproachedit,andtoucheditwithmyhand. Itwasablackcat—averylargeone—fullyaslargeasPluto, andcloselyresemblinghimineveryrespectbutone. Plutohadnotawhitehairuponanyportionofhisbody; butthiscathadalarge,althoughindefinitesplotchofwhite,coveringnearlythewholeregionofthebreast.