Tales of Terror and Mystery

           Thatgivesyouthecluetoheractions,whichare,Iconfess,uponthisparticularpoint,notveryfarremovedfrommania.Tellmethatyouwillthinknomoreofit."

           "No,no;certainlynot."

           "Thenlightthiscigarandcomeroundwithmeandseemylittlemenagerie."

           Thewholeafternoonwasoccupiedbythisinspection,whichincludedallthebirds,beasts,andevenreptileswhichhehadimported.Somewerefree,someincages,afewactuallyinthehouse.Hespokewithenthusiasmofhissuccessesandhisfailures,hisbirthsandhisdeaths,andhewouldcryoutinhisdelight,likeaschoolboy,when,aswewalked,somegaudybirdwouldflutterupfromthegrass,orsomecuriousbeastslinkintothecover.Finallyheledmedownacorridorwhichextendedfromonewingofthehouse.Attheendofthistherewasaheavydoorwithaslidingshutterinit,andbesideitthereprojectedfromthewallanironhandleattachedtoawheelandadrum.Alineofstoutbarsextendedacrossthepassage.

           "Iamabouttoshowyouthejewelofmycollection,"saidhe."ThereisonlyoneotherspecimeninEurope,nowthattheRotterdamcubisdead.ItisaBraziliancat."

           "Buthowdoesthatdifferfromanyothercat?"

           "Youwillsoonseethat,"saidhe,laughing."Willyoukindlydrawthatshutterandlookthrough?"

           Ididso,andfoundthatIwasgazingintoalarge,emptyroom,withstoneflags,andsmall,barredwindowsuponthefartherwall.Inthecentreofthisroom,lyinginthemiddleofagoldenpatchofsunlight,therewasstretchedahugecreature,aslargeasatiger,butasblackandsleekasebony.