Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Brazilian Cat
Hehadapparentlygonetobedwiththeothers.Nodoubthehadhiswitnesstoproveit.Then,unknowntothem,hehadslippeddown,hadluredmeintohisdenandabandonedme.Hisstorywouldbesosimple.Hehadleftmetofinishmycigarinthebilliard-room.Ihadgonedownonmyownaccounttohavealastlookatthecat.Ihadenteredtheroomwithoutobservingthatthecagewasopened,andIhadbeencaught.Howcouldsuchacrimebebroughthometohim?Suspicion,perhaps—butproof,never!
Howslowlythosedreadfultwohourswentby!OnceIheardalow,raspingsound,whichItooktobethecreaturelickingitsownfur.Severaltimesthosegreenisheyesgleamedatmethroughthedarkness,butneverinafixedstare,andmyhopesgrewstrongerthatmypresencehadbeenforgottenorignored.Atlasttheleastfaintglimmeroflightcamethroughthewindows—Ifirstdimlysawthemastwogreysquaresupontheblackwall,thengreyturnedtowhite,andIcouldseemyterriblecompaniononcemore.Andhe,alas,couldseeme!
ItwasevidenttomeatoncethathewasinamuchmoredangerousandaggressivemoodthanwhenIhadseenhimlast.Thecoldofthemorninghadirritatedhim,andhewashungryaswell.Withacontinualgrowlhepacedswiftlyupanddownthesideoftheroomwhichwasfarthestfrommyrefuge,hiswhiskersbristlingangrily,andhistailswitchingandlashing.Asheturnedatthecornershissavageeyesalwayslookedupwardsatmewithadreadfulmenace.Iknewthenthathemeanttokillme.
