Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Brazilian Cat
Iwasmanymonthsinmyrecovery—infact,IcannotsaythatIhaveeverrecovered,fortotheendofmydaysIshallcarryastickasasignofmynightwiththeBraziliancat.Baldwin,thegroom,andtheotherservantscouldnottellwhathadoccurred,when,drawnbythedeath-criesoftheirmaster,theyfoundmebehindthebars,andhisremains—orwhattheyafterwardsdiscoveredtobehisremains—intheclutchofthecreaturewhichhehadreared.Theystalledhimoffwithhotirons,andafterwardsshothimthroughtheloopholeofthedoorbeforetheycouldfinallyextricateme.Iwascarriedtomybedroom,andthere,undertheroofofmywould-bemurderer,Iremainedbetweenlifeanddeathforseveralweeks.TheyhadsentforasurgeonfromCliptonandanursefromLondon,andinamonthIwasabletobecarriedtothestation,andsoconveyedbackoncemoretoGrosvenorMansions.
Ihaveoneremembranceofthatillness,whichmighthavebeenpartoftheever-changingpanoramaconjuredupbyadeliriousbrainwereitnotsodefinitelyfixedinmymemory.Onenight,whenthenursewasabsent,thedoorofmychamberopened,andatallwomaninblackestmourningslippedintotheroom.Shecameacrosstome,andasshebenthersallowfaceIsawbythefaintgleamofthenight-lightthatitwastheBrazilianwomanwhommycousinhadmarried.Shestaredintentlyintomyface,andherexpressionwasmorekindlythanIhadeverseenit.
"Areyouconscious?"sheasked.
Ifeeblynodded—forIwasstillveryweak.
"Well;then,Ionlywishedtosaytoyouthatyouhaveyourselftoblame.
