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Файл:The Legacy and Other Stories (Завещание и другие рассказы). Учебное пособие для студентов бакалавров, изучающих английский язык (второй год обучения),
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“Ihadsomehopes,sir,thatyou,knowingallthefacts,mightbe
inclinedtoadvance—”
“Don’tsayanotherword,mydearboy,”hecried,withtheutmost
cordiality;“weshalltalkitovertonight,andIgiveyoumywordthat
whateverisinmypowershallbedone.”
Iwasnotsorrythatmyvisitwasdrawingtoaclose,foritisun
pleasanttofeelthatthereisonepersoninthehousewhoeagerlyde
siresyourdeparture.Mrs.King’ssallowfaceandforbiddingeyeshad
become more and more hateful to me. She was no longer actively
rude—herfearofherhusbandpreventedher—butshepushedher
insanejealouslytotheextentofignoringme,neveraddressingme,and
ineverywaymaking my stayatGreylandsas uncomfortableasshe
could.Sooffensivewashermannerduringthatlastday,thatIshould
certainlyhavelefthaditnotbeenforthatinterviewwithmyhostinthe
eveningwhichwould,Ihoped,retrievemybrokenfortunes.
Itwasverylatewhenitoccurred,formyrelative,whohadbeen
receiving even more telegrams than usual during the day,went off
tohisstudyafterdinner,andonlyemergedwhenthehouseholdhad
retiredtobed.Iheardhimgoroundlockingthedoors,ashiscustom
wasofanight,andnallyhejoinedmeinthebilliardroom.Hisstout
gure was wrapped in a dressinggown, and he wore a pair of red
Turkishslipperswithoutanyheels.Settlingdownintoanarmchair,he
brewedhimselfaglassofgrog,inwhichIcouldnothelpnoticingthat
thewhiskyconsiderablypredominatedoverthewater.
“Myword!”saidhe,“whatanight!”
It was, indeed. The wind was howling and screaming round
thehouse,andthelatticedwindowsrattledandshookasiftheywere
comingin.Theglowoftheyellowlampsandtheavourofourcigars
seemedthebrighterandmorefragrantforthecontrast.
“Now, myboy,”saidmy host,“we have the house andthe night
toourselves.Letmehaveanideaofhowyouraffairsstand,andIwill
seeIwishtoheareverydetail.”
Thusencouraged,Ienteredintoalongexposition,inwhichallmy
tradesmenandcreditorsfrommylandlordtomyvalet,guredinturn.
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Ihadnotesinmypocketbook,andImarshalledmyfacts,andgave,
Iattermyself,averybusinesslikestatementofmyownunbusiness
likewaysandlamentableposition.Iwasdepressed,however,tonotice
thatmy companion’seyes were vacant and his attention elsewhere.
Whenhedidoccasionallythrowoutaremarkitwassoentirelyper
functoryandpointless,thatIwassurehehadnotintheleastfollowed
myremarks.Everynowandthenherousedhimselfandputonsome
showofinterest,askingmetorepeatortoexplainmorefully,butit
wasalwaystosinkoncemoreintothesamebrownstudy.Atlasthe
roseandthrewtheendofhiscigarintothegrate.
“I’lltellyouwhat,myboy,”saidhe.“Ineverhadaheadforg
ures, so you will excuse me.Youmust jot it all down upon paper,
andletmehaveanoteoftheamount.I’llunderstanditwhen
.”
Theproposalwasencouraging.Ipromisedtodoso.
“Andnowit’stimewewereinbed.ByJove,there’soneo’clock
strikinginthehall.”
Thetingling of thechiming clock brokethrough the deeproar
ofthegale.Thewindwassweepingpastwiththerushofagreatriver.
“ImustseemycatbeforeIgotobed,”saidmyhost.“Ahighwind
exciteshim.Willyoucome?”
“Certainly,”saidI.
“Thentreadsoftlyanddon’tspeak,foreveryoneisasleep.”
We passed quietly down the lamplit Persianrugged hall, and
throughthedooratthefartherend.Allwasdarkinthestonecorridor,
butastablelanternhungonahook,andmyhosttookitdownandlit
it.Therewasnogratingvisibleinthepassage,soIknewthatthebeast
wasinitscage.
“Comein!”saidmyrelative,andopenedthedoor.
Adeepgrowlingasweenteredshowedthatthestormhadreally
excitedthecreature.Inthe ickering lightofthelantern,we sawit,
ahugeblackmasscoiledinthecomerofitsdenandthrowingasquat,
uncouthshadowuponthewhitewashedwall.Itstailswitchedangrily
amongthestraw.
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“PoorTommyis notinthebestoftempers,”saidEverardKing,
holdingupthelanternandlookinginathim.“Whatablackdevilhe
looks,doesn’the?Imustgivehimalittlesuppertoputhiminabetter
humour.Wouldyoumindholdingthelanternforamoment?”
Itookitfromhishandandhesteppedtothedoor.
“His larder is just outside here,” said he. “You will excuse me
foraninstantwon’tyou?”Hepassedout,andthedoorshutwithasharp
metallicclickbehindhim.
Thathardcrispsoundmademyheartstandstill.Asuddenwave
of terror passed over me. A vague perception of some monstrous
treacheryturnedmecold.Isprangtothedoor,buttherewasnohandle
upontheinnerside.
“Here!”Icried.“Letmeout!”
“Allright! Don’tmake a row!” said myhost from the passage.
“You’vegotthelightallright.”
“Yes,butIdon’tcareaboutbeinglockedinalonelikethis.”
“Don’tyou?”Iheardhishearty,chucklinglaugh.“Youwon’tbe
alonelong.”
“Letmeout,sir!”Irepeatedangrily.“ItellyouIdon’tallow
ofthissort.”
“Practical is the word,” said he, with another hateful chuckle.
And then suddenly I heard, amidst the roar of the storm, the creak
and whine of the winchhandle tuming and the rattle of the grating
asitpassedthroughtheslot.GreatGod,hewaslettingloosetheBra
zilian cat! In the light of the lantern I saw the bars sliding slowly
beforeme.Already there wasan opening afoot wide atthe farther
end.With a scream I seized the last bar with my hands and pulled
withthestrengthof a madman.Iwasa madman withrageandhor
ror.For a minute or more I held the thing motionless. I knew that
hewas strainingwith all hisforce uponthe handle,and that thele
verage was sure to overcome me. I gave inch by inch, myfeet sli
dingalong the stones, and allthe timeI beggedand prayed thisin
humanmonster to saveme fromthis horrible death.I conjuredhim
byhiskinship.IremindedhimthatIwashisguest;Ibeggedtoknow
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whatharmIhadeverdonehim.Hisonlyanswerswerethetugsand
jerks upon the handle, each of which, in spite of all my stnxggles,
pulledanotherbarthroughtheopening.Clingingandclutching,Iwas
draggedacrossthewhole frontofthecage,untilatlast,withaching
wristsandlaceratedfmgers,Igaveupthehopelessstruggle.Thegra
tingclangedbackasIreleasedit,andaninstantlaterIheardtheshute
oftheTurkishslippersinthepassage,andtheslamofthedistantdoor.
Theneverythingwassilent.
The creature had never moved during this time. He lay still
in the corner, and his tail had ceased switching. This apparition
ofamanadheringtohisbarsanddraggedscreamingacrosshimhad
apparently lled him with amazement. I saw his great eyes staring
steadilyatme.IhaddroppedthelantemwhenIseizedthebars,butit
stillburnedupontheoor,andImadeamovementtograspit,with
some idea that its light might protect me. But the instant I moved,
thebeastgaveadeepandmenacinggrowl.Istoppedandstoodstill,
quiveringwithfearineverylimb.Thecat(ifonemaycallsofearful
acreaturebysohomelyaname)wasnotmorethantenfeetfromme.
The eyes glimmered like two disks of phosphorus in the darkness.
Theyappalledandyetfascinated me. Icouldnottakemy own eyes
fromthem.Natureplaysstrangetrickswithusatsuchmomentsofin
tensity,andthoseglimmeringlightswaxedandwaned withasteady
riseandfall.Sometimestheyseemedtobetinypointsofextremebril
liancy—littleelectricsparksintheblackobscurity—thentheywould
widenandwidenuntilallthatcomeroftheroomwaslledwiththeir
shiftingandsinisterlight.Andthensuddenlytheywentoutaltogether.
Thebeasthadcloseditseyes.Idonotknowwhethertheremay
be any truth in the old idea of the dominance of the human gaze,
orwhetherthehugecatwassimplydrowsy,butthefactremainsthat,
farfromshowingany symptomofattackingme, itsimplyrestedits
sleek,blackheaduponitshugeforepawsandseemedtosleep.Istood,
fearing to move lest I shouldrouseitintomalignantlifeoncemore.
ButatleastIwasabletothinkclearlynowthatthebalefuleyeswere
offme.HereIwasshutupforthenightwiththeferociousbeast.My
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owninstincts,tosaynothingofthewordsoftheplausiblevillainwho
laidthistrapforme,warnedmethattheanimalwasassavageasits
master.HowcouldIstaveitoffuntilmorning?Thedoorwashopeless,
andsowerethenarrow,barredwindows.Therewasnoshelterany
whereinthebare,stoneaggedroom.Tocryforassistancewasab
surd.Iknewthatthisdenwasanouthouse,andthatthecorridorwhich
connecteditwiththehousewasatleastahundredfeetlong.Besides,
withthatgalethunderingoutside,mycrieswerenotlikelytobeheard.
Ihadonlymyowncourageandmyownwitstotrustto.
Andthen,withafreshwaveofhorror,myeyesfelluponthelan
tern.Thecandlehadburnedlow,andwasalreadybeginningtogutter.
Intenminutesitwouldbeout.Ihadonlytenminutestheninwhich
todosomething,forIfeltthatifIwereonceleftinthedarkwiththat
fearfulbeastI shouldbeincapable ofaction.The very thoughtof it
paralyzedme.Icastmydespairingeyesroundthischamberofdeath,
andtheyrestedupononespotwhichseemedtopromiseIwillnotsay
safety,butlessimmediateandimminentdangerthantheopenoor.
I have said that the cage had a top as well as a front, and this
top was left standing when the front was wound through the slot
in the wall. It consisted of bars at a few inches interval,with stout
wirenetting between, andit rested upon astrong stanchion at each
end.Itstoodnowasagreatbarredcanopyoverthecrouchinggure
inthecorner.Thespacebetweenthisironshelfandtheroofmayhave
been from two to three feet. If I could only get up there, squeezed
inbetweenbarsand ceiling, Iwouldhaveonly onevulnerableside.
Ishouldbesafefrombelow,frombehind,andfromeachside.Only
ontheopenfaceofitcouldIbeattacked.There,itistrue,Ihadnopro
tectionwhatever;butatleast,Ishouldbeoutofthebrute’spathwhen
hebegantopaceabouthisden.Hewouldhavetocomeoutofhisway
toreachme.Itwasnowornever,forifoncethelightwereoutitwould
beimpossible.Withagulpinmythroat I sprang up,seizedtheiron
edgeofthetop,andswungmyselfpantingontoit.Iwrithedinface
downwards,andfound myself lookingstraightintothe terribleeyes
andyawningjawsofthecat.Itsfetidbreathcameupintomyfacelike
thesteamfromsomefoulpot.
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Itappeared,however,toberathercuriousthanangry.Withasleek
rippleof its long,black back it rose, stretcheditself, and thenrear
ingitselfonitshindlegs,withoneforepawagainstthewall,itraised
theother,anddrewitsclawsacrossthewiremeshesbeneathme.One
sharp,whitehooktorethroughmy trousersforImaymentionthat
Iwasstillineveningdressanddugafurrowinmyknee.Itwasnot
meantasanattack,butratherasanexperiment,foruponmy giving
asharpcryofpainhedroppeddownagain,andspringinglightlyinto
theroom, he beganwalking swiftlyround it,looking upevery now
andagaininmydirection.FormypartIshufedbackwardsuntilIlay
withmybackagainstthewall,screwingmyselfintothesmallestspace
possible.ThefatherIgotthemoredifcultitwasforhimtoattackme.
Heseemedmoreexcitednowthathe had begun tomoveabout,
andheranswiftlyandnoiselesslyroundandround the den,passing
continuallyunderneaththeironcouchuponwhichIlay.Itwaswonder
fultoseesogreatabulkpassinglikeashadow,withhardlythesoftest
thuddingofvelvetypads.Thecandlewasbuminglow—solowthat
Icouldhardlyseethecreature.Andthen,withalastareandsplutter
itwentoutaltogether.Iwasalonewiththecatinthedark!
Ithelpsonetofaceadangerwhenoneknowsthatonehasdone
allthatpossiblycanbedone.Thereisnothingforitthenbuttoquietly
awaittheresult.Inthiscase,therewasnochanceofsafetyanywhere
excepttheprecisespotwhereIwas.Istretchedmyselfout,therefore,
andlaysilently,almostbreathlessly,hopingthatthebeastmightforget
mypresenceif Ididnothing to remindhim. I reckonedthatit must
alreadybetwoo’clock.Atfouritwouldbefulldawn.Ihadnotmore
thantwohourstowaitfordaylight.
Outside, the storm was still raging, and the rain lashed conti
nuallyagainstthelittle windows. Inside,thepoisonousand fetid air
wasoverpowering.Icouldneitherhearnorseethecat.Itriedtothink
aboutotherthings—butonlyonehadpowerenoughtodrawmymind
frommyterribleposition.Thatwasthecontemplationofmycousin’s
villainy,hisunparalleled hypocrisy,hismalignant hatred ofme.Be
neaththatcheerfulfacetherelurkedthespiritofamediaevalassassin.
206
AndasIthoughtofitIsawmoreclearlyhowcunninglythethinghad
been arranged. He had apparently gone to bed with the others. No
doubthe had his witnesses to prove it.Then, unknownto them, he
hadslippeddown,hadluredmeintothisdenandabandonedme.His
storywouldbesosimple.Hehadleftmetonishmycigarinthebil
liardroom.Ihadgonedownonmyownaccounttohavealastlook
atthecat.Ihadenteredtheroomwithoutobservingthatthecagewas
opened,andIhadbeencaught. How couldsuchacrimebebrought
hometohim!Suspicion,perhaps—butproof,never!
Howslowlythosedreadfultwohourswentby!OnceIheardalow,
raspingsound,whichItooktobethecreaturelickingits own fur.Se
veraltimesthosegreenisheyesgleamedatmethroughthedarkness,but
neverinaxedstare,andmyhopesgrewstrongerthatmypresencehad
beenforgottenorignored.Atlasttheleastfaintglimmeroflightcame
throughthewindows—Irstdimlysawthemastwogreysquaresupon
theblack wall, thengrey turned towhite, andIcould seemy terrible
companiononcemore.Andhe,alas,couldseeme!
Itwasevidenttomeatoncethathewasinamuchmoredangerous
andaggressivemoodthanwhenIhadseenhimlast.Thecoldofthe
morninghad irritated him,and he was hungry as well. Witha con
tinualgrowlhepacedswiftlyupanddownthesideoftheroomwhich
wasfarthest from myrefuge, his whiskersbristling angrily,andhis
tailswitchingandlashing.Asheturnedatthecomershissavageeyes
alwayslookedupwardsatmewithadreadfulmenace.Iknewthenthat
hemeanttokillme.YetIfoundmyselfevenatthatmomentadmiring
thesinuousgraceofthedevilishthing,itslong,undulating,rippling
movements,theglossofitsbeautifulanks,thevivid,palpitatingscar
let of the glistening tongue which hung from the jetblack muzzle.
And all the time that deep, threatening growl was rising and rising
inanunbrokencrescendo.Iknewthatthecrisiswasathand.
Itwasamiserablehourtomeetsuchadeath—socold,socom
fortless,shiveringinmylightdressclothesuponthisgridironoftor
mentuponwhichIwasstretched.Itriedtobracemyselftoit,toraise
mysoulaboveit,andatthesametime,withtheluciditywhichcomes
207
toa perfectly desperate man, I cast round for some possible means
ofescape. One thing was clear to me.If that front of the cage was
only back in its position once more, I could nd a sure refuge be
hindit.CouldIpossiblypullitback!Ihardlydaredtomoveforfear
ofbringingthecreatureuponme.Slowly,veryslowly,Iputmyhand
forwarduntilitgraspedtheedgeofthefront,thenalbarwhichpro
trudedthroughthewall.Tomysurpriseitcamequiteeasilytomyjerk.
OfcoursethedifcultyofdrawingitoutarosefromthefactthatIwas
clingingtoit.Ipulledagain,andthreeinchesofitcamethrough.Itran
apparentlyonwheels.Ipulledagain...andthenthecatsprang!
Itwasso quick, sosudden,that I neversawit happen. Isimply
heardthesavagesnarl,andinaninstantafterwardstheblazingyellow
eyes,theattenedblackheadwithits red tongueandashingteeth,
werewithinreach ofme.The impact ofthe creature shookthe bars
uponwhichIlay,untilIthought(asfaras Icouldthinkofanything
atsuchamoment)thattheywerecomingdown.Thecatswayedthere
for an instant, the head and front paws quite close to me, the hind
claws clawing to nd a grip upon the edge of the grating. I heard
the claws rasping as they clung to the wirenetting, and the breath
ofthebeastmademesick. But itsboundhadbeenmiscalculated.It
couldnotretainitsposition.Slowly,grinningwithrage,andscratch
ingmadlyatthebars,itswungbackwardsanddroppedheavilyupon
theoor.Withagrowl itinstantly facedround tome andcrouched
foranotherspring.
Iknewthatthenextfewmomentswoulddecidemyfate.Thecreature
had learned by experience. It would not miscalculate again.I must act
promptly,fearlessly,ifIweretohaveachanceforlife.InaninstantIhad
formedmyplan.Pullingoffmydresscoat,Ithrewitdownoverthehead
ofthebeast.AtthesamemomentIdroppedovertheedge,seizedtheend
ofthefrontgrating,andpulleditfranticallyoutofthewall.
Itcamemoreeasilythan Icouldhaveexpected.I rushed across
theroom,bearingitwithme;but,asIrushed,theaccidentofmypo
sitionputmeupontheouterside.Haditbeentheotherway,Imight
have come off scatheless. As it was, there was a moment’s pause
208
asIstopped it andtriedto pass inthroughthe openingwhichIhad
left.Thatmomentwasenoughtogivetimetothecreaturetotossoff
thecoatwithwhichIhadblindedhimandtospringuponme.Ihurled
myselfthroughthegapandpulledtherailstobehindme,butheseized
myleg beforeI couldentirely withdrawit. One stroke of that huge
pawtoreoff my calfas a shavingof wood curlsoffbefore aplane.
Thenextmoment,bleedingandfainting,Iwaslyingamongthefoul
strawwithalineoffriendlybarsbetweenmeandthecreaturewhich
rampedsofranticallyagainstthem.
Toowoundedtomove,andtoofainttobeconsciousoffear,Icould
onlylie,moredeadthanalive,andwatchit.Itpresseditsbroad,black
chest against the bars and angled for me with its crooked paws as
Ihaveseenakittendobeforeamousetrap.Itrippedmyclothes,but,
stretchasitwould,itcouldnotquitereachme.Ihaveheardofthecu
riousnumbing effect produced bywounds fromthe great camivora,
andnowIwasdestinedtoexperienceit,forIhadlostallsenseofper
sonalityand was asinterested in thecat’sfailure or successas if it
weresomegamewhichIwaswatching.Andthengraduallymymind
driftedawayintostrangevaguedreams,alwayswiththatblack face
andredtonguecomingbackintothem,andsoIlostmyselfinthenir
vanaofdelirium,theblessedreliefofthosewhoaretoosorelytried.
Tracingthecourseofeventsafterwards,IconcludethatImusthave
beeninsensibleforabouttwohours.Whatrousedmetoconsciousness
oncemorewasthatsharpmetallicclickwhichhadbeentheprecursor
ofmyterribleexperience.Itwastheshootingbackofthespringlock.
Then,beforemysenseswereclearenoughtoentirelyapprehendwhat
theysaw,Iwasawareoftheround,benevolentfaceofmycousinpee
ringin through the open door.What he sawevidently amazed him.
There was the cat crouching on the oor.I was stretched upon my
backinmyshiasleeveswithinthecage,mytrouserstorntoribbons
andagreatpoolofbloodallroundme.Icanseehisamazedfacenow,
withthemorningsunlightuponit.Hepeeredatme,andpeeredagain.
Thenheclosedthedoorbehindhim,andadvancedtothecagetosee
ifIwerereallydead.
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Icannotundertaketo saywhathappened.Iwasnotinatstate
towitnessortochroniclesuchevents.IcanonlysaythatIwassud
denlyconsciousthathisfacewasawayfrommethathewaslooking
towardstheanimal.
“GoodoldTommy!”hecried.“GoodoldTommy!”
Thenhecamenearthebars,withhisbackstilltowardsme.
“Down,youstupidbeast!”heroared.“Down,sir!Don’tyouknow
yourmaster?”
Suddenlyeveninmybemuddledbrainaremembrancecameofthose
wordsofhiswhenhehadsaidthatthetasteofbloodwouldturnthecat
intoaend.Mybloodhaddoneit,buthewastopaytheprice.
“Getaway!”hescreamed.“Getaway,youdevil!Baldwin!Bald
win!Oh,myGod!”
AndthenIheardhimfall,andrise,andfallagain,withasound
liketherippingofsacking.Hisscreamsgrewfainteruntiltheywere
lostintheworryingsnarl.Andthen,afterIthoughtthathewasdead,
Isaw,asinanightmare,ablinded,tattered,bloodsoakedgurerun
ningwildly round theroom —and thatwas the lastglimpse which
IhadofhimbeforeIfaintedonceagain.
Iwasmonthsinmyrecovery—infact,IcannotsaythatIhaveever
recovered,fortotheendofmydaysIshallcarryastickasasignofmy
nightwiththeBraziliancat.Baldwin,thegroom,andtheotherservants
couldnottellwhathadoccurred,when,drawnbythedeathcriesoftheir
master,theyfoundmebehindthebars,andhisremains—orwhatthey
afterwardsdiscoveredtobehisremains—intheclutchofthecreature
whichhehadreared.Theystalledhimoffwithhotirons,andafterwards
shothimthroughtheloopholeofthedoorbeforetheycouldnallyex
tricateme.Iwascarriedtomybedroom,andthere,undertheroofofmy
wouldbemurderer,Iremainedbetweenlifeanddeathforseveralweeks.
TheyhadsentforasurgeonfromCliptonandanursefromLondon,and
inamonthIwasabletobecarriedtothestation,andsoconveyedback
oncemoretoGrosvenorMansions.
Ihaveoneremembranceofthatillness,whichmighthavebeenpart
oftheeverchangingpanoramaconjuredupbyadeliriousbrainwere
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