WhenIfirstbeheldthisapparition-forIcouldscarcelyregarditasless-mywonderandmyterrorwereextreme。Butatlengthreflectioncametomyaid。Thecat，Iremembered，hadbeenhunginagardenadjacenttothehouse。Uponthealarmoffire，thisgardenhadbeenimmediatelyfilledbythecrowd-bysomeoneofwhomtheanimalmusthavebeencutfromthetreeandthrown，throughanopenwindow，intomychamber。Thishadprobablybeendonewiththeviewofarousingmefromsleep。Thefallingofotherwallshadcompressedthevictimofmycrueltyintothesubstanceofthefreshly-spreadplaster；thelimeofwhich，withtheflames，andthe_ammonia_fromthecarcass，hadthenaccomplishedtheportraitureasIsawit。
　　AlthoughIthusreadilyaccountedtomyreason，ifnotaltogethertomyconscience，forthestartlingfactjustdetailed，itdidnotthelessfailtomakeadeepimpressionuponmyfancy。FormonthsI
　　couldnotridmyselfofthephantasmofthecat；and，duringthisperiod，therecamebackintomyspiritahalf-sentimentthatseemed，butwasnot，remorse。Iwentsofarastoregretthelossoftheanimal，andtolookaboutme，amongthevilehauntswhichInowhabituallyfrequented，foranotherpetofthesamespecies，andofsomewhatsimilarappearance，withwhichtosupplyitsplace。
　　OnenightasIsat，halfstupified，inadenofmorethaninfamy，myattentionwassuddenlydrawntosomeblackobject，reposingupontheheadofoneoftheimmensehogsheadsofGin，orofRum，whichconstitutedthechieffurnitureoftheapartment。Ihadbeenlookingsteadilyatthetopofthishogsheadforsomeminutes，andwhatnowcausedmesurprisewasthefactthatIhadnotsoonerperceivedtheobjectthereupon。Iapproachedit，andtoucheditwithmyhand。Itwasablackcat-averylargeone-fullyaslargeasPluto，andcloselyresemblinghimineveryrespectbutone。Plutohadnotawhitehairuponanyportionofhisbody；butthiscathadalarge，althoughindefinitesplotchofwhite，coveringnearlythewholeregionofthebreast。Uponmytouchinghim，heimmediatelyarose，purredloudly，rubbedagainstmyhand，andappeareddelightedwithmynotice。This，then，wastheverycreatureofwhichIwasinsearch。I
　　atonceofferedtopurchaseitofthelandlord；butthispersonmadenoclaimtoit-knewnothingofit-hadneverseenitbefore。
　　Icontinuedmycaresses，and，whenIpreparedtogohome，theanimalevincedadispositiontoaccompanyme。Ipermittedittodoso；occasionallystoopingandpattingitasIproceeded。Whenitreachedthehouseitdomesticateditselfatonce，andbecameimmediatelyagreatfavoritewithmywife。
　　Formyownpart，Isoonfoundadisliketoitarisingwithinme。
　　ThiswasjustthereverseofwhatIhadanticipated；but-Iknownothoworwhyitwas-itsevidentfondnessformyselfratherdisgustedandannoyed。Byslowdegrees，thesefeelingsofdisgustandannoyanceroseintothebitternessofhatred。Iavoidedthecreature；acertainsenseofshame，andtheremembranceofmyformerdeedofcruelty，preventingmefromphysicallyabusingit。Ididnot，forsomeweeks，strike，orotherwiseviolentlyilluseit；butgradually-verygradually-Icametolookuponitwithunutterableloathing，andtofleesilentlyfromitsodiouspresence，asfromthebreathofapestilence。
　　Whatadded，nodoubt，tomyhatredofthebeast，wasthediscovery，onthemorningafterIbroughtithome，that，likePluto，italsohadbeendeprivedofoneofitseyes。Thiscircumstance，however，onlyendearedittomywife，who，asIhavealreadysaid，possessed，inahighdegree，thathumanityoffeelingwhichhadoncebeenmydistinguishingtrait，andthesourceofmanyofmysimplestandpurestpleasures。
　　Withmyaversiontothiscat，however，itspartialityformyselfseemedtoincrease。Itfollowedmyfootstepswithapertinacitywhichitwouldbedifficulttomakethereadercomprehend。WheneverIsat，itwouldcrouchbeneathmychair，orspringuponmyknees，coveringmewithitsloathsomecaresses。IfIarosetowalkitwouldgetbetweenmyfeetandthusnearlythrowmedown，or，fasteningitslongandsharpclawsinmydress，clamber，inthismanner，tomybreast。
　　Atsuchtimes，althoughIlongedtodestroyitwithablow，Iwasyetwithheldfromsodoing，partlybyamemoryofmyformercrime，butchiefly-letmeconfessitatonce-byabsolutedreadofthebeast。
　　Thisdreadwasnotexactlyadreadofphysicalevil-andyetI
　　shouldbeatalosshowotherwisetodefineit。Iamalmostashamedtoown-yes，eveninthisfelon’scell，Iamalmostashamedtoown-
　　thattheterrorandhorrorwithwhichtheanimalinspiredme，hadbeenheightenedbyoneofthemerestchimaerasitwouldbepossibletoconceive。Mywifehadcalledmyattention，morethanonce，tothecharacterofthemarkofwhitehair，ofwhichIhavespoken，andwhichconstitutedthesolevisibledifferencebetweenthestrangebeastandtheoneIhaddestroyed。Thereaderwillrememberthatthismark，althoughlarge，hadbeenoriginallyveryindefinite；but，byslowdegrees-degreesnearlyimperceptible，andwhichforalongtimemyReasonstruggledtorejectasfanciful-ithad，atlength，assumedarigorousdistinctnessofoutline。ItwasnowtherepresentationofanobjectthatIshuddertoname-andforthis，aboveall，Iloathed，anddreaded，andwouldhaveridmyselfofthemonster_hadIdared_-itwasnow，Isay，theimageofahideous-
　　ofaghastlything-oftheGALLOWS！-oh，mournfulandterribleengineofHorrorandofCrime-ofAgonyandofDeath！
　　AndnowwasIindeedwretchedbeyondthewretchednessofmereHumanity。And_abrutebeast_-whosefellowIhadcontemptuouslydestroyed-_abrutebeast_toworkoutfor_me_-formeaman，fashionedintheimageoftheHighGod-somuchofinsufferablewo！
　　Alas！neitherbydaynorbynightknewItheblessingofRestanymore！Duringtheformerthecreatureleftmenomomentalone；and，inthelatter，Istarted，hourly，fromdreamsofunutterablefear，tofindthehotbreathof_thething_uponmyface，anditsvastweight-anincarnateNight-MarethatIhadnopowertoshakeoff-
　　incumbenteternallyuponmy_heart！_
　　Beneaththepressureoftormentssuchasthese，thefeebleremnantofthegoodwithinmesuccumbed。Evilthoughtsbecamemysoleintimates-thedarkestandmostevilofthoughts。Themoodinessofmyusualtemperincreasedtohatredofallthingsandofallmankind；
　　while，fromthesudden，frequent，andungovernableoutburstsofafurytowhichInowblindlyabandonedmyself，myuncomplainingwife，alas！wasthemostusualandthemostpatientofsufferers。
　　Onedaysheaccompaniedme，uponsomehouseholderrand，intothecellaroftheoldbuildingwhichourpovertycompelledustoinhabit。
　　Thecatfollowedmedownthesteepstairs，and，nearlythrowingmeheadlong，exasperatedmetomadness。Upliftinganaxe，andforgetting，inmywrath，thechildishdreadwhichhadhithertostayedmyhand，Iaimedablowattheanimalwhich，ofcourse，wouldhaveprovedinstantlyfatalhaditdescendedasIwished。Butthisblowwasarrestedbythehandofmywife。Goaded，bytheinterference，intoaragemorethandemoniacal，Iwithdrewmyarmfromhergraspandburiedtheaxeinherbrain。Shefelldeaduponthespot，withoutagroan。
　　Thishideousmurderaccomplished，Isetmyselfforthwith，andwithentiredeliberation，tothetaskofconcealingthebody。IknewthatIcouldnotremoveitfromthehouse，eitherbydayorbynight，withouttheriskofbeingobservedbytheneighbors。Manyprojectsenteredmymind。AtoneperiodIthoughtofcuttingthecorpseintominutefragments，anddestroyingthembyfire。Atanother，Iresolvedtodigagraveforitinthefloorofthecellar。Again，I
　　deliberatedaboutcastingitinthewellintheyard-aboutpackingitinabox，asifmerchandize，withtheusualarrangements，andsogettingaportertotakeitfromthehouse。FinallyIhituponwhatI
　　consideredafarbetterexpedientthaneitherofthese。Ideterminedtowallitupinthecellar-asthemonksofthemiddleagesarerecordedtohavewalleduptheirvictims。
　　Forapurposesuchasthisthecellarwaswelladapted。Itswallswerelooselyconstructed，andhadlatelybeenplasteredthroughoutwitharoughplaster，whichthedampnessoftheatmospherehadpreventedfromhardening。Moreover，inoneofthewallswasaprojection，causedbyafalsechimney，orfireplace，thathadbeenfilledup，andmadetoresembletheredofthecellar。ImadenodoubtthatIcouldreadilydisplacethebricksatthispoint，insertthecorpse，andwallthewholeupasbefore，sothatnoeyecoulddetectanythingsuspicious。AndinthiscalculationIwasnotdeceived。Bymeansofacrow-barIeasilydislodgedthebricks，and，havingcarefullydepositedthebodyagainsttheinnerwall，Iproppeditinthatposition，while，withlittletrouble，Ire-laidthewholestructureasitoriginallystood。Havingprocuredmortar，sand，andhair，witheverypossibleprecaution，Ipreparedaplasterwhichcouldnotbedistinguishedfromtheold，andwiththisIverycarefullywentoverthenewbrickwork。WhenIhadfinished，Ifeltsatisfiedthatallwasright。Thewalldidnotpresenttheslightestappearanceofhavingbeendisturbed。Therubbishonthefloorwaspickedupwiththeminutestcare。Ilookedaroundtriumphantly，andsaidtomyself-“Hereatleast，then，mylaborhasnotbeeninvain。”
　　Mynextstepwastolookforthebeastwhichhadbeenthecauseofsomuchwretchedness；forIhad，atlength，firmlyresolvedtoputittodeath。HadIbeenabletomeetwithit，atthemoment，therecouldhavebeennodoubtofitsfate；butitappearedthatthecraftyanimalhadbeenalarmedattheviolenceofmypreviousanger，andforeboretopresentitselfinmypresentmood。Itisimpossibletodescribe，ortoimagine，thedeep，theblissfulsenseofreliefwhichtheabsenceofthedetestedcreatureoccasionedinmybosom。Itdidnotmakeitsappearanceduringthenight-andthusforonenightatleast，sinceitsintroductionintothehouse，Isoundlyandtranquillyslept；aye，sleptevenwiththeburdenofmurderuponmysoul！
　　Thesecondandthethirddaypassed，andstillmytormentorcamenot。OnceagainIbreathedasafreeman。Themonster，interror，hadfledthepremisesforever！Ishouldbeholditnomore！Myhappinesswassupreme！Theguiltofmydarkdeeddisturbedmebutlittle。Somefewinquirieshadbeenmade，butthesehadbeenreadilyanswered。
　　Evenasearchhadbeeninstituted-butofcoursenothingwastobediscovered。Ilookeduponmyfuturefelicityassecured。
　　Uponthefourthdayoftheassassination，apartyofthepolicecame，veryunexpectedly，intothehouse，andproceededagaintomakerigorousinvestigationofthepremises。Secure，however，intheinscrutabilityofmyplaceofconcealment，Ifeltnoembarrassmentwhatever。Theofficersbademeaccompanythemintheirsearch。Theyleftnonookorcornerunexplored。Atlength，forthethirdorfourthtime，theydescendedintothecellar。Iquiverednotinamuscle。Myheartbeatcalmlyasthatofonewhoslumbersininnocence。Iwalkedthecellarfromendtoend。Ifoldedmyarmsuponmybosom，androamedeasilytoandfro。Thepolicewerethoroughlysatisfiedandpreparedtodepart。Thegleeatmyheartwastoostrongtoberestrained。Iburnedtosayifbutoneword，bywayoftriumph，andtorenderdoublysuretheirassuranceofmyguiltlessness。
　　“Gentlemen。”Isaidatlast，asthepartyascendedthesteps，“I
　　delighttohaveallayedyoursuspicions。Iwishyouallhealth，andalittlemorecourtesy。Bythebye，gentlemen，this-thisisaverywellconstructedhouse。”[Intherabiddesiretosaysomethingeasily，IscarcelyknewwhatIutteredatall。]-“Imaysayan_excellently_wellconstructedhouse。Thesewallsareyougoing，gentlemen？-thesewallsaresolidlyputtogether；“andhere，throughthemerephrenzyofbravado，Irappedheavily，withacanewhichI
　　heldinmyhand，uponthatveryportionofthebrick-workbehindwhichstoodthecorpseofthewifeofmybosom。
　　ButmayGodshieldanddelivermefromthefangsoftheArch-Fiend！Nosoonerhadthereverberationofmyblowssunkintosilence，thanIwasansweredbyavoicefromwithinthetomb！-byacry，atfirstmuffledandbroken，likethesobbingofachild，andthenquicklyswellingintoonelong，loud，andcontinuousscream，utterlyanomalousandinhuman-ahowl-awailingshriek，halfofhorrorandhalfoftriumph，suchasmighthavearisenonlyoutofhell，conjointlyfromthethroatsofthedammedintheiragonyandofthedemonsthatexultinthedamnation。
　　Ofmyownthoughtsitisfollytospeak。Swooning，Istaggeredtotheoppositewall。Foroneinstantthepartyuponthestairsremainedmotionless，throughextremityofterrorandofawe。Inthenext，adozenstoutarmsweretoilingatthewall。Itfellbodily。Thecorpse，alreadygreatlydecayedandclottedwithgore，stooderectbeforetheeyesofthespectators。Uponitshead，withredextendedmouthandsolitaryeyeoffire，satthehideousbeastwhosecrafthadseducedmeintomurder，andwhoseinformingvoicehadconsignedmetothehangman。Ihadwalledthemonsterupwithinthetomb！