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mane with his evil； bleared eyes； and deliberating where he would have
me when I rose to go。
This was the beginning of an intimacy which soon displaced all
ceremony。 It was very pleasant to go in there after dinner； even to
sit with the colonel over his claret； and hear more stories about
Bingo； for afterward I could go into the pretty drawing…room and take
my tea from Lilian's hands； and listen while she played Schubert to us
in the summer twilight。
The poodle was always in the way； to be sure； but even his ugly black
head seemed to lose some of its ugliness and ferocity when Lilian laid
her pretty hand on it。
On the whole； I think that the Currie family were well disposed toward
me； the colonel considering me as a harmless specimen of the average
eligible young man；which I certainly was；and Mrs。 Currie showing
me favour for my mother's sake； for whom she had taken a strong
liking。
As for Lilian； I believed I saw that she soon suspected the state of
my feelings toward her； and was not displeased by it。 I looked forward
with some hopefulness to a day when I could declare myself with no
fear of a repulse。
But it was a serious obstacle in my path that I could not secure
Bingo's good opinion on any terms。 The family would often lament this
pathetically themselves。 〃You see；〃 Mrs。 Currie would observe in
apology； 〃Bingo is a dog that does not attach himself easily to
strangers〃though； for that matter； I thought he was unpleasantly
ready to attach himself to /me/。
I did try hard to conciliate him。 I brought him propitiatory buns；
which was weak and ineffectual； as he ate them with avidity； and hated
me as bitterly as ever； for he had conceived from the first a profound
contempt for me； and a distrust which no blandishments of mine could
remove。 Looking back now； I am inclined to think it was a prophetic
instinct that warned him of what was to come upon him through my
instrumentality。
Only his approbation was wanting to establish for me a firm footing
with the Curries； and perhaps determine Lilian's wavering heart in my
direction； but； though I wooed that inflexible poodle with an
assiduity I blush to remember； he remained obstinately firm。
Still； day by day； Lilian's treatment of me was more encouraging； day
by day I gained in the esteem of her uncle and aunt； I began to hope
that soon I should be able to disregard canine influence altogether。
Now there was one inconvenience about our villa （besides its flavour
of suicide） which it is necessary to mention here。 By common consent
all the cats of the neighbourhood had selected our garden for their
evening reunions。 I fancy that a tortoise…shell kitchen cat of ours
must have been a sort of leader of local feline societyI know she
was 〃at home；〃 with music and recitations； on most evenings。
My poor mother found this to interfere with her after…dinner nap； and
no wonder； for if a cohort of ghosts had been 〃shrieking and
squealing；〃 as Calpurnia puts it； in our back garden； or it had been
fitted up as a creche for a nursery of goblin infants in the agonies
of teething； the noise could not possibly have been more unearthly。
We sought for some means of getting rid of the nuisance： there was
poison； of course； but we thought it would have an invidious
appearance； and even lead to legal difficulties； if each dawn were to
discover an assortment of cats expiring in hideous convulsions in
various parts of the same garden。
Firearms too were open to objection； and would scarcely assist my
mother's slumbers； so for some time we were at a loss for a remedy。 At
last； one day； walking down the Strand； I chanced to see （in an evil
hour） what struck me as the very thing： it was an air…gun of superior
construction； displayed in a gunsmith's window。 I went in at once；
purchased it； and took it home in triumph； it would be noiseless； and
would reduce the local average of cats without scandal；one or two
examples；and feline fashion would soon migrate to a more secluded
spot。
I lost no time in putting this to the proof。 That same evening I lay
in wait after dusk at the study window； protecting my mother's repose。
As soon as I heard the long…drawn wail； the preliminary sputter； and
the wild stampede that followed； I let fly in the direction of the
sound。 I suppose I must have something of the national sporting
instinct in me； for my blood was tingling with excitement； but the
feline constitution assimilates lead without serious inconvenience；
and I began to fear that no trophy would remain to bear witness to my
marksmanship。
But all at once I made out a dark； indistinct form slinking in from
behind the bushes。 I waited till it crossed a belt of light which
streamed from the back kitchen below me； and then I took careful aim
and pulled the trigger。
This time at least I had not failed； there was a smothered yell； a
rustle； and then silence again。 I ran out with the calm pride of a
successful revenge to bring in the body of my victim； and I found
underneath a laurel no predatory tom…cat； but （as the discerning
reader will no doubt have foreseen long since） the quivering carcass
of the colonel's black poodle！
I intend to set down here the exact unvarnished truth； and I confess
that at first； when I knew what I had done； I was /not/ sorry。 I was
quite innocent of any intention of doing it； but I felt no regret。 I
even laughedmadman that I wasat the thought that there was the end
of Bingo； at all events； that impediment was removed； my weary task of
conciliation was over for ever！
But soon the reaction came； I realised the tremendous nature of my
deed； and shuddered。 I had done that which might banish me from
Lilian's side for ever！ All unwittingly I had slaughtered a kind of
sacred beast； the animal around which the Currie household had
wreathed their choicest affections！ How was I to break it to them？
Should I send Bingo in； with a card tied to his neck and my regrets
and compliments？ That was too much like a present of game。 Ought I not
to carry him in myself？ I would wreathe him in the best crape； I would
put on black for him； the Curries would hardly consider a taper and a
white sheet； or sack…cloth and ashes； an excessive form of atonement；
but I could not grovel to quite such an abject extent。
I wondered what the colonel would say。 Simple and hearty； as a general
rule； he had a hot temper on occasions； and it made me ill as I
thought； would he and； worse still； would /Lilian/ believe it was
really an accident？ They knew what an interest I had in silencing the
deceased poodlewould they believe the simple truth？
I vowed that they /should/ believe me。 My genuine remorse and the
absence of all concealment on my part would speak powerfully for me。 I
would choose a favourable time for my confession； that very evening I
would tell all。
Still I shrank from the duty before me； and； as I knelt down
sorrowfully by t