pouf! bang! at that moment something black, light, and at the same time enormously large, some shapeless yet undoubtedly ferocious creature, passed within a foot of my face with the speed of lightning. it touched the ground without making the least sound, seemed to roll over in the half-dark corridor, and then suddenly disappeared at the little door leading into the garden.

i tried to scream, but my voice failed me: i trembled from head to foot; my legs gave way and i involuntarily sat down on the last step of the staircase, and covered my face with my hands, not to see again that horrible thing! without doubt it would return. it was hiding somewhere, i was sure. what might it not do to me? i waited in an agony, my eyes firmly closed. just then the door of the kitchen opened, and my mother, greatly surprised, asked me what i was doing there.

i told her all.

“it was frimousse, our great cat.”

as i did so she raised her head, saw the door of the meat-safe open, and said: “the creature that has frightened you so dreadfully was still more frightened by you! it was frimousse, our great cat, who had come to steal some meat, which i am sorry to see she has done, and when she heard you coming she was put to flight in a great hurry. now, see,” said my kind mother, smiling. “satisfy yourself; the cat has carried off the piece of beef which remained from luncheon. look, there is the empty dish! don’t be frightened any more, my dear little boy, but now come with me: when mrs. puss has behaved in this naughty way, i always know where to find her. come along, you must see her for yourself.”

i answered “yes” to all my mother said, but in my heart i believed she was mistaken. that horrible creature that passed me was too large, too shapeless, to be our cat.