# ■ 4 Tobermory

I t was a cold，rain－washed afternoon in late August．Lady Blemley and her guests were sitting round the teatable．Everyone was listening open－mouthed to Mr Cornelius Appin.

Although he was one of her guests，Lady Blemley did notknow Mr Appin well．She had invited him to stay at Blemley House because she had heard that he was clever．But until teatime that day he had not done or said anything clever．Hedid not play tennis，or sing，or make intelligent conversation．But now Mr Appin was describing a most extraordinary discovery and the other guests were listening with deep interest．'Are you telling us that you have found a way of teachinganimals to talk？'Sir Wilfrid was saying．'And our dear oldTobermory is your first successful student？'

I have studied this problem for seventeen years，'saidMr Appin，'but I didn't have any real success until eight ornine months ago． Of course， I have studied thousands of animals，but recently I have worked only with cats．A cat，of course，is a wild animal who agrees to live with you．All catsare intelligent，but naturally some cats are more intelligent than others．When I met Tobermory a week ago，I realized at once that here was an extraordinarily intelligent cat，a veryspecial cat indeed．In Tobermory，I found the student I needed．With him I have succeeded in my plan．'

Nobody laughed，and nobody actually said'Rubbish'，al-though Clovis's lips moved silently…

And have you really taught Tobermory，'asked MissResker，'to say and understand short，easy words？'

My dear Miss Resker，'said Mr Appin patiently，'weteach little children and very slow，stupid adults in that way．But Tobermory is a most intelligent cat．He can speak Englishas well as you or I can．'

This time Clovis said'Rubbish！'aloud．

Sir Wilfrid was more polite，but it was clear that he didnot believe Mr Appin's story．

Shall we bring the cat in here and hear him forourselves？'said Lady Blemley．

Sir Wilfrid went off to look for Tobermory．

Mr Appin will try to be clever，'said Miss Resker happily，'but if we watch him carefully，we shall see his lips move．'

In a minute Sir Wiflrid returned， looking very excited．

It's true，you know！'he said．'I found Tobermory sleeping in the smoking-room，and called out to him to come for his tea．He lifted his head and opened one eye．I said，“Come on，Toby，don't keep us waiting！”and he said calmly，“I'll come when I'm ready！”I couldn't believe my ears！'

The guests all started talking at once，while Mr Appin satsilently and looked very pleased with himself indeed．

Then Tobermory entered the room and calmly walkedover to the tea table． The conversation stopped．Nobody knewwhat to say to a talking cat．At last Lady Blemley spoke：

Would you like some milk，Tobermory？'she asked in ahigh，unnatural voice．

I don't mind if I do，'answered Tobermory．Lady Blemley's hand shook with excitement and some of the milkwent onto the carpet．

Oh dear！I'm so sorry，'she said．

I don't mind．It isn't my carpet，after all，'replied To－bermory.

There was another silence，then Miss Resker asked politely，'Did you find it difficult to learn English，Tobermory？'

Tobermory looked straight through her with his brightgreen eyes．Clearly，he did not answer questions that did notinterest him．

What do you think of the intelligence of people？'askedMavis Pellington．

Which people's intelligence？'asked Tobermory coldly.

Well，my intelligence，for example，'said Mavis with alittle laugh．

You make things very uncomfortable for me，'said Tobermory，although he did not look at all uncomfortable.'WhenLady Blemley wanted to invite you here，Sir Wilfrid was notpleased．“Mavis Pellington is the stupidest woman I know，”he said．“That's why I want to invite her，”Lady Blemleyreplied．“I want her to buy my old car， and she's stupidenough to do that．”'

It isn't true！'cried Lady Blemley．'Don't believe him，Mavis！'

If it isn't true，'said Mavis coldly，'why did you saythis morning that your car would be just right for me？'

Major Barfield did his best to help．He tried to start anew conversation．'How are you getting on with your littleblack and white lady friend in the garden？'he asked Tobermory.

Everybody realized at once that this was a mistake．

Tobermory gave him an icy look．'We do not usually discuss these things in polite company，'he said．'But I havewatched you a little since you have been in this house．I thinkperhaps you would not like me to discuss your lady friends.'

The Major's face became very red，and all the otherguests began to look worried and uncomfortable．What was Tobermory going to say next？

Would you like to go down to the kitchen now，Tobermory，'asked Lady Blemley politely，'and see if the cook hasgot your dinner ready？'

No，thank you，'said Tobermory．'I 've only just hadmy tea．I don't want to make myself sick．'

Cats have nine lives，you know，'said Sir Wilfrid with alaugh．

Possibly，'answered Tobermory．'But only one stomach．'

Lady Blemley！'cried Mrs Cornett，'Don't send thatcat to the kitchen.He will talk about us to the cook！'

Everyone was very worried now．They remembered uncomfortably that Tobermory moved freely all over the houseand gardens，at all hours of the day and night. He could lookinto any of the bedrooms if he wanted to．What had he seen？What had he heard？Nobody's secrets were safe now.

Oh，why did I come here？'cried Agnes Resker，whocould never stay silent for long．

You know very well why you came here，'said Tobermory immediately．'You came for the food，of course．I heardyou talking to Mrs Cornett in the garden．You said that the Blemleys were terribly boring people，but they had an excel-lent cook．'

You mustn't believe him！'cried Agnes．'I never saidthat，did I，Mrs Cornett？'

Later，Mrs Cornett repeated your words to Bertie vanTahn，'said Tobermory．'She said，“That Resker woman willgo anywhere for four good meals a day，”and Bertie said—'

Just then Tobermory looked out of the window and sawthe doctor's big yellow cat crossing the garden．Immediatelyhe disappeared through the open window．

Everyone started talking at once，and Mr Appin foundhimself in a storm of angry questions．

You must stop this at once，'everyone said to him.'What will happen if Tobermory teaches other cats to talk？We shall never have a moment's peace！'

It's possible that he has taught the gardener's cat，'replied Mr Appin thoughtfully，'but I don't believe he hashad time to teach any other cats．'

Then，'said Mrs Cornett，'although Tobermory is avaluable cat，he and the gardener's cat must die．Don't youagree，Lady Blemley？'

You're right，'said Lady Blemley sadly.'My husbandand I love Tobermory—well，we did before this afternoon—but now，of course，he must die as soon as possible．''We will poison his dinner，'said Sir Wilfrid，'and I willkill the gardener's cat myself．The gardener won't like it，but I'll say it has some kind of disease—'

But what about my discovery？'cried Mr Appin．'What about all my years of work？Are you going to destroy my onlysuccessful student？'

You can go and teach the cows on the farm，'said Mrs Cornett coldly，'or the elephants at the zoo．Elephants arevery intelligent，they tell me，and elephants don't hide behind chairs or under beds and listen to people's conversations．'Mr Appin knew when he was beaten．

Dinner that evening was not a success．Sir Wilfrid hadhad a difficult time with the gardener's cat and later with the gardener．Agnes Resker refused to eat anything，while Mavis Pellington ate her meal in silence．Everyone was waiting for Tobermory．A plate of poisoned fish stood ready for him in thedining－room，but he did not come home．Nobody talked much，and nobody laughed．It was a most uncomfortable meal．

After dinner the Blemleys and their guests sat in the smoking－room．Everyone was quiet and worried and nobodywanted to play cards．At eleven o'clock the cook and the housekeeper went to bed．They left the kitchen window openfor Tobermory as usual，but he did not come．

At two o'clock Clovis spoke：

He won't come home tonight．He's probably in the newspaper office selling them his story．They'll love it．The story will be the excitement of the year．'

After that everyone went to bed，but nobody slept．

In the morning Tobermory had still not come home．

Breakfast was another quiet，uncomfortable meal．Then，half－way through the coffee，the gardener brought in Tobermory's blood-stained body．

Look at his claws！'cried Clovis．'He's been fighting！'And there，on Tobermory's claws，was the yellow hair of the doctor's cat．

By lunchtime most of the guests had left Blemley House．Lady Blemley began to feel better．She took out her pen and paper and wrote a very angry letter to the doctor about the death of her valuable cat．

Tobermory was Mr Appin's only successful student．Afew weeks after Tobermory's death an elephant escaped from the Dresden Zoo and killed an English visitor．

The zoo keeper said that the elephant had always been acalm and gentle animal before．But suddenly it seemed to be－come very angry with the English visitor，who was talking toit．

The dead man's name was reported in the newspapers as Oppin，but his first name was Cornelius．

If Appin was trying to teach the poor elephant to speak German，'said Clovis，'I'm not surprised it killed him．'

■ 託博莫里

這是8月底一個寒冷的下午。布萊姆雷夫人和客人正坐在桌旁吃茶點。大家聽了科尼利厄斯·阿普因先生的話都很吃驚。

雖然他是其中的一個客人，但是布萊姆雷夫人並不太瞭解阿普因先生。她只是聽說他聰明，所以邀請他來布萊姆雷家。但那天直到喝茶的時候他還沒有做或說任何聰明的事情。他沒打網球、沒唱歌也沒說什麼機智的話。但是現在阿普因先生正在描述一個極其特別的發現，其他客人正興致勃勃地聽著。

“你是說你找到了教動物說話的辦法？”威爾弗雷德爵士說。“而且我們可愛的老託博莫里是你的第一個成功的學生？”

“我研究這個問題17年了，”阿普因先生說，“但是直到八九個月前我才真正成功了。當然，我研究了成千上萬種動物，但是最近我只研究了貓。貓自然是願意和你生活在一起的野生動物。所有的貓都聰明，但是一些貓自然比其它的更聰明。一星期前遇見託博莫里時，我立刻意識到這是一隻極其聰明的貓，一隻實際上非常特殊的貓。在託博莫里身上我找到了我需要的學生，藉助於他我成功地實現了我的計劃。”

沒人笑，沒人說“胡說”，雖然克洛維斯的嘴脣在無聲地嚅動……

“你真的教了託博莫里說話並聽懂一些簡單的短句嗎？”雷斯克小姐問。

“親愛的雷斯克小姐，”阿普因先生耐心地說，“我們用這種方式教小孩和非常遲鈍、愚笨的成人。但是託博莫里是一隻非常聰明的貓，他的英語講得和你我一樣好。”

這次克洛維斯大聲地說：“胡說！”

威爾弗雷德爵士比較有禮貌，但是很明顯他不相信阿普因先生的故事。

“我們把貓帶到這兒來親自聽他說好嗎？”布萊姆雷夫人說。

威爾弗雷德爵士離開房間去找託博莫里。

“阿普因先生會想辦法來些聰明的把戲，”雷斯克小姐高興地說，“可是如果我們仔細觀察他，我們就會看見他的嘴脣要動。”

一分鐘後威爾弗雷德爵士回來了，他看上去非常激動。

“你們知道這是真的！”他說。“我發現託博莫里在吸菸室睡覺，就叫他出來喝茶。他抬起頭睜開一隻眼。我說，'來吧，託比，別讓我們等你！'他平靜地說，'我準備好了就來！'我真不相信我的耳朵！”

客人馬上開始談論起來，這時阿普因先生沉默地坐著，看起來很為自己高興。

託博莫里進了屋，沉著地走到茶桌旁。談話停止了，沒人知道該對一隻會說話的貓說些什麼。最後布萊姆雷夫人說：

“你來點牛奶嗎，託博莫里？”她用高而不自然的聲音問。

“我不介意來點牛奶，”託博莫里回答。布萊姆雷夫人的手激動得顫抖，牛奶灑在地毯上。

“哦，親愛的！非常抱歉，”她說。

“沒關係，那畢竟不是我的地毯，”託博莫里回答說。

又是一陣沉默，然後雷斯克小姐札貌地問，“你覺得學英語難嗎，託博莫里？”

託博莫里用明亮的綠色眼睛直視著她。很清楚，他不想回答讓他不感興趣的問題。

“你認為人的智力怎麼樣？”梅維斯·佩林頓問。

“哪個人的智力？”託博莫里冷冷地問。

“這個，比如說我的智力，”梅維斯微笑著說。

“你讓我不舒服，”託博莫里說，雖然他根本不像不舒服。“布萊姆雷夫人想邀請你來這兒時，威爾弗雷德爵士不高興。'梅維斯·佩林頓是我認識的最愚蠢的女人，'他說。'那正是我想邀請她的原因，'布萊姆雷夫人回答。'我想讓她買我的舊車，她這麼笨，會買的。'”

“這不是真的！”布萊姆雷夫人叫道。“別相信他，梅維斯！”

“如果這不是真的，”梅維斯冷淡地說，“那麼今天早上你為什麼說你的車對我正合適呢？”

巴菲爾德少校盡力幫忙，他努力開始新的話題。“你和花園裡你的黑白色相間的小女士朋友處得怎麼樣？”他問託博莫里。

馬上每個人都意識到這是個錯誤。

託博莫里冷冰冰地看了他一眼。“我們在禮貌的客人面前通常不談論這些事情，”他說。“但是自從你來這個房間，我就觀察了你一陣子。我想你可能不喜歡我談論你的女士朋友。”

少校的臉紅了，其他客人開始擔心和不舒服。託博莫里下一步要說什麼？

“你現在願意去廚房嗎，託博莫里？”布萊姆雷夫人禮貌地問，“去看看廚師給你做好晚飯了嗎？”

“不，謝謝，”託博莫里說。“我剛喝完茶，我不想讓自己生病。”

“要知道貓有九條命，”威爾弗雷德爵士笑著說。

“可能，”託博莫里回答。“但只有一個胃。”

“布萊姆雷夫人！”科尼特夫人叫道，“別讓這貓去廚房，他會向廚師談論我們！”

每個人現在都非常擔心。他們不安地記起託博莫里在白天晚上的所有時間裡自由自在地在房間和花園裡走動。如果他想的話，他可以窺視任何一間臥室。他看見了什麼？他聽見了什麼？沒有誰的祕密是安全的。

“哦，我為什麼來這兒？”阿格尼絲·雷斯克叫道，她總是不能長時間地保持沉默。

“你很清楚你為什麼來這兒，”託博莫里立刻說。“你來當然是為了食物。我聽見了你在花園和科尼特夫人的談話。你說布萊姆雷這家人無聊透頂，可是他們有一個好廚師。”

“你別信他！”阿格尼絲叫喊著。“我從沒說過那話，對嗎，科尼特夫人？”

“後來，科厄特夫人又把你的話重複給伯蒂·範·塔安，”託博莫里說。“她說，'那個雷斯克女人為了點好吃的會去任何地方吃四頓飯。'然後伯蒂說——”

正在這時託博莫里朝窗外看，看見了醫生的大黃貓正走過花園。隨即他從敞開的窗戶那兒消失了。

每個人立刻開始說話，阿普因先生髮現自己被憤怒的提問包圍了。

“你必須立刻停止這一切，”每個人都對他說。“如果託博莫里教其它的貓說話將會發生什麼事情？我們將再不能有片刻的安寧！”

“可能他已經教了園丁的貓說話，”阿普因先生思考著回答，“但我相信他還沒時間教其它的貓說話。”

“那麼，”科尼特夫人說，“雖然託博莫里是隻珍貴的貓，但是他和園丁的貓必須死。你同意嗎，布萊姆雷夫人？”

“你說得對，”布萊姆雷夫人難受地說。“我丈夫和我喜歡託博莫里——唉，在今天下午之前喜歡——但是現在，他當然必須儘快死掉。”

“我們在他的晚飯裡下毒，”威爾弗雷德爵士說。“我要親自殺死園丁的貓。園丁可能不喜歡這樣做，可我會說他得了某種疾病—”

“可是我的發明怎麼辦？”阿普因先生嚷道。“我多年的研究怎麼辦？你要毀掉我唯一的成功的學生嗎？”

“你可以去教農場的奶牛，”科尼特夫人冷冷地說，“或者動物園裡的大象。別人告訴我大象很聰明，而且不會藏在椅子後面或床下面聽人們的談話。”

阿普因先生知道自己在哪裡被駁倒了。

那天晚飯大家都沒吃好。威爾弗雷德爵士先是和園丁的貓，後來和園丁很困難地打了一通交道。阿格尼絲·雷斯克拒絕吃任何東西，而梅維斯·佩林頓吃飯的時候一聲不吭。每人都在等託博莫里。一盤放了毒藥的魚已經在餐室為他準備好了，但是他沒回家。沒人多說話，沒人笑。這是一頓非常令人不安的晚餐。

晚飯後布萊姆雷夫人和客人在吸菸室坐著。每人都默不出聲地焦急地待著，沒人想玩牌。11點時廚師和管家上床睡覺了。他們把廚房的窗戶像往常一樣給託博莫里開著，但是他沒有回來。

兩點鐘克洛維斯說：

“今晚他不回家了，他可能在報館出賣他的故事，他們喜歡這個故事，它會成為今年的熱門話題。”

過後每人都上了床，但是都沒睡著。

早上託博莫里還沒回家。早餐又是平靜不安的一頓飯。然後，在咖啡喝了一半時，園丁帶來了託博莫里血跡斑斑的屍體。

“看他的爪子！”克洛維斯叫道。“他打了架！”在託博莫里的爪子上有醫生那隻貓的黃毛。

午飯時候，多數客人已經離開布萊姆雷家。布萊姆雷夫人開始覺得好受些。她拿出筆和紙，給醫生寫了一封非常生氣的信，敘說她的珍貴的貓的死亡。

託博莫里是阿普因先生唯一成功的學生。託博莫里死後的幾個星期之後，一隻大象從德萊斯頓動物園跑了出來，殺死了一個英國遊客。

動物園管理員說這隻大象以前一直很安靜、溫順，但是正當這個英國遊客和它說話時，它突然變得非常惱怒。

報紙上說這個死去的人姓奧普因，他的名字是科尼利厄斯。

“如果阿普因在嘗試教可憐的大象說德語，”克洛維斯說，“它殺死了他，我不覺得奇怪。”