52 BOMBAY DUCKS 



Even nowadays many people declare that they cannot 

 bear to be in the same room as a cat, a black one for 

 preference ; they assert that they can feel an uncanny 

 presence, even though the quadruped be not visible. 



Personally, I have no objection to the company of a 

 well-behaved cat, but "poor puss" is not an animal 

 which appeals to me. I have lived too long in London 

 to cherish any friendly feelings towards the feline race. 

 Too often have I been awakened by the caterwaulings 

 which nightly emanated from some roof of bad repute. 



We were unfortunate enough to have as our next- 

 door neighbour a lady novelist. " The woman writer," 

 says Mr. Crosland, " is an offence in the sight of 

 Olympus." This sentiment seems scarcely polite, and 

 I am not prepared to subscribe to it until I have dis- 

 covered whether every feminine author keeps a Cats' 

 Home, as the lady writer in question did. The good 

 woman loved cats. 



Now, to all those who are similarly disposed towards 

 pussy I would respectfully say : " Remember that cats 

 are not what they seem. During the day they look as 

 though butter would not melt in their mouths ; they 

 appear to be paragons of virtue, models of saintliness. 

 But what a difference in the night ! Then they become 

 fiends incarnate. 



" Remember, ye possessors of cats, that you get the 

 benefit of your pets by day, but your neighbours get it 

 by night. You cannot keep cats and be popular." 

 To the neighbours I would say : " Keep an air gun." 

 I speak as one having special knowledge. I lived for 

 years next door to the aforesaid Cats' Home, and 



44. 



