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thing was a crime； a horrible crime。〃
The woman； who stood against the wooden target every night with
her arms stretched out and her finger extended； and whom the old
mountebank fitted with gloves and with a halo formed of his
knives； which were as sharp as razors and which he planted close
to her； was his wife。 She might have been a woman of forty； and
must have been fairly pretty； but with a perverse prettiness； she
had an impudent mouth； a mouth that was at the same time sensual
and bad； with the lower lip too thick for the thin； dry upper
lip。
I had several times noticed that every time he planted a knife in
the board； she uttered a laugh； so low as scarcely to be heard；
but which was very significant when one heard it； for it was a
hard and very mocking laugh。 I had always attributed that sort of
reply to an artifice which the occasion required。 It was
intended； I thought； to accentuate the danger she incurred and
the contempt that she felt for it； thanks to the sureness of the
thrower's hands； and so I was very much surprised when the
mountebank said to me：
〃Have you observed her laugh； I say？ Her evil laugh which makes
fun of me； and her cowardly laugh which defies me？ Yes； cowardly；
because she knows that nothing can happen to her； nothing； in
spite of all she deserves； in spite of all that I ought to do to
her； in spite of all that I WANT to do to her。〃
〃What do you want to do？〃
〃Confound it！ Cannot you guess？ I want to kill her。〃
〃To kill her； because she has〃
〃Because she has deceived me？ No； no； not that； I tell you again。
I have forgiven her for that a long time ago； and I am too much
accustomed to it！ But the worst of it is that the first time I
forgave her； when I told her that all the same I might some day
have my revenge by cutting her throat； if I chose； without
seeming to do it on purpose； as if it were an accident； mere
awkwardness〃
〃Oh！ So you said that to her？〃
〃Of course I did； and I meant it。 I thought I might be able to do
it； for you see I had the perfect right to do so。 It was so
simple； so easy； so tempting！ Just think！ A mistake of less than
half an inch； and her skin would be cut at the neck where the
jugular vein is； and the jugular would be severed。 My knives cut
very well！ And when once the jugular is cutgood…bye。 The blood
would spurt out； and one； two； three red jets； and all would be
over； she would be dead； and I should have had my revenge！〃
〃That is true； certainly； horribly true！〃
〃And without any risk to me； eh？ An accident； that is all； bad
luck； one of those mistakes which happen every day in our
business。 What could they accuse me of？ Whoever would think of
accusing me； even？ Homicide through imprudence； that would be
all！ They would even pity me； rather than accuse me。 'My wife！ My
poor wife！' I should say； sobbing。 'My wife； who is so necessary
to me； who is half the breadwinner； who takes part in my
performance！' You must acknowledge that I should be pitied！〃
〃Certainly； there is not the least doubt about that。〃
〃And you must allow that such a revenge would he a very nice
revenge； the best possible revenge which I could have with
assured impunity。〃
〃Evidently that is so。〃
〃Very well！ But when I told her so； as I have told you； and more
forcibly still； threatening her as I was mad with rage and ready
to do the deed that I had dreamed of on the spot； what do you
think she said？〃
〃That you were a good fellow； and would certainly not have the
atrocious courage to〃
〃Tut！ tut！ tut！ I am not such a good fellow as you think。 I am
not frightened of blood； and that I have proved already； though
it would be useless to tell you how and where。 But I had no
necessity to prove it to her； for she knows that I am capable of
a good many things； even of crime； especially of one crime。〃
〃And she was not frightened？〃
〃No。 She merely replied that I could not do what I said； you
understand。 That I could not do it！〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Ah！ Monsieur； so you do not understand？ Why do you not？ I have I
not explained to you by what constant； long； daily practice I
have learned to plant my knives without seeing what I am doing？〃
〃Yes； well； what then？〃
〃Well！ Cannot you understand what she has understood with such
terrible results； that now my hand would no longer obey me if I
wished to make a mistake as I threw？〃
〃Is it possible？〃
〃Nothing is truer； I am sorry to say。 For I really have wished to
have the revenge which I have dreamed of； and which I thought so
easy。 Exasperated by that bad woman's insolence and confidence in
her own safety； I have several times made up my mind to kill her；
and have exerted all my energy and all my skill to make my knives
fly aside when I threw them to make a border round her neck。 I
have tried with all my might to make them deviate half an inch；
just enough to cut her throat。 I wanted to； and I have never
succeeded； never。 And always the slut's horrible laugh makes fun
of me； always； always。〃
And with a deluge of tears； with something like a roar of
unsatiated and muzzled rage； he ground his teeth as he wound up：
〃She knows me； the jade； she is in the secret of my work； of my
patience； of my trick； routine； whatever you may call it！ She
lives in my innermost being； and sees into it more closely than
you do； or than I do myself。 She knows what a faultless machine I
have become； the machine of which she makes fun； the machine
which is too well wound up； the machine which cannot get out of
orderand she knows that I CANNOT make a mistake。〃
THE HORLA
MAY 8。 What a lovely day！ I have spent all the morning lying on
the grass in front of my house； under the enormous plantain tree
which covers and shades and shelters the whole of it。 I like this
part of the country； I am fond of living here because I am
attached to it by deep roots； the profound and delicate roots
which attach a man to the soil on which his ancestors were born
and died； to their traditions； their usages； their food； the
local expressions； the peculiar language of the peasants； the
smell of the soil； the hamlets； and to the atmosphere itself。
I love the house in which I grew up。 From my windows I can see
the Seine； which flows by the side of my garden； on the other
side of the road； almost through my grounds； the great and wide
Seine； which goes to Rouen and Havre； and which is covered with
boats passing to and fro。
On the left； down yonder； lies Rouen； populous Rouen with its
blue roofs massing under pointed； Gothic towers。 Innumerable are
they； delicate or broad； dominated by the spire of the cathedral；
full of bells which sound through the blue air on fine mornings；
sending their sweet and distant iron clang to me； their metallic
sounds； now stronger and now weaker； according as the wind is
strong or light。
What a delicious morning it was！ About eleven o'clock； a long
line of boats drawn by a steam…tug； as big a fly； and which
scarcely puffed while emitting its thick smoke； passed my gate。
After two English schooners； whose red flags fluttered toward the
sky； there came a magnificent Brazilian three…master； it was
perfectly white and wond