"Asimov, Isaac - Magical Wishes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asimov Isaac)

Paw," is, to my way of thinking, the best such story ever
written, and the grisliest. How I envy you, if you've never
come across it and will now read it for the first time.

So suspend your disbelief for a while and enjoy.

THE MONKEY'S PAW

by W. W. Jacobs

Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour
of Laburnum Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned
brightly- Father and son were at chess; the former, who
possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes,
putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it
even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knit-
ting placidly by the fire.

"Hark at the wind," said Mr. White, who, having seen a
fatal mistake after it was too late, was amiably desirous of
preventing his son from seeing it.

"I'm listening," said the latter, grimly surveying the board
as he stretched out his hand. "Check."

"I should hardly think that he'd come to-night," said his
father, with his hand poised over the board.

"Mate," replied the son.

"That's the worst of living so far out." bawled Mr. White,
with sudden and untooked-for violence; "of all the beastly,
slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst.
Path's a bog, and the road's a torrent. I don't know what
people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses ^
in the road are let. they think it doesn't matter."

"Never mind, dear," said his wife soothingly; "perhaps
you'll win the next one."

Mr. White looked up sharply, just in time to intercept a
knowing glance between mother and son. The words died

12

THE MONKEY'S PAW 13

away on his lips, and he hid a guilty grin in his thin gray
beard.