TheMonkey’sPaw

WilliamW.Jacobs

Outside,thenightwascoldandwetbutafireburnedbrightlyinthesmalllivingroomofLaburnumVilla,whereMrWhiteandhissonHerbertwereplayingchess.MrsWhite,awhite-hairedoldlady,satknittingbythefire,occasionallycommentingonthegame.

5‘Listentothewind,’saidMrwhite.Hehadmadeaseriousmistakeandwantedtodistracthisson’sattentionsothathewouldn’tseeit.

‘I’mlistening,’saidhisson,concentratingonthechessboard.

‘Ishouldn’tthinkhe’llcometonight,’saidthefather,hishand

10 overtheboard.

‘Checkmate,’repliedtheson.

‘That’sthetroublewithlivinghere,’MrWhiteshoutedwithunexpectedviolence.‘Ofallthewet,isolatedplacesthisistheworst.The pathisabogandthe road’sariver,butIsupposepeople

15 don’tcarebecauseonly twohousesintheroadareoccupied.’ ‘Don’tworry,dear,’saidhiswife.‘Perhapsyou’llwinthenext

one.

MrWhitelookedupsuddenlyandsawmotherandsonlookateachotherquickly.Hehidaguiltysmileinhisthingreybeard.

20‘Thereheis,’saidHerbert,hearingthegateshut loudly andheavyfootstepscomingtothe door.

Theoldmanstooduphurriedlyandwenttoopenthedoor.Hecamebackwithatall,well-builtmanwhohadsmall,brighteyesandaredface.

25‘SergeantMajorMorris,’saidMrWhite,introducinghim.

Theofficershookhands,satbythefire,andwatchedcontentedlyasMrWhitegotoutsomewhiskyandglasses.Afterthreedrinksthesoldier’seyesbecamebrighterand hebegantotalk. The familylistenedwithgreatinterest tothisvisitorfromdistant landswhilehe

30 spoke of hiscourageousadventuresand his experiencesof wars,plaguesandstrangenations.

‘Twenty-oneyearsago,whenhewentaway,hewasjustaboyinthewarehouse,’saidMrWhitetohiswifeandson.‘Nowlookathim.’

35‘Itdoesn’tseemtohavehurthim,’MrsWhiteagreedpolitely.

‘I’dliketogotoIndiamyself,’saidtheoldman,‘justtolookroundabit,youknow.’

‘You’rebetterherewhereyouare,’saidtheSergeantMajor,shakinghishead.Heputdownhisemptyglass,sighed,andshook

40 hisheadagain.

‘I’dliketoseethoseoldtemples,andfakirsandjugglers,’continuedMrWhite.‘Whatwasthataboutamonkey’spaworsomethingyoustartedtellingmeabouttheotherday,Morris?’

‘Nothing,’ said the other quickly. ‘Nothing worth hearing

45 anyway’.

‘Monkey’spaw?’saidMrsWhitecuriously.

‘Well,it’sjustabitofwhatyoumightcallmagic,’saidthesoldiercasually.

Butthethreelistenerswerelookingathimeagerly.MrWhite

50 filledhisglass forhim.

‘It’sjustanordinarylittlepawtolookat,’saidSergeantMajorMorris,takingitfromhispocket.

MrsWhitemovedbackwithadisgustedlook,buthersonexamineditcuriously.

55‘Andwhat’ssospecialaboutit?’MrWhiteasked.Hetookitfromhisson,examinedit,andputitonthetable.

‘Anoldfakirputaspellonit.Hewasaveryholymanandhewantedtoshowthatfateruledpeople’slives,andthattointerferewithfateonlycauseddeepsadness.Heputaspellonitsothat

60 threeseparatemencouldeachhavethreewishesfromit.’

His manner was so impressive that the others realized theircarelesslaughterwasnotappropriate.

‘Well,whydon’tyouhavethreewishes?’saidMrWhite.

Thesoldierlookedathimasifhewereafoolishboy.‘Ihave,’he

65 saidquietly,andhisredfacewhitened.

‘Anddidyourthreewishesreallycometrue?’askedMrsWhite.‘Yes.’

‘Andhasnobodyelsewished?’theoldladywenton.

‘Thefirstmanhadhisthreewishes,yes.Idon’tknowwhatthe

70 firsttwowisheswerebutthethirdwasfordeath.That’showIgotthepaw.’

Hespokesoseriouslythateverybodybecamequiet.

‘Ifyou’vehadyourthreewishes,thepawisnogoodtoyounow,’saidMrWhiteatlast.‘Whydoyoukeepit?’

75Thesoldiershookhisheadandsaidslowly,‘Oh,justforinterest,Isuppose.Ihad someideaofsellingitbutIdon’tthinkIwill.Ithascausedenoughtroublealready.Anyway,people won’tbuyit.Somethinkit’sallafairystory,Iandthosewhobelieveitwanttotryitbeforepayingme.’

80‘Ifyoucouldhaveanotherthreewishes,’saidoldMrwhite,lookinginterestedlyathim,‘wouldyouhavethem?’

‘Idon’tknow,Idon’tknow.’

Thenhetookthepawandsuddenlythrewitonthefire.WithanastonishedcryMrWhitebentdownandpulleditoutquickly.

85‘Betterletitburn,’saidthesoldier.

‘Ifyoudon’twantit,giveitto me,Morris.’

‘No.Ithrewitonthefire.Ifyoukeepit,don’tthensaythatitismyfault.Besensible–throwitonthefireagain!’

But,examininghisnewpossessionclosely,MrWhiteshookhis

90 head.‘Howdoyoudoit?’heaskedMorris.

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‘Holditupinyourrighthandandwishaloud,’wasthereply.ButIwarnyouoftheconsequences.’

‘ItsoundsliketheArabianNiqhts,’MrsWhitesaidasshebegantoprepare thedinner.‘Whydon’tyouwishforfourpairsofhands forme?’

Laughing,herhusbandtookthetalismanfromhispockettomakethewishbutwithalookofalarmtheSergeantMajorcaughthisarm.

‘Ifyoumustwish,’hesaidaggressively,‘wishforsomethingreasonable.’

SoMrWhiteputitbackinhispocketandtheyallsatdowntodinner.The talisman waspartlyforgottenforthe restof the eveningasthesoldiercontinuedtellingthemabouthisexcitingadventuresinIndia.Whenhehadgone,MrWhitesaidthatthestoryofthemonkey’spawwas probablyuntrue, likealltheotherstoriesMorrishadtoldthem.

‘Didyougivehimanythingforit?’MrsWhiteaskedhim.

‘Oh,justabitofmoney.Hedidn’twantitbutImadehimtakeit.

Andhetriedtopersuademeagaintothrowthethingaway.’

‘Ofcoursewewill!’saidHerbertironically.‘God,we’regoingtoberichandfamousandhappy!Wishthatyouwereanemperor,father,tobeginwith.Thenmotherwon’torderyouaround.’

MrsWhitepretendedtobeangryatthisandchasedhimroundthetable,whileMrWhitelookedatthepawdoubtfully.

‘Idon’tknowwhattowishforandthat’safact,’hesaidslowly.‘ItseemstomeI’vegotallIwant.’

‘Ifyoucouldfinishpayingforthehouseyou’dbequitehappy,wouldn’tyou?’Herbertsaid.‘Wishfortwohundredpounds,then.That’lljustdoit.’

Hisfather,in anembarrassedway,heldupthetalismanasHerbert,withawinkathismother,satdownatthepianoandplayedafewsolemnnotes.

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‘Iwishfortwohundredpounds,’saidtheoldmandistinctly.

AsHerbertplayedaloud,dramaticchordtheoldmansuddenlycriedoutinatremblingvoice.Hiswifeandsonrantowardshim.

‘Itmoved,’hecried,glancingwithdisgustattheobjectonthefloor.‘AsIwished,ittwistedinmyhandlikeasnake.’

‘Well,Idon’tseethemoney,’saidHerbert,pickingitup.‘AndIamsureIneverwill.’

‘Itmusthavebeenyourimagination,’saidMrsWhite,lookinganxiouslyatherhusband.

Heshookhishead.‘Itdoesn’tmatter–nobody’shurt.Butitgavemeashock.’

They sat downbythefire. Whilethemensmokedtheirpipesthewindoutsideblewharderthaneverandtheoldmanbecamenervous atthesoundofa doorbangingnoisilyupstairsasitclosed.Anunusualanddepressingsilencefellonthefamily.Thentheoldcouplestooduptogoupstairstobed.

‘You’llprobablyfindthemoneyinabigbaginthemiddleofyourbed,’Herbertjokedashesaidgoodnighttothem.

Hesataloneinthedarkness,lookingabsentlyintothefireandseeingfacesinit.One facewassohorrible and monkey-like hestaredatitinamazement.Whenherealizedhewasstillholdingthemonkey’spawhequicklyputitdownandwithalittleshiverwipedhishandonhiscoat.Thenhewentuptobed.

✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻✻

Thenext morning at breakfast Herbert laughedathisfearsofthenightbefore.Thewintersunshoneintheroom,whichlookedvery

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‘Well,itcoulddroponfather’sheadfromthesky,’Herbertjoked.‘Morrissaidthewisheshappennaturally,’saidhisfather,‘soyou

thinkthey’rejustcoincidences.’

‘Don’tspendanyofthemoneybeforeIcomeback,’Herbertsaid,goingtothedoor.

Hismother watchedhimwalkdowntheroadtowork.Ofcourseshedidn’tbelievethat thetalismancouldgrantwishes,yet laterthatdaysheranquicklytothe door whenthepostmanknockedandshewasdisappointedthatitwasonlyabill.

‘IexpectHerbertwilljokeaboutitevenmorewhenhecomeshome,’shesaidatdinner.

‘Iexpecthewill,’saidMrWhite.‘Butthethingmovedinmyhand–Iswearit.’

‘Youthought it moved.’

‘Itmoved,Itellyou.Ididn’tthink–what’sthematter?’

Hiswifemadenoreply.Shewaswatchingthemysteriousmovementsofamanoutsideinthestreet,whoseemedtobetryingtodecidewhethertoopenthegateandenter.Shenoticedthatthestrangerwaswell-dressedandworeanewsilkhat.Threetimeshepausedatthegateandwalkedaway.Thefourthtimehestoppedandputhishandonthegate,thensuddenlyopeneditandwalkedupthepath.MrsWhiteopenedthefrontdoorandbroughtthestrangerintotheroom.Heseemedworriedanduneasy,andlookedatherfromthecornerofhiseye.

‘I–wasaskedtocall,’hebeganhesitantly.‘IamfromMawandMeggins.’

asked

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‘Isupposealloldsoldiersarethesame,’MrsWhitecommented.‘Whydidwelistentosuchnonsense?Howcouldwishesbegrantedthesedays?Andiftheycould,howcouldtwohundredpoundshurtus?’

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‘Nowdon’tworry,’saidherhusband.‘I’msurehehasn’tbroughtbadnews.Haveyou,sir?’heconcluded,lookinghopefullyatthevisitor.

‘I’msorry–’

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‘Ishehurt?’demandedthemotherwildly.

Thevisitorlookeddown.‘Badlyhurt,’hesaidquietly.‘Buthe’snotinanypain.’

‘Oh,thankGod,thankGodforthat!’

Butthe sinistermeaningofthevisitor’s assurancesuddenlybecamecleartotheoldladyandshelookedathim.Hisfacewasturnedaway,confirmingherworstfears.Shecaughtherbreathandputhertremblinghandonherhusband’s.Therewasalongsilence.

‘Hebecametrappedinthemachinery,’saidthevisitorinalowvoice.

‘Trappedinthemachinery?’repeatedMrWhiteinadaze.Hesatstaringthroughthewindow,andtakinghiswife’shand,hepressedit asheusedtowhen theywereyoungloversnearlyfortyyearsbefore.‘Hewasouronlyson,’hesaidtothevisitor.‘Itishard.’

Theothercoughedandwalkedslowlytothewindow.‘Thefirmwishmetoexpresstheirsinceresympathywithyouinyourgreatloss,’hemurmured,withoutlookingattheoldpeople.

Therewasno reply.MrsWhite’sfacewaspale,hereyesstaring.

TheexpressiononMrWhite’sfacewasdarkandserious.

‘IhavetotellyouthatMawandMegginsdonotholdthemselvesresponsibleforwhathashappened,’thevisitorcontinued.‘Butinconsiderationofyourson’sservicestheywishtogiveyouacertainamountofmoneyascompensation.’

Droppinghiswife’shand,MrWhitestoodupandstaredatthemanwithalookofhorror.

‘Howmuch?’hesaid.‘Twohundredpounds.’

Theoldmansmiledfaintly,putouthishandslikeablindman,andfelltothefloor,unconscious.

Havingburiedtheirsoninahugenewcemeterytwomilesaway,theoldcouplecamebacktoahousefullofshadowandsilence.Itwasalloversoquicklythatatfirsttheyhardlyrealizedit;they

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expectedsomethingelsetohappen,somethingthatwouldlifttheintolerableweightfromtheiroldhearts.

Butthedayspassedandtheirexpectationchangedtoresignation.Theyhardlytalked–theyhadnothingtotalkaboutnow–andtheirdayswerelongandempty.

Itwasaboutaweeklaterthattheoldmanwokeupsuddenlyinthenightandheardthesoundofquietcryingcomingfromthewindow.Hesatupandlistened.

‘Come backtobed,’he saidtenderly. ‘You’llgetcold.’

‘Itiscolderformyson,’saidhiswife,whocontinuedweeping.Thesoundofitgraduallyfadedastheoldmanfellasleepagain,

untilasuddenwildcryfromhiswifewokehimupwithastart.

‘Thepaw!’shecriedwildly.‘Themonkey’spaw!’

‘Where?Whereisit?What’sthematter?’theoldmansaid,alarmed.

Shecametowardshim.‘Iwantit.Youhaven’tdestroyedit?’‘It’sinthelivingroom,’hereplied,amazed.‘Why?’

Mrswhitelaughedandcriedatthesametime,andkissedhischeek.

‘I’veonlyjustthoughtofit,’shesaidhysterically.‘Whydidn’tIthinkofitbefore?Whydidn’tyouthinkofit?’

‘Thinkofwhat?’

‘Theothertwowishes.We’veonlyhadone.’‘Wasn’tthatenough?’hedemandedfiercely.

‘No,we’llhaveonemore.Godownandgetitquicklyandwishourboyaliveagain.’

Theoldmansatupinbedandthrewthebedclothesfromhistremblingbody.

‘GoodGod,youaremad!’hecried.

‘Getit,’hiswifesaid,breathlessly.‘GetitquicklyandwishOh,myboy,myboy!’

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MrWhitelit thecandlewithamatch.‘Getback tobed.Youdon’tknowwhatyou’resaying.’

Buttheoldwomansaidfeverishly,‘Ourfirstwishwasgranted.

Whynotthesecond?’

‘Acoincidence,’theoldmanstammered.

‘Goandgetitandwish.’MrsWhitewastremblingwithexcitement.

Theoldmanlookedatherandhisvoiceshook.‘Hehasbeendeadtendays,andalso–Icouldonlyrecognizehimbyhisclothes.Hewastoohorribleforyoutoseethen.Whatdoyouthinkhelookslikenow?’

Buthiswifepulledhimtowardsthedoor.‘Bringhimback.DoyouthinkI’mfrightenedofmyownson?’

Hewentdownstairsinthedarkness,andfelthiswaytothelivingroom,andthentothe mantelpiece. The talisman was there.Suddenlyhewaspossessedbyahorrible fear that his unspokenwishmightbringhismutilatedsonback before he could escapefromtheroom.Inacoldsweathegropedhiswayroundthetableand along the wall untilhe was in the small passage. The dirty,t

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candle-flame,whichhadburnedlow,threwpulsatingshadowsontheceilingandwalls,untilitslowlywentout.Theoldman,feelinganinexpressiblereliefthatthewishhadnotworked,creptbacktobed.Afewminuteslaterhiswifealsocametobed,silentanddepressed.

Neitherspoke,butlaysilentlylisteningtothetickingoftheclock.Astaircreaked;asqueakymouserannoisilythroughthewall.Thedarknesswasoppressive.Afterbuildinguphiscouragefor sometime,MrWhitelitamatchand,takingthematchboxwithhim,wentdownstairsforacandle.

Atthebottomofthestairsthematchwentout.Hepausedtostrikeanotherone,andatthesamemomenttherewasaknockatthedoor,aknocksoquietitwasalmostinaudible.

Thematchesfell from hishand. Hestoodlikea statue, hisbreathsuspended.Theknockcameagain.Heturnedandfledbacktothebedroom,closingthedoorbehindhim.Athirdknocksoundedthroughthehouse.

‘What’sthat!’shoutedtheoldwoman,sittingupsuddenly.

‘Arat.’ MrWhite’s voice shook. ‘A rat. It passed me on the

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Thepawfelltothefloor.Helookedatitinfear.Thenhefelltremblingintoachair.Withburningeyeshiswifewalkedtothewindowandraisedtheblind.

Mr Whitesatuntilhewaschilledtothe bone, glancingoccasionallyathiswifewhowaspeeringthroughthewindow.The

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Imustopenthedoor.’

‘ForGod’ssakedon’tletitin!’criedtheoldman,trembling.‘You’reafraidofyourownson.Letmego.I’mcoming,Herbert,

I’mcoming!’

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Therewasanotherknock,andanother.Withasuddenviolentmovementtheoldwomanbrokefreeandranfromtheroom.MrWhitefollowedhertothetopofthestairsandappealedtohertostopasshehurrieddownstairs.Heheardthechainrattleback;theStiffboltatthebottomofthedoorwasslowlypulledopen.ThenMrsWhite’svoicecame,strainedandbreathless:

‘Theboltatthetop!Ican’treachit.Comedown!’

ButMrWhitewasonhishandsandknees,gropingwildlyonthefloor, tryingtofindthepaw.Ifhecouldonlyfinditbeforethethingoutsidegotin!Nowacontinuousknockingechoedthroughthehouse.Heheardthesoundofachairscrapingacrossthepassagefloorashiswifepulledit againstthedoor. Heheardthecreaking oftheboltasitwasslowlyopened,andatthesamemomenthefoundthemonkey’spawandfranticallybreathedhisthirdandlastwish.

Theknockingstoppedsuddenly,thoughitstillechoedinthehouse. Heheard thechairscraping back from the door; heheard thedooropen.A coldwind rushed upthestairsandalong, loud wail ofdisappointmentandmiserybrokefromhiswife.Itgavehimthecouragetoruntoherside,thentothegateoutside.Thestreetlampoppositethehouseshoneflickeringlyonaquietanddesertedroad.