“I remember how highly pleased you were with the story which I told you about the dog discovering the murderers of his master.  There is one of a very similar description of a French cat, which I am sure will equally interest you.

“In the beginning of the present century a woman was murdered in Paris.  The magistrate who went to investigate the affair was accompanied by a physician; they found the body lying upon the floor, and a greyhound watching over it, and howling mournfully.  When the gentleman entered the apartment, it ran to them without barking, and then returned with a melancholy mien to the body of his murdered mistress.  Upon a chest in a corner of the room sat a cat, motionless, with eyes expressive of furious indignation, stedfastly fixed upon the body.  Many persons now entered the apartment, but neither the appearance of such a crowd of strangers, nor the confusion that prevailed in the place, could make her change her position.  In the mean time, some persons were apprehended on suspicion of being the murderers, and it was resolved to lead them into the apartment.  Before the cat got sight of them, when she only heard their footsteps approaching, her eyes flashed with increased fury, her hair stood erect, and so soon as she saw them enter the apartment, she sprang towards them with expressions of the most violent rage, but did not venture to attack them, being probably alarmed by the numbers that followed.  Having turned several times towards them with a peculiar ferocity of aspect, she crept into a corner, with an air indicative of the deepest melancholy.  This behaviour of the cat astonished every one present.  The effect which it produced upon the murderers was such as almost to amount to an acknowledgment of guilt.  Nor did this remain long doubtful, for a train of accessory circumstances was soon discovered which proved it to complete conviction.

“I have often warned you against stories of ghosts and hobgoblins, and shown you on how frail a foundation they generally rest.  There is a story in which a cat was one of the principal actors, which contains the elements of as marvellous a tale of this description as could be desired.  It happened in the west of Scotland.

“Some years ago, a poor man whose habits of life had always been of the most retired description, giving way to the natural despondency of his disposition, put an end to his existence.  The only other inmate of his cottage was a favourite cat, When the deed was discovered, the cat was found assiduously watching over her late master’s body, and it was with some difficulty she could be driven away.