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Tobermory

Chapter one

A Great Discovery

Lady Blemley knew that her house-party was going to be difficult to organise because it would continue for several days and the guests would have to sleep in her large house. She always tried to invite guests who were talented and entertaining. Some people were invited because they were good at playing cards, others because they were good at acting, and others because they were good at playing the piano. After all, it was difficult to entertain guests for three or four days. To this particular house-party Lady Blemley invited Cornelius Appin. People said that he was clever; and, in fact, Cornelius seemed like the name of a clever man. But when he was at the party Lady Blemley could not understand why people thought he was clever. He said very little.

One afternoon it was raining and all the guests were in the living room.

Cornelius Appin said, ‘I have made the most important scientific discovery in the history of the world. I have worked on this particular problem for many years.’

‘What is this fantastic discovery?’ asked Sir Wilfrid, another one of Lady Blemley’s guests.

‘I have taught animals how to speak our language,’ explained Cornelius.

‘Do you have an example of your work here?’ asked Sir Wilfrid, who obviously did not believe Cornelius.

‘Yes, I do. Lady Blemley’s cat, Tobermory. Tobermory is my best student,’ answered Cornelius.

‘How can we possibly believe,’ continued Sir Wilfrid, ‘that you have discovered how to teach animals to talk?’

‘Well,’ explained Cornelius, ‘I have worked on this problem for many years. I have experimented with thousands and thousands of animals. Seven months ago I began to work with cats. Cats are the perfect animals for my work: they live with us but they are still like wild animals. And there are cats who are more intelligent than other cats. Tobermory is one of these intelligent cats: in fact, he is a Super-cat. He is the first animal that I have taught to speak perfectly.’

All the guests looked at Cornelius. Nobody said a word. They thought he was crazy, or a liar.

Finally, after a minute or two, Miss Resker said, ‘I understand. You have taught Tobermory to say and understand very simple sentences like ‘Go’ or ‘Come’ That’s very interesting.’

‘No, no,’ said Cornelius patiently, Tittle children learn short sentences first. But Tobermory is a very intelligent animal. I taught him to speak English perfectly and completely. His English is as good as your English.’

Now everybody was sure that Cornelius was a liar.

‘I think we should see the cat and then we can judge for ourselves,’ suggested Lady Blemley.

Sir Wilfrid left the room and went to look for the cat. Everyone began to think that Cornelius was a good ventriloquist. They waited for this interesting show of ventriloquism to begin.

A minute later, Sir Wilfrid came back in the room. His face was white. He was obviously very excited.

‘It’s true! It’s true!’ he shouted.

The other guests could see that Sir Wilfrid was telling the truth and they asked him what had happened.

‘Well, I found Tobermory sleeping on a chair in the smoking-room. I told him to come to the living room immediately. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at me.

‘Then he said, ‘I’ll come when I want to. Now, go away!’ I almost fainted!’