"Tobermory" by Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) is a darkly comedic short story about the English upper class, first published in 1911. During a dreary party at Lady Blemley's country house, Cornelius Appin, a man claiming to have taught a cat to speak, presents his unusual achievement. The cat, Tobermory, demonstrates its newfound ability to converse, revealing the guests' private secrets and causing discomfort among them. As tensions rise, the guests, fearing Tobermory's potential to expose more, decide to kill him. However, Tobermory's fate takes an unexpected turn, and Appin meets a similarly ironic end. The story satirizes the hypocrisy and pretensions of society through its absurd premise and dark humor.
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