Preface -- Caustic Tales -- The widow of Ephesus / Petronius -- Wakefield / N. Hawthorne -- The adopted son / G. De Maypassant -- Mrs. Fonss / J. P. Jacobsen -- Cynical Tales -- The shadow / H. C. Andersen -- The desire to be a man / A. V. De L'Isle Adam -- Lord Arthur Savile's crime / O. Wilde -- A friend in need / S. Maugham -- Cruel Tales -- The parricide's tale / C. R. Maturin -- Torture by hope / A. V. De L'Isle Adam -- El Verdugo / H. DeBalzac -- Cabecilla / A. Daudet -- Crime Tales -- Prologue -- Murder considered as one of the fine arts / From T. De Quincey's essay -- Happiness in crime / J. A. B. D'Aurevilly -- A jolly fellow / G. De Maupassant -- The blind spot / Saki -- The gioconda smile / A. Huxley -- A rose for Emily / W. Faulkner -- The quick and the dead / W. Cameron -- Tales of Vengeance -- The cask of Amontillado / E. A. Poe -- A vendetta / G. De Maupassant -- The reconciliation / H. G. Wells -- Tales of jealousy -- The pearl of Toledo / P. Merimee -- The revolt of a sheep / H. De Balzac -- The man with the dogs / G. De Maupassant -- Tales of Frenzy -- The tell-tale heart / E. A. Poe -- Sleepy / A. Checkhov -- The abyss / L. Andreyev -- Tales of Obsession -- The crucifix / A. von Chamisso -- The oval portrait / E. A. Poe -- The doctor's heroism / A. V. de L'Isle Adam.