PREFACE
In this collection of Terrible Tales I have gathered together the best with which I am acquainted in the various languages. Very many of them, so far as I know, have never before appeared in English. The Tales are told by masters of the craft of story-telling, and are such as, it seems to me, must prove interesting to all. For ordinary humanity the terrible will always possess a fascination, and we find the best literary men of all countries and all times availing themselves of it in order to amuse their readers. French, German, Italian, and Spanish authors have exerted themselves in the composition of such pieces, with what success I leave the reader of Terrible Tales to judge.
C. J. T.