William Wymark Jacobs (1863 - 1943) was an English author of short stories and novels. His most popular works in the early part of the last century were his humorous tales set around the docks of Wapping and in the tap-room of the infamous Cauliflower tavern.

Many of his stories were written in a Cockney vernacular and were keenly observant of character.

"The White Cat" is a humorous tale of a disputed inheritance, a clever old rogue and a suspiciously mislaid white cat.