Poe - "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Above all was the sense of hearing acute.

It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.

It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.

Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees --very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.

My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted.

You should have seen how wisely I proceeded --with what caution --with what foresight --with what dissimulation I went to work!

You should have seen how wisely I proceeded --with what caution --with what foresight --with what dissimulation I went to work!

And this I did for seven long nights --every night just at midnight --but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye.

So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.

Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers --of my sagacity.

It was not a groan of pain or of grief --oh, no! --it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.

Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions: but he had found all in vain.

All in vain; because Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim.

A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises.

A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises.

In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.

In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.

I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased.

I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased.

I foamed --I raved --I swore!

They heard! --they suspected! --they knew! --they were making a mockery of my horror!-this I thought, and this I think.

Anything was more tolerable than this derision!

I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer!

I felt that I must scream or die! and now --again! --hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!