The Tell-Tale Heart (Poe)

Above all was the sense of hearing acute.

Hearken! and observe how healthily --how calmly I can tell you the whole story.

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

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 then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head.

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.

And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night.

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.

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

I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph.

Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror.

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.

When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little --a very, very little crevice in the lantern.

So I opened it --you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily --until, at length a simple dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye.

I saw it with perfect distinctness --all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.

I saw it with perfect distinctness --all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.

I saw it with perfect distinctness --all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.

This, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall.

At length it ceased.

The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence.

First of all I dismembered the corpse.

When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o'clock --still dark as midnight.

There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police.

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.

I bade the gentlemen welcome.

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 talked more quickly --more vehemently; 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!

I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased.

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

But anything was better than this agony!

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!