True!-nervous, very, very dreadfully nervous i had been and am, but why do you say that im mad? Listen and observe how i calmly 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. Motive i have none. I love the old man. He had never wronged me. But it was his eye. One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture-pale blue eyes with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me my blood ran cold as i resolved to rid of the eye forever.
You fancy me mad? Mad men know nothing. You should have seen how wisely i proceeded. I was never kinder to the old man than the whole week before i killed him. And every night about midnight, I turned the latch of his doors ( oh so gently for the hinges creaked), put in a dark lantern and thrust my head. But i found the eye always closed so it was impossible to carry on my plan.
On the 8th night i had my hand in, my thumb slipped and he cried "who's there?" I waited very patiently then I undid the lantern cautiously so that a single thin ray fell upon the wide vultures eye. Now there came to my ears a quick sound- the beating of the old man's heart. The sound grew quicker and quicker. I thought the heart must burst. The old man's hour had come!
In an instant I dragged him to the floor and pulled the heavy bed over him. For many minutes the heart beat on with the muffled sound. At length is ceased. The old man is dead! I hid him inside the flooring of the chamber. As the sounded 4'o clock, there came a knocking at the street door. Three officers of the police they were deputed to search for the premises. I smiled for what had i to fear, I bade them search- search well.
They found none and were satisfied. My manner had convinced them. Then i felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. I fancied a ringing in my ears. I grew pale. The sound increased yet the officers heart it not. Why should they not be gone? The noise steadily increased. Oh God! What could i do? I swung the chair open upon which i have been sitting, but the noise continually increased. It grew louder-louder-louder! and still the men chatted pleasantly and smiled.
They heard! They suspected! They knew! They were mocking my horror. I can bear those hypocritical smiles no longer. I felt I must cream or die.
"Villains! I shrieked, :" I admit the deed, tear up the planks! here! here it's the beating of the old man's heart!
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