by Edgar Allan Poe

TRUE ! - nervous - very, very dreadfully nervous I and am; but why say that mad ? The disease had sharpened my senses - not destroyed - not dulled them Above all sense of hearing acute I heard all things heaven and earth I heard many things in hell How, then, am I mad ? Hearken ! and observe how healthily - how calmly tell you the whole story

impossible how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night Object none Passion none I loved the old man He had never wronged me He had never given me insult gold I had no desire his eye ! yes, it ! He had the eye of vulture - pale blue eye, with film over it Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees - very gradually - up my mind to life old man, and thus rid myself eye forever

Now point You fancy me mad Madmen know nothing But seen me seen how wisely I proceeded - with what caution - with what foresight - with what dissimulation I went to work ! never kinder old man than during the whole week before I killed him And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch door and opened it - oh so gently ! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient head, I put in dark lantern, all closed, closed, that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head Oh, laughed how cunningly I thrust it in ! I moved it slowly - very, very slowly, I disturb the old man's sleep It took me an hour my whole head opening that I him as he lay upon his bed Ha ! would madman so wise , And then, when my head was well room, I undid the lantern cautiously-oh, so cautiously - cautiously ( hinges creaked) - I undid it just that single thin ray fell vulture eye And this for seven long nights - every night just at midnight - but the eye always closed; and so impossible work; for not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye And every morning, day broke, I went boldly chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night So he very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept

eighth night more than usually cautious in opening the door watch's minute hand moves more quickly than did mine Never night had the extent own powers - sagacity scarcely contain my feelings of triumph that there , opening the door, little by little, and he not even to dream secret deeds or thoughts I fairly chuckled idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved bed suddenly, startled Now think that I drew back - but no His room was as black as pitch thick darkness, ( shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers,) and so that he the opening door, and I kept pushing it on steadily, steadily

I had my head in, and was about to open the lantern, when my thumb slipped tin fastening, old man sprang up in bed, crying out - "Who's there ? "

I kept quite still and said nothing For whole hour move muscle, and meantime hear him lie down still sitting up bed listening; - just as , night after night, hearkening death watches wall

Presently I heard slight groan, and it groan of mortal terror not groan of pain or of grief - oh, no ! - it low stifled sound that arises bottom soul when overcharged with awe the sound well Many night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me it well what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart that he lying awake the first slight noise, when he had turned bed His fears growing upon him He trying to fancy them causeless, but He saying to himself - " nothing but the wind chimney - only mouse crossing the floor," or " merely cricket made single chirp " Yes, he trying to comfort himself suppositions: but he had found all in vain All in vain; because Death, in approaching him had stalked black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim And it mournful influence unperceived shadow that caused him - although he neither saw nor heard - the presence head room

When I had waited , very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open little - very, very little crevice lantern So I opened it - imagine how stealthily, stealthily - until, simple dim ray, like the thread spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full vulture eye

open - wide, wide open - and I grew furious as I gazed upon it it with perfect distinctness - all dull blue, with hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I nothing else old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray by instinct, precisely damned spot

I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness sense ? - now, , there came to my ears low, dull, quick sound, such as watch makes when enveloped in cotton that sound well, too It beating old man's heart It increased my fury, beating of drum stimulates the soldier into courage

But even yet I refrained and kept still I scarcely breathed I held the lantern motionless I tried how steadily maintain the ray eve Meantime the hellish tattoo heart increased It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every instant The old man's terror must extreme ! It grew louder, , louder every moment ! - mark me well told you that nervous: so And now dead hour night, amid the dreadful silence old house, so strange noise excited me to uncontrollable terror Yet, for some minutes longer I refrained and stood still But the beating grew louder, louder ! the heart must burst And now new anxiety seized me - the sound heard by neighbour ! The old man's hour had come ! With loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped room He shrieked once - once only In an instant I dragged him floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him I then smiled gaily, the deed done But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with muffled sound This, however, vex me; it heard wall it ceased The old man was dead I removed the bed and examined the corpse Yes, stone, stone dead I placed my hand heart and held it there many minutes no pulsation stone dead His eye would trouble me no more

If still me mad, think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions concealment body The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence First of all I dismembered the corpse I cut off the head arms legs

I then took up three planks flooring chamber, and deposited all scantlings I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye - not even his - detected any thing wrong nothing to wash out - no stain of any kind - no blood-spot whatever I too wary tub had caught all - ha ! ha !

When I had made an end labors, four o'clock - still dark as midnight bell sounded the hour, there came knocking street door I went down to open it with light heart, - for what had I now to fear ? There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers police shriek heard by neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play aroused; information lodged police office, (the officers) deputed to search the premises

I smiled, - for what had I to fear ? I bade the gentlemen welcome The shriek, , was my own in dream The old man, I mentioned, was absent country my visitors all over the house I bade them search - search well I led them, , chamber I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed enthusiasm confidence, I brought chairs room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, wild audacity perfect triumph, placed my own seat very spot beneath which reposed the corpse victim

The officers were satisfied My manner had convinced them singularly at ease They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things But, ere long, myself getting pale and wished them gone My head ached, and I fancied ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted The ringing became more distinct: - It continued and became more distinct: more freely rid feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness - until, , noise was not within my ears

I now grew very pale; - but more fluently, and with heightened voice Yet the sound increased - and what could ? low, dull, quick sound - much such sound as watch makes when enveloped in cotton I gasped for breath - and yet the officers heard it not more quickly - more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased I arose and argued about trifles, in high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased Why would they not be gone ? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, excited to fury observations men - but the noise steadily increased Oh God ! what could ? I foamed - I raved - I swore ! I swung the chair I sitting, and grated it boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased It grew louder - louder - louder ! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled possible they heard not ? Almighty God ! - no, no ! They heard ! - they suspected ! - they knew ! - they were making mockery horror ! -this , and this But anything was better than this agony ! Anything was more tolerable than this derision ! bear those hypocritical smiles no longer ! that scream or die ! and now - again ! - hark ! louder ! louder ! louder ! louder !

"Villains ! " I shrieked, "dissemble no more ! I admit the deed ! - tear up the planks ! here, here ! - beating hideous heart ! "