The Tell-Tale Heart
Текст на Статията
- Why will you say I'm mad. The disease has sharpened my senses. Above all my hearing was very accute. Iheard many things in hell and heaven.How,then am I mad.
- I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. His gold I didn't desire. I think it was the eye! It was pale blue with a film over it like a vulture's eye.Whenever it fellupon me, my blood ran cold; and so I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye for ever.
- And every night just at midnigh, I would open the door cautiously oh so cautiously it would take me an hour to open it.creaked)—I undid the lampjust so much that a single thinray fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven longnights—every night just at midnight—but I found the eyealways closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for itwas not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye.
- But in the eighth night, I had my head in, and was about to open the lantern,when my thumb slipped upon the tin fastening, and the oldman sprang up in the bed, crying out—“Who’s there?” He was still sitting up in the bed listening;—And now have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the senses?—now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound It was the beating of the old man’s heart. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him.  But, for many minutes,the heart beat on with a muffled sound.  At lengthit ceased. The old man was dead. 
- ....
- As the bell sounded thehour, there came a knocking at the street door.There entered three men, who introduced themselves, withperfect suavity, as officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused. I bade them search—search well. I led them, at length, to his chamber. I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed. In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigue. I started to listen a noise. The beating of the heart. I wished them gone
- I paced thefloor to and fro with heavy strides, but the noise steadily increased.It grew louder—louder—louder! And still themen chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible theyheard not? Almighty God!—no, no! They heard!—theysuspected!—they knew!—they were making a mockery ofmy horror!—this I thought, and this I think. I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die!—and now—again!— hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!—
- Villains! dissemble no more! I admit thedeed!—tear up the planks!—here, here!—it is the beating ofhis hideous heart!
Над 30 милиона създадени разкадровки