It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire.
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I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, with a film over it. 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.
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It was the beating of the old man's heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every instant. The old man's terror must have been extreme!
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The old man's hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once --once only.
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I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. At length it ceased. The old man was dead.
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Shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye. It was open --wide, wide open --and I grew furious as I gazed upon it. 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.
I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings.
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Villains! I shrieked, dissemble no more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planks! --here, here! --it is the beating of his hideous heart!
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THE END
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And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it --oh so gently!
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 I opened it --you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily --until, at length a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider
I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs.
Officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a neighbor 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.
The ringing became more distinct: --it continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness --until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.