The Tell-Tale Heart
(Excerpt)
By Edgar Allan Poe
...If, still, you think me mad, you will
think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the
concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence.
First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the
legs. [page 31, column 1:] I then took up three planks from the flooring of the
chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards
so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye - not even his - could have
detected anything wrong. There was nothing to wash out - no stain of any kind -
no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all -
ha! ha!
When I had made an end of these labors, it
was
I smiled, - for what had I to fear? I bade
the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream. The old man,
I mentioned, was absent in the country. I took my visitors all over the house.
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 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.
The officers were satisfied. My manner had
convinced them. I was singularly at ease. They sat, and, while I answered
cheerily, they chatted of familiar things. But, ere long, I felt myself getting
pale and wished them gone. [column 2:] My head ached, and I fancied a ringing
in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing 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.
No doubt I now grew very pale; - but I talked
more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased - and what
could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound - much such a sound as a watch
makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath - and yet the officers
heard it not. 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. Why would they not
be gone? I paced the floor to and fro, with heavy strides, as if excited to
fury by the observations of the men; - but the noise steadily increased. Oh
God! what could I do? I foamed - I raved - I swore! I swung the chair upon
which I had sat, and grated it upon the boards; - but the noise arose over all
and continually increased. It grew louder --- louder --- louder! And still the
men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Almighty
God! - no, no! 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! -
"Villains!" I shrieked,
"dissemble no more! I admit the deed! - tear up the planks! - here, here!
- it is the beating of his hideous heart!"
Source: Edgar Allan Poe, "The
Tell-Tale Heart" (C), The Pioneer, January 1843, pp. 29-31. E.A. Poe Society of Baltimore