"Edgar Allan Poe. The Tell-Tale Heart" - читать интересную книгу автора

mark me well? I have told you that I am nervous: so I am. And now at the
dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so
strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. Yet, for some
minutes longer I refrained and stood still. But the beating grew louder,
louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me -
the sound would be heard by a neighbour! 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. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the
heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. But
for many minutes the heart beat on with a muffled sound. This, however, did
not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length it ceased. The
old man was dead. I removed the bed and examined the corpse. Yes, he was
stone, stone dead. I placed my hand upon the heart and held it there many
minutes. There was no pulsation. He was stone dead. His eye would trouble me
no more.
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.
I 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.
When I had made an end of these labours, it was four o'clock - still
dark as midnight. As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knocking at the
street door. I went down to open it with a light heart, - for what had I
now to fear? There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with
perfect suavity, as officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a
neighbour 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.
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. 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 definitiveness -
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