The old mans 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 on with a muffled sound. This, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the 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. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs 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 any thing 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 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 erfect suavity 2, 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 oom,and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my erfect 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:- 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 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 Muffled:听不清的:蒙住的:压抑的。 ° Stone dead:彻底死了。 10夜色渐渐退去。主人公必须在天亮之前藏好老人的尸体。 Dismember:肢解 Suavity:温和,文雅。 1 Foul play:不正当行为,此指犯罪,谋杀。邻居在夜里听到了老人的尖叫,担心老人遭遇不幸。邻居已 青晰听到老人的尖叫,而主人公却只专注于老人的心跳 Singularly:异常地:非常地:令人无法理解地。此指杀了人的主人公从容面对警察询问,令人不可思 议 15指主人公所听到的老人的“心跳”愈发清晰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 muffled8 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. 9 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 waned10, and I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered11 the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs. 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 any thing 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 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 suavity12, as officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play13 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 singularly14 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: - It continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness15 - 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 8 Muffled: 听不清的；蒙住的；压抑的。 9 Stone dead: 彻底死了。 10 夜色渐渐退去。主人公必须在天亮之前藏好老人的尸体。 11 Dismember：肢解。 12 Suavity: 温和，文雅。 13 Foul play: 不正当行为，此指犯罪，谋杀。邻居在夜里听到了老人的尖叫，担心老人遭遇不幸。邻居已 清晰听到老人的尖叫，而主人公却只专注于老人的心跳， 14 Singularly: 异常地；非常地；令人无法理解地。此指杀了人的主人公从容面对警察询问，令人不可思 议。 15 指主人公所听到的老人的“心跳”愈发清晰