The Tell-Tale Heart (Expanded Retelling)

not dulled or destroyed. Above all, I had a keen sense of hearing. Everything in heaven and on earth was audible to me. In hell, I heard a lot. So how am I angry? See how I can tell you the complete thing in a healthy—calm—manner.

I cannot explain how the thought came to me, but once it was in my head, it followed me around all day and all night. I adored the elderly man. I had never been wronged by him. I had never been insulted by him. However, his eye! Every time his pale blue, film-covered vulture eye touched me, my blood froze. I decided to get rid of the eye for good. Here's the thing, though. Do you think I'm crazy? Madmen are ignorant. However, you ought to have noticed me! I went to work with such caution, planning, and dissimulation!


Every night at around midnight, I turned his door's latch and opened it, very carefully! After creating a hole big enough for my head, I installed a lantern and made sure it was closed to prevent any light from escaping. I then carefully unwound the light until only a single, narrow ray touched the vulture eye. I spent seven sleepless nights doing this. Every night, I discovered that the eye was closed, making the work impossible. I was annoyed by the old man's Evil Eye, not him.

I was more cautious than usual on the eighth night. I had never felt so strong and intelligent. My thumb slipped on the tin clasp as I stepped inside, and the elderly guy leaped up in bed. "Who's there?" His voice trembled with terror as he yelled out. I stayed put. I stood there for an hour, not moving. He didn't lie down again. He was listening, night after night, just as I had.


Then I heard it. It was a rapid, dull, low sound, like the ticking of a cotton-wrapped watch. I instantly recognized it. His monstrous heart was pounding! I was familiar with the sound. On numerous occasions, it had poured out of my chest at midnight, frightening me. Now, though, it made me angry. The old man must have been extremely afraid since his heartbeat became louder and faster. Louder, the beating went on! Make it louder!

Fearing that someone would hear, I turned pale. The moment had arrived. I threw open the light and jumped into the room, shouting loudly! There was only one scream from him. I quickly pulled the big bed over him and dragged him to the floor. For a few seconds he battled, and then—nothing. I would no longer be bothered by his eye. But the heart kept beating for minutes. Make it louder! Make it louder! Finally, though, it stopped. I waited with a proud smile. I touched his chest, but there was no pulse. He had passed away.


I cut the body to pieces. I severed the legs, limbs, and head. I then picked up three planks off the wooden floor and placed everything that was left on them. I changed the boards in such a way that not even his own human sight could see anything wrong. Blood was absent. I had caught it all in a tub. I heard someone knock on the door about four in the morning. Lighthearted and self-assured, I went down. I was greeted by three officers. They had arrived to examine a shriek that had been reported by a neighbor. I gave them a hearty welcome. There was no reason to be afraid.

I invited them to do a thorough search as I guided them through the house. I even brought chairs and positioned them just over the body's hiding place. The officers were happy. They sat and had a lovely conversation. I could feel my skin getting paler. My head hurt. My ears ringing. The noise was back. A slight thump. To block out the hubbub, I spoke more freely. However, it rose. Anxious, I paced the floor. And yet the noise increased! The cops were still talking. They grinned. They had no suspicions.


But the sound! Louder, louder, louder! My breath caught in my throat. I swore, shouted, and swung my chair. Still, the noise increased! "Villains!" I screamed. "Stop disintegrating! I acknowledge the action! Here, here, tear up the planks! It is his monstrous heart pounding!" As the officers discovered the bones under the floorboards, I fell to the ground, crying and laughing. However, the heart kept beating despite the room's silence. Once again, a thump.