sailor left on a table after shaving, was in its hand. The man, for some moments, was at a loss what to do[11]. He stretched his hand to the whip with which he usually quieted the creature. The orangutan saw it and sprang at once through the door of the chamber, down the stairs. It then jumped through a window, unfortunately open, into the street.
The Frenchman followed in despair. It was nearly three o’clock in the morning and the streets were still quiet and dark. When they passed down an alley in the rear of the Rue Morgue, the ape noticed a light gleaming from the open window of Madame L’Espanaye’s house. It rushed to the building and went up the metallic pole, and then jumped into the room. All this didn’t take a minute.
The sailor, too, went up the metallic pole, but was unable to jump into the room. He saw a following scene.
The women were sitting there, with their backs to the windows. They were busy with some papers. The old lady saw the animal and started screaming. The ape grasped her by the hair. The woman’s scream and struggle probably scared the ape and made it go wild. With one determined sweep of its muscular arm, it nearly severed her head from her body. The daughter lay prostrate and motionless. The sight of blood inflamed the anger of the ape into phrenzy[12]. It saw the daughter move and, with fire in its eyes, rushed to her. The beast put its powerful fingers around her neck, and pressed them firmly there until she died. It saw the face of sailor in the window and understood that the punishment was near. The beast started jumping all around, breaking everything in the room. Suddenly it stopped and took the body of the daughter and put it up above the fireplace. Then it threw the old woman out the window.
The sailor was full of horror and did not know what to do. He knew he was now powerless against such beast and simply ran away.
Thus, the mystery was solved. We reported everything to the police, which was not happy that some civilians solved the case, not the police. The sailor later captured his animal and wrongly imprisoned Le Don was instantly released.
The tell-tale heart
True! I am always nervous, very dreadfully nervous. But am I a madman? My nervousness sharpened my senses, but not destroyed nor dulled them. It especially sharpened my hearing. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Listen! Listen carefully – and I will tell the whole story.
I do not know when the idea first entered my brain; but once it did, it haunted me day and night. There was no reason for what I did. I did not hate the old man; I even loved him. He never hurt me. He never insulted me. I did not need his money. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture[13]. It was pale blue, with a film over it. Whenever the old man looked at me with his vulture eye, my blood ran cold[14]. I decided to kill the old man to finally get rid of this evil eye forever.
Now this is the point. You think I am mad. Madmen cannot plan. But you do not know how wisely and with what caution I went to work! During the whole week before I killed him I was as kind to him as I could. Every night about twelve o’clock I gently – oh, so gently! – opened his door. And when the opening was wide enough I used to put my hand and my head in. Oh, I bet it looked comical! I moved very slowly so that I might not disturb the old man’s sleep. It took me an hour to place myself within the opening so far that I could see him on his bed. Ha! Could a madman be so wise? I stood there quietly. In my hand, I had a light covered with a cloth. I carefully lifted the cloth so that a single thin ray fell across the vulture eye. I did this for seven nights, seven long nights, every night at midnight. But I found the eye always closed. Because of that, I could not do the work. For it was not the old man I had the urge[15] to kill but his Evil Eye. And every morning after I spoke to the old man in a hearty tone and asked how was his night. He had no clue[16] that every night I watched him sleeping.
On the eighth night, I was even more than usually careful when I opened the door. The hands of a clock move more quickly than did my hand. Never before that night I felt more powerful. I could hardly hold my feelings of triumph back. The old man was lying on his bed and had no idea I was at his door. I let out a slight chuckle. He suddenly moved. You may think I become afraid – but no. His room was completely dark. I knew that he could not see me. I continued to push the door, slowly, softly.
I put my head in. Then I started putting in my hand when suddenly the old man sprang up in bed and cried, “Who’s there?”
I kept quite still and said nothing. For a whole hour I did not move a muscle. Neither did I hear him lie down. He was still sitting up in the bed listening.
Soon I heard a cry of fear which escaped from the old man. I knew he was filled with horror. I knew what he felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart. He probably tried to calm himself down by thinking these strange sounds came from wind or a mouse… But it was not. It was Death standing right in front of him.
Slowly, I lifted the cloth so that a single thin ray fell across the vulture eye. And there it was. The Eye was open widely. I saw it with perfect distinctness – all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it. I grew furious as I gazed at it.
Did you know people often mistake over-acuteness of the sense for madness? I heard a low dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes if you envelop it in cotton. I knew that sound well, too. 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.
But even yet I kept still. I hardly breathed. I held the light motionless. But the sound grew louder. Can you imagine the old man’s terror! It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! The heart was beating so loudly that I was sure neighbors must hear it. I felt anger. The old man’s hour had come![17]With a loud yell, I jumped into the room. He shrieked once – once only. In an instant[18], I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. The deed was done[19]. The old man was dead. But I still heard his heart beating. This, however, did not bother me; no one would hear anything through the wall. At length it ceased. I removed the bed and examined the corpse. Yes, he was stone, stone dead[20]. His eye would trouble me no more.
If you still think I am mad, you will change your mind when I tell you how wisely I hid the body. First, I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs. I was so careful that not a single drop of blood fell on the floor. Then I took up three boards from the flooring of the room, put the body underneath and replaced the boards. Everything looked the same.
When I finished, it was four o’clock in the morning, still dark. I heard someone knocking on the door. I went down to open the door. There were three police officers. One of the neighbors heard the old man’s cry and called the police. They came to ask questions and search the house.
I let them in. I was not afraid of anything as I knew I did everything right. I let them search the house. When they were in his room, I brought some chairs and offered them to rest. I placed my own seat on the very spot beneath which lied the corpse of the victim.
The officers were satisfied. My manner convinced them. They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted. But soon I felt myself getting pale. I wanted them to go away. I fancied a ringing in my ears. The ringing became more distinct while the police officers were still chatting. I talked more freely to
was at a loss what to do – не знал, что делать
phrenzy – безумие, сумасшествие
vulture – стервятник
my blood ran cold – кровь стыла в венах
I had the urge – у меня было желание
He had no clue – Он и не догадывался
The oldman’s hour had come! – Для старика пришел час расплаты!
In an instant – в мгновение ока
The deed was done. – Дело было сделано.
stone dead – мертвее мертвого
