Сердце-обличитель

           Intheenthusiasmofmyconfidence, Ibroughtchairsintotheroom, anddesiredthemheretorestfromtheirfatigues, whileImyself,inthewildaudacityofmyperfecttriumph, placedmyownseatupontheveryspotbeneathwhichreposedthecorpseofthevictim. 

           Theofficersweresatisfied. Mymannerhadconvincedthem. Iwassingularlyatease. Theysat,andwhileIansweredcheerily, theychattedoffamiliarthings. But,erelong,Ifeltmyselfgettingpaleandwishedthemgone. Myheadached,andIfanciedaringinginmyears: butstilltheysatandstillchatted. Theringingbecamemoredistinct: —Itcontinuedandbecamemoredistinct: Italkedmorefreelytogetridofthefeeling: butitcontinuedandgaineddefiniteness —until,atlength,Ifoundthatthenoisewasnotwithinmyears. 

           NodoubtInowgrewverypale; —butItalkedmorefluently,andwithaheightenedvoice. Yetthesoundincreased—andwhatcouldIdo? Itwasalow,dull,quicksound—muchsuchasound asawatchmakeswhenenvelopedincotton. Igaspedforbreath —andyettheofficershearditnot. Italkedmorequickly—morevehemently;butthenoisesteadilyincreased. Iaroseandarguedabouttrifles,inahighkeyandwithviolentgesticulations; butthenoisesteadilyincreased. Whywouldtheynotbegone? Ipacedthefloortoandfrowithheavystrides, asifexcitedtofurybytheobservationsofthemen —butthenoisesteadilyincreased.