Серце-викривач

           Ifstillyouthinkmemad, youwillthinksonolonger whenIdescribethewiseprecautionsItookfortheconcealmentofthebody. Thenightwaned,andIworkedhastily,butinsilence. FirstofallIdismemberedthecorpse. Icutofftheheadandthearmsandthelegs. 

           Ithentookupthreeplanksfromtheflooringofthechamber, anddepositedallbetweenthescantlings. Ithenreplacedtheboardssocleverly,socunningly, thatnohumaneye—notevenhis—couldhavedetectedanythingwrong. Therewasnothingtowashout —nostainofanykind —noblood-spotwhatever. Ihadbeentoowaryforthat. Atubhadcaughtall—ha!ha! 

           WhenIhadmadeanendoftheselabors,itwasfouro’clock —stilldarkasmidnight. Asthebellsoundedthehour,therecameaknockingatthestreetdoor. Iwentdowntoopenitwithalightheart, —forwhathadInowtofear? Thereenteredthreemen,whointroducedthemselves,withperfectsuavity, asofficersofthepolice. Ashriekhadbeenheardbyaneighbourduringthenight; suspicionoffoulplayhadbeenaroused; informationhadbeenlodgedatthepoliceoffice, andthey(theofficers)hadbeendeputedtosearchthepremises. 

           Ismiled,—forwhathadItofear? Ibadethegentlemenwelcome. Theshriek,Isaid,wasmyowninadream. Theoldman,Imentioned,wasabsentinthecountry. Itookmyvisitorsalloverthehouse. Ibadethemsearch—searchwell. Iledthem,atlength,tohischamber. Ishowedthemhistreasures,secure,undisturbed.