The Equinox (Volume I, Number VII)

THE TELL—TALE HEART people would bow down to me. The richest man in the world ! Think of it! I'll do wonderful things. I’ll buy the Tower of London for poor old Martin, dear old boy. On my soul, I love him like a father. [A þama] What was it now? I’ve forgotten—I knew a minute ago. However did the idea strike me? Such a beautiful idea. Aha! Aha! [Manner again change: to intense/y furtive hate inspired by horror] It is his eye—that pale blue filmy eye. It is like the eye of a vulture. My blood runs cold. I will cut it out; the blood will run warm all over me. I shall bathe in it. I shall never shiver again. Oh no! the blood of the old is bitter chill. But it shall not look at me, glazing over till it almost dies-— I hate you, hate you, hate you! [HE walks about] Seven nights—seven long nights! have I waited for my chance to 'stinguish its glare—in his blood—in his blood—in his blood! [Stumbhhg 01/07 a shuttzr, HE recovers normal manner] Ah Ι the robbers, we must keep out the robbers. [HE bars and shutters the windows, gutte normally] Dear old Daddy, to rob him they’d have to walk across me. [Fee/5 0750176610- business] And now I’ll get to bed. [Exits R. [Re-enler MARTIN, L., who lat/es and bolts the door most careful/y after him] MARTIN. Is it all right, lad? Are you gone to bed? JACKi [Of] Ay, ay, Father, all's well. Call if you need me. MARTIN. Good-night, lad; God bless ye, Jack! JACK. [Of] Good-night, Father! and pleasant dreams. [MARTIN goes and tests all the fastening: ofthe shutters, bars and so ah. Then goes to safe and (Brings out Ι35