TRUE! – nervous – very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses – not destroyed – not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things inthe heaven and ∈ the earth. I heard many things ∈ hell. How, then, am I mad? Listen! And observe how healthily – how calmly I can tell you the whole story.
It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain;
but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture – a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees – very gradually – I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.
Now this is the point. You believe I am mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded – with what caution – with what foresight – with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before… I killed him.
Adapted from: <http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/integrated-skills/back-to-schoolresources?
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This part of the crime story introduces us to the storyteller, who decides to kill a person. What motive does the storyteller claim for killing the old man?
