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If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer

when I describe the wise precautions I took for the

concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked

hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I

cut off the head and the arms and the legs.

I then took up three planks from the flooring of the

chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then

replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human

eye—not even his—could have detected any thing wrong.

There was nothing to wash out—no stain of any kind—no

blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had

caught all—ha! ha!

When I had made an end of these labors, it was four

o'clock—still dark as midnight. As the bell sounded the

hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down

to open it with a light heart,—for what had I now to fear?

There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with

perfect suavity, as officers of the police. A shriek had been

heard by a neighbor during the night; suspicion of foul play

had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police

office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the

premises.

I smiled,—for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen

welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream. The

old man, I mentioned, was absent in the country. I took my

visitors all over the house. I bade them search—search well.

I led them, at length, to his chamber. I showed them his

treasures, secure, undisturbed. In the enthusiasm of my

confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them

here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild

audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the

very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.

The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced

them. I was singularly at ease. They sat, and while I