• How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily —how calmly I can tell you the whole story."

  
  
  
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  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.