I paced the floor with a heavy stride, stomping on the floor, nearly shouting my conversation at the men--but the sound steadily increased. My God, what could I do? I foamed, I raved, I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, then grated it over the floor boards, but the noise arose from beneath and became louder--louder--'Louder!' And still the men sat and chatted, pleasantly--and 'smiled!' Was it possible they heard it naught? Almighty God!--no, 'NO!' They heard--they suspected!--they 'knew!' They were making a mockery of me horror!--this I thought and this I 'still' think.

Meanwhile, the rhythmic 'thumping' became more distinct, more pronounced, more insistent of recognition. I could naught stand the sound any longer--I could stand those hypocritical smiles no more! I felt that I must scream or die! And now, again--harken! It grows louder--louder!--'Louder!" It were now pounding as if a heavy hammer were beating in me head. I clapped hands over me ears, I slammed fists against me very head--all to no avail. The sound became actually 'painful' in its intensity!

"Desist!" I finally shrieked. "Taunt me no more! I admit the deed! Just make it 'Stop!' Here," I cried, dropping to the floor and pounding on the boards in time to that persistent--nay, that 'Hellish' thumping. "Tear up the planks--here, here!" I shouted, clawing at the rough flooring, leaving bloody tracks in the wood as me nails were ripped and torn out. "It is here! Here! The beating--that damnable beating! It is the beating of his hideous heart!"