I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him.

And every night about midnight I turned the latch of his door

and

opened it

oh, so gently!

And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head,

I put in a dark lantern all closed, closed so that no light shone out,

and then I thrust in my head.

Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in!

I moved it slowly, very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man's sleep.

It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed.

Ha!

would a madman have been so wise as this?

And then

when my head was well in the room

I undid the lantern cautiously -- oh, so cautiously --

cautiously (for the hinges creaked),

I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye.