第2章

TheCaskofAmontilladobyEdgarAllanPoeOctober，1997[Etext#1065]*

TheCaskofAmontilladoThethousandinjuriesofFortunatoIhadborneasIbestcould，butwhenheventureduponinsult，Ivowedrevenge。You，whosowellknowthenatureofmysoul，willnotsuppose，however，thatIgaveutterancetoathreat。AtlengthIwouldbeavenged;

thiswasapointdefinitelysettled——buttheverydefinitivenesswithwhichitwasresolved，precludedtheideaofrisk。Imustnotonlypunish，butpunishwithimpunity。Awrongisunredressedwhenretributionovertakesitsredresser。Itisequallyunredressedwhentheavengerfailstomakehimselffeltassuchtohimwhohasdonethewrong。

ItmustbeunderstoodthatneitherbywordnordeedhadI

givenFortunatocausetodoubtmygoodwill。Icontinued，aswasmywont，tosmileinhisface，andhedidnotperceivethatmysmilenowwasatthethoughtofhisimmolation。

Hehadaweakpoint——thisFortunato——althoughinotherregardshewasamantoberespectedandevenfeared。Hepridedhimselfonhisconnoisseurshipinwine。FewItalianshavethetruevirtuosospirit。Forthemostparttheirenthusiasmisadoptedtosuitthetimeandopportunity——topractiseimpostureupontheBritishandAustrianmillionaires。Inpaintingandgemmary，Fortunato，likehiscountrymen，wasaquack——butinthematterofoldwineshewassincere。InthisrespectIdidnotdifferfromhimmaterially:IwasskillfulintheItalianvintagesmyself，andboughtlargelywheneverIcould。

Itwasaboutdusk，oneeveningduringthesuprememadnessofthecarnivalseason，thatIencounteredmyfriend。Heaccostedmewithexcessivewarmth，forhehadbeendrinkingmuch。Themanworemotley。Hehadonatight—fittingparti—stripeddress，andhisheadwassurmountedbytheconicalcapandbells。Iwassopleasedtoseehim，thatIthoughtIshouldneverhavedonewringinghishand。

Isaidtohim——"MydearFortunato，youareluckilymet。Howremarkablywellyouarelookingto—day！ButIhavereceivedapipeofwhatpassesforAmontillado，andIhavemydoubts。"

"How？"saidhe。"Amontillado？Apipe？Impossible！Andinthemiddleofthecarnival！"

"Ihavemydoubts，"Ireplied;"andIwassillyenoughtopaythefullAmontilladopricewithoutconsultingyouinthematter。

Youwerenottobefound，andIwasfearfuloflosingabargain。"

"Amontillado！"

"Ihavemydoubts。"

"Amontillado！"

"AndImustsatisfythem。"

"Amontillado！"

"Asyouareengaged，IamonmywaytoLuchesi。Ifanyonehasacriticalturn，itishe。Hewilltellme——"

"LuchesicannottellAmontilladofromSherry。"

"Andyetsomefoolswillhaveitthathistasteisamatchforyourown。"

"Come，letusgo。"

"Whither？"

"Toyourvaults。"

"Myfriend，no;Iwillnotimposeuponyourgoodnature。I

perceiveyouhaveanengagement。Luchesi——"

"Ihavenoengagement;——come。"

"Myfriend，no。Itisnottheengagement，buttheseverecoldwithwhichIperceiveyouareafflicted。Thevaultsareinsufferablydamp。Theyareencrustedwithnitre。"

"Letusgo，nevertheless。Thecoldismerelynothing。

Amontillado！Youhavebeenimposedupon。AndasforLuchesi，hecannotdistinguishSherryfromAmontillado。"

Thusspeaking，Fortunatopossessedhimselfofmyarm。

Puttingonamaskofblacksilk，anddrawingaroquelairecloselyaboutmyperson，Isufferedhimtohurrymetomypalazzo。

Therewerenoattendantsathome;theyhadabscondedtomakemerryinhonourofthetime。IhadtoldthemthatIshouldnotreturnuntilthemorning，andhadgiventhemexplicitordersnottostirfromthehouse。Theseordersweresufficient，Iwellknew，toinsuretheirimmediatedisappearance，oneandall，assoonasmybackwasturned。

Itookfromtheirsconcestwoflambeaux，andgivingonetoFortunato，bowedhimthroughseveralsuitesofroomstothearchwaythatledintothevaults。Ipasseddownalongandwindingstaircase，requestinghimtobecautiousashefollowed。Wecameatlengthtothefootofthedescent，andstoodtogetheronthedampgroundofthecatacombsoftheMontresors。

Thegaitofmyfriendwasunsteady，andthebellsuponhiscapjingledashestrode。

"Thepipe，"saidhe。

"Itisfartheron，"saidI;"butobservethewhiteweb—workwhichgleamsfromthesecavernwalls。"

Heturnedtowardsme，andlookedintomyeyeswithtwofilmyorbsthatdistilledtherheumofintoxication。

"Nitre？"heasked，atlength。

"Nitre，"Ireplied。"Howlonghaveyouhadthatcough？"

"Ugh！ugh！ugh！——ugh！ugh！ugh！——ugh！ugh！ugh！——ugh！ugh！

ugh！——ugh！ugh！ugh！"

Mypoorfriendfounditimpossibletoreplyformanyminutes。

"Itisnothing，"hesaid，atlast。

"Come，"Isaid，withdecision，"wewillgoback;yourhealthisprecious。Youarerich，respected，admired，beloved;youarehappy，asonceIwas。Youareamantobemissed。Formeitisnomatter。Wewillgoback;youwillbeill，andIcannotberesponsible。Besides，thereisLuchesi——"

"Enough，"hesaid;"thecoughisamerenothing;itwillnotkillme。Ishallnotdieofacough。"

"True——true，"Ireplied;"and，indeed，Ihadnointentionofalarmingyouunnecessarily——butyoushoulduseallpropercaution。

AdraughtofthisMedocwilldefendusfromthedamps。"

HereIknockedofftheneckofabottlewhichIdrewfromalongrowofitsfellowsthatlayuponthemould。

"Drink，"Isaid，presentinghimthewine。

Heraisedittohislipswithaleer。Hepausedandnoddedtomefamiliarly，whilehisbellsjingled。

"Idrink，"hesaid，"totheburiedthatreposearoundus。"

"AndItoyourlonglife。"

Heagaintookmyarm，andweproceeded。

"Thesevaults，"hesaid，"areextensive。"

"TheMontresors，"Ireplied，"wereagreatandnumerousfamily。"

"Iforgetyourarms。"

"Ahugehumanfootd’or，inafieldazure;thefootcrushesaserpentrampantwhosefangsareimbeddedintheheel。"

"Andthemotto？"

"Nemomeimpunelacessit。"

"Good！"hesaid。

Thewinesparkledinhiseyesandthebellsjingled。MyownfancygrewwarmwiththeMedoc。Wehadpassedthroughwallsofpiledbones，withcasksandpuncheonsintermingling，intotheinmostrecessesofcatacombs。Ipausedagain，andthistimeI

madeboldtoseizeFortunatobyanarmabovetheelbow。

"Thenitre！"Isaid;"see，itincreases。Ithangslikemossuponthevaults。Wearebelowtheriver’sbed。Thedropsofmoisturetrickleamongthebones。Come，wewillgobackereitistoolate。Yourcough——"

"Itisnothing，"hesaid;"letusgoon。Butfirst，anotherdraughtoftheMedoc。"

IbrokeandreachedhimaflagonofDeGrave。Heemptieditatabreath。Hiseyesflashedwithafiercelight。HelaughedandthrewthebottleupwardswithagesticulationIdidnotunderstand。

Ilookedathiminsurprise。Herepeatedthemovement——agrotesqueone。

"Youdonotcomprehend？"hesaid。

"NotI，"Ireplied。

"Thenyouarenotofthebrotherhood。"

"How？"

"Youarenotofthemasons。"

"Yes，yes，"Isaid;"yes，yes。"

"You？Impossible！Amason？"

"Amason，"Ireplied。

"Asign，"hesaid，"asign。"

"Itisthis，"Ianswered，producingatrowelfrombeneaththefoldsofmyroquelaire。

"Youjest，"heexclaimed，recoilingafewpaces。"ButletusproceedtotheAmontillado。"

"Beitso，"Isaid，replacingthetoolbeneaththecloakandagainofferinghimmyarm。Heleaneduponitheavily。WecontinuedourrouteinsearchoftheAmontillado。Wepassedthrougharangeoflowarches，descended，passedon，anddescendingagain，arrivedatadeepcrypt，inwhichthefoulnessoftheaircausedourflambeauxrathertoglowthanflame。

Atthemostremoteendofthecryptthereappearedanotherlessspacious。Itswallshadbeenlinedwithhumanremains，piledtothevaultoverhead，inthefashionofthegreatcatacombsofParis。Threesidesofthisinteriorcryptwerestillornamentedinthismanner。Fromthefourthsidetheboneshadbeenthrowndown，andlaypromiscuouslyupontheearth，formingatonepointamoundofsomesize。Withinthewallthusexposedbythedisplacingofthebones，weperceivedastillinteriorrecess，indepthaboutfourfeetinwidththree，inheightsixorseven。Itseemedtohavebeenconstructedfornoespecialusewithinitself，butformedmerelytheintervalbetweentwoofthecolossalsupportsoftheroofofthecatacombs，andwasbackedbyoneoftheircircumscribingwallsofsolidgranite。

ItwasinvainthatFortunato，upliftinghisdulltorch，endeavouredtopryintothedepthoftherecess。Itsterminationthefeeblelightdidnotenableustosee。

"Proceed，"Isaid;"hereinistheAmontillado。AsforLuchesi——"

"Heisanignoramus，"interruptedmyfriend，ashesteppedunsteadilyforward，whileIfollowedimmediatelyathisheels。Inaninstanthehadreachedtheextremityoftheniche，andfindinghisprogressarrestedbytherock，stoodstupidlybewildered。A

momentmoreandIhadfetteredhimtothegranite。Initssurfaceweretwoironstaples，distantfromeachotherabouttwofeet，horizontally。Fromoneofthesedependedashortchain，fromtheotherapadlock。Throwingthelinksabouthiswaist，itwasbuttheworkofafewsecondstosecureit。Hewastoomuchastoundedtoresist。WithdrawingthekeyIsteppedbackfromtherecess。

"Passyourhand，"Isaid，"overthewall;youcannothelpfeelingthenitre。Indeed，itisverydamp。Oncemoreletmeimploreyoutoreturn。No？ThenImustpositivelyleaveyou。

ButImustfirstrenderyouallthelittleattentionsinmypower。"

"TheAmontillado！"ejaculatedmyfriend，notyetrecoveredfromhisastonishment。

"True，"Ireplied;"theAmontillado。"

AsIsaidthesewordsIbusiedmyselfamongthepileofbonesofwhichIhavebeforespoken。Throwingthemaside，Isoonun—

coveredaquantityofbuildingstoneandmortar。Withthesematerialsandwiththeaidofmytrowel，Ibeganvigorouslytowalluptheentranceoftheniche。

IhadscarcelylaidthefirsttierofthemasonrywhenIdiscoveredthattheintoxicationofFortunatohadinagreatmeasurewornoff。

TheearliestindicationIhadofthiswasalowmoaningcryfromthedepthoftherecess。Itwasnotthecryofadrunkenman。

Therewasthenalongandobstinatesilence。Ilaidthesecondtier，andthethird，andthefourth;andthenIheardthefuriousvibrationsofthechain。Thenoiselastedforseveralminutes，duringwhich，thatImighthearkentoitwiththemoresatisfaction，Iceasedmylaboursandsatdownuponthebones。

Whenatlasttheclankingsubsided，Iresumedthetrowel，andfinishedwithoutinterruptionthefifth，thesixth，andtheseventhtier。Thewallwasnownearlyuponalevelwithmybreast。I

againpaused，andholdingtheflambeauxoverthemason—work，threwafewfeebleraysuponthefigurewithin。

Asuccessionofloudandshrillscreams，burstingsuddenlyfromthethroatofthechainedform，seemedtothrustmeviolentlyback。ForabriefmomentIhesitated——Itrembled。Unsheathingmyrapier，Ibegantogropewithitabouttherecess;butthethoughtofaninstantreassuredme。Iplacedmyhanduponthesolidfabricofthecatacombs，andfeltsatisfied。Ireapproachedthewall;I

repliedtotheyellsofhimwhoclamoured。Ire—echoed——Iaided——

Isurpassedtheminvolumeandinstrength。Ididthis，andtheclamourergrewstill。

Itwasnowmidnight，andmytaskwasdrawingtoaclose。I

hadcompletedtheeighth，theninth，andthetenthtier。Ihadfinishedaportionofthelastandtheeleventh;thereremainedbutasinglestonetobefittedandplasteredin。Istruggledwithitsweight;Iplaceditpartiallyinitsdestinedposition。Butnowtherecamefromoutthenichealowlaughthaterectedthehairsuponmyhead。Itwassucceededbyasadvoice，whichIhaddifficultyinrecognizingasthatofthenobleFortunato。Thevoicesaid——

"Ha！ha！ha！——he！he！he！——averygoodjokeindeed——anexcellentjest。Weshallhavemanyarichlaughaboutitatthepalazzo——he！he！he！——overourwine——he！he！he！"

"TheAmontillado！"Isaid。

"He！he！he！——he！he！he！——yes，theAmontillado。Butisitnotgettinglate？Willnottheybeawaitingusatthepalazzo，theLadyFortunatoandtherest？Letusbegone。"

"Yes，"Isaid，"letusbegone。"

"FortheloveofGod，Montresor！"

"Yes，"Isaid，"fortheloveofGod！"

ButtothesewordsIhearkenedinvainforareply。Igrewimpatient。

Icalledaloud——

"Fortunato！"

Noanswer。Icalledagain——

"Fortunato——"

Noanswerstill。Ithrustatorchthroughtheremainingapertureandletitfallwithin。Therecameforthinreplyonlyajinglingofthebells。Myheartgrewsickonaccountofthedampnessofthecatacombs。Ihastenedtomakeanendofmylabour。Iforcedthelaststoneintoitsposition;Iplastereditup。AgainstthenewmasonryIre—erectedtheoldrampartofbones。Forthehalfofacenturynomortalhasdisturbedthem。Inpacerequiescat！