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TheCaskofAmontilladoTHEthousandinjuriesofFortunatoIhadborneasIbestcould,butwhenheventureduponinsultIvowedrevenge.You,whosowellknowthenatureofmysoul,willnotsuppose,however,thatgaveutterancetoathreat.AtlengthIwouldbeavenged;thiswasapointdefinitely,settled--buttheverydefinitivenesswithwhichitwasresolvedprecludedtheideaofrisk.Imustnotonlypunishbutpunishwithimpunity.Awrongisunredressedwhenretributionovertakesitsredresser.Itisequallyunredressedwhentheavengerfailstomakehimselffeltassuchtohimwhohasdonethewrong.ItmustbeunderstoodthatneitherbywordnordeedhadIgivenFortunatocausetodoubtmygoodwill.Icontinued,aswasmyintosmileinhisface,andhedidnotperceivethatmytosmilenowwasatthethoughtofhisimmolation.Hehadaweakpoint--thisFortunato--althoughinotherregardshewasamantoberespectedandevenfeared.Hepridedhimselfonhisconnoisseurshipinwine.FewItalianshavethetruevirtuosospirit.Forthemostparttheirenthusiasmisadoptedtosuitthetimeandopportunity,topractiseimpostureupontheBritishandAustrianmillionaires.Inpaintingandgemmary,Fortunato,likehiscountrymen,wasaquack,butinthematterofoldwineshewassincere.InthisrespectIdidnotdifferfromhimmaterially;--IwasskilfulintheItalianvintagesmyself,andboughtlargelywheneverIcould.Itwasaboutdusk,oneeveningduringthesuprememadnessofthecarnivalseason,thatIencounteredmyfriend.Heaccostedmewithexcessivewarmth,forhehadbeendrinkingmuch.Themanworemotley.Hehadonatight-fittingparti-stripeddress,andhisheadwassurmountedbytheconicalcapandbells.IwassopleasedtoseehimthatIthoughtIshouldneverhavedonewringinghishand.Isaidtohim--MydearFortunato,youareluckilymet.Howremarkablywellyouarelookingto-day.ButIhavereceivedapipeofwhatpassesforAmontillado,andIhavemydoubts.How?saidhe.Amontillado,Apipe?Impossible!Andinthemiddleofthecarnival!Ihavemydoubts,Ireplied;andIwassillyenoughtopaythefullAmontilladopricewithoutconsultingyouinthematter.Youwerenottobefound,andIwasfearfuloflosingabargain.Amontillado!Ihavemydoubts.Amontillado!AndImustsatisfythem.Amontillado!Asyouareengaged,IamonmywaytoLuchresi.Ifanyonehasacriticalturnitishe.Hewilltellme--LuchresicannottellAmontilladofromSherry.Andyetsomefoolswillhaveitthathistasteisamatchforyourown.Come,letusgo.Whither?Toyourvaults.Myfriend,no;Iwillnotimposeuponyourgoodnature.Iperceiveyouhaveanengagement.Luchresi--Ihavenoengagement;--come.Myfriend,no.Itisnottheengagement,buttheseverecoldwithwhichIperceiveyouareafflicted.Thevaultsareinsufferablydamp.Theyareencrustedwithnitre.Letusgo,nevertheless.Thecoldismerelynothing.Amontillado!Youhavebeenimposedupon.AndasforLuchresi,hecannotdistinguishSherryfromAmontillado.Thusspeaking,Fortunatopossessedhimselfofmyarm;andputtingonamaskofblacksilkanddrawingaroquelairecloselyaboutmyperson,Isufferedhimtohurrymetomypalazzo.Therewerenoattendantsathome;theyhadabscondedtomakemerryinhonourofthetime.IhadtoldthemthatIshouldnotreturnuntilthemorning,andhadgiventhemexplicitordersnottostirfromthehouse.Theseordersweresufficient,Iwellknew,toinsuretheirimmediatedisappearance,oneandall,assoonasmybackwasturned.Itookfromtheirsconcestwoflambeaux,andgivingonetoFortunato,bowedhimthroughseveralsuitesofroomstothearchwaythatledintothevaults.Ipasseddownalongandwindingstaircase,requestinghimtobecautiousashefollowed.Wecameatlengthtothefootofthedescent,andstoodtogetheruponthedampgroundofthecatacombsoftheMontresors.Thegaitofmyfriendwasunsteady,andthebellsuponhiscapjingledashestrode.Thepipe,hesaid.Itisfartheron,saidI;butobservethewhiteweb-workwhichgleamsfromthesecavernwalls.Heturnedtowardsme,andlookedintomyeveswithtwofilmyorbsthatdistilledtherheumofintoxication.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,thereisLuchresi--Enough,hesaid;thecough'samerenothing;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.Wehadpassedthroughlongwallsofpiledskeletons,withcasksandpuncheonsintermingling,intotheinmostrecessesofthecatacombs.Ipausedagain,andthistimeImadeboldtoseizeFortunatobyanarmabovetheelbow.Thenitre!Isaid