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！