奇书网

第31章 The Cask of Amontillado（第1页）

第31章Theontillado

EdgarAllanPoe

&housaunatoIhadborcould，butwheureduponinsult，Ive。You，thenatureofmysoul，willnotsuppose，haveutterahreat。AtlengthIwouldbeavehisoiivelysettled-buttheverydefihwhichitwasresolvedprecludedtheideaofrisk。Imustnotonlypunish，butpunishwithimpunity。Awrongisunredressedwheiosredresser。Itisequallyuheaveomakehimselffeltassuwhohasd。

ItmustbeuhatherbywordnordeedhadIgivenFortumygoodwill。Iued，aswasmywont，tosmileinhisfadhedidmysmilenowwasatthethoughtofhisimmolation。

Hehadaoint-thisFortunato-althoughinardshewasamaedandevenfeared。Hepridedhimselfonhisoisseurshipialiaruevirtuosospirit。Forthemostparttheirenthusiasmisadoptedtosuitthetimeandopportunity，topractiseimpostureupoishandAustrianmillionaires。Inpaintingandgemmary，Fortunato，likehisen，wasaquathematterofoldwineshewassihisrespeotdifferfromhimmaterially;-Iwasskilfulialianvintagesmyself，andbelywheneverIcould。

Itwasaboutdusk，oneeveningduringthesuprememadheivalseasoeredmyfrieedmewithexcessivewarmth，forhehadbeendrinkingmuworemotley。Hehadonatight-fittingparti-stripeddressandhisheadwassurmouheidbells。Ileasedtoseehim，thatIthoughtIshouldneverhavedhishand。

Isaidtohim-"MydearFortunato，youareluckilymet。Howremarkablywellytoday!ButIhavereceivedapipeofassesforAmontillado，as。"

"How?"saidhe，"Amontillado?Apipe?Impossible?Andinthemiddleoftheival?"

"Ihavemydoubts，"Ireplied，"andIwassillyenoughtopaythefullAmontilladopricewithoutgyouier。Youwerenottobefound，andIwasfearfuloflosingabargain。"

"Amontillado!"

"Ihavemydoubts。"

"Amontillado!"

"AndImustsatisfythem。"

"Amontillado!"

"Asyed，IamonmywaytoLuchresi。Ifanyonehasacriti，itishe。Hewilltellme-"

"LuilladofromSherry。"

"Asomefoolswillhaveitthathistasteisamatchforyourown。"

"e，letusgo。"

"Whither?"

"Toyourvaults。"

"Myfriend，no，Iwillnotimposeupoodnature。Iperceiveyouhavea。Luchresi-"

"Ihave，-e。"

"Myfriend，no。Itis，buttheseverecoldwithwhichIperceiveyouareafflicted。Thevaultsareinsufferablydamp。Theyareeh;

"Letusgo，heerelynothing。Amontillado!Youhavebeenimposedupon;andasforLuchresi，heotdistinguishSherryfromAmontillado。"

Thusspeaking，FortunatopossessedhimselfonamaskofbladdrawingaroquelaurecloselyaboutmypersoohurrymetomyPalazzo。

Therewerehome;theyhadabserryinhonourofthetime。IhadtoldthemthatIshouldilthemandhadgiveordersnottostirfromthehouse。Theseordersweresuffit，Iwellkoiheirimmediatedisappearandall，assoonasmybackwasturned。

Itookfromtheirsbeaux，andgiviuhroughseveralsuitesofroomstothearchwaythatledis。Ipasseddownalongandwindingstaircase，requestinghimtobecautiousashefollowed。Wecameatlengthtothefootofthedesdstoodtogetheronthedampgrouaontresors。

&ofmyfriendwasuhebellsuponhisgledashestrode。

"Thepipe，"hesaid。