the cask of amontillado-第2节

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endeavoured　to　pry　into　the　depth　of　the　recess。　　Its　termination

the　feeble　light　did　not　enable　us　to　see。



〃Proceed；〃　I　said；　〃herein　is　the　Amontillado。　　As　for

Luchesi〃



〃He　is　an　ignoramus；〃　interrupted　my　friend；　as　he　stepped

unsteadily　forward；　while　I　followed　immediately　at　his　heels。　　In

an　instant　he　had　reached　the　extremity　of　the　niche；　and　finding

his　progress　arrested　by　the　rock；　stood　stupidly　bewildered。　　A

moment　more　and　I　had　fettered　him　to　the　granite。　　In　its　surface

were　two　iron　staples；　distant　from　each　other　about　two　feet；

horizontally。　　From　one　of　these　depended　a　short　chain；　from　the

other　a　padlock。　　Throwing　the　links　about　his　waist；　it　was　but

the　work　of　a　few　seconds　to　secure　it。　　He　was　too　much　astounded

to　resist。　　Withdrawing　the　key　I　stepped　back　from　the　recess。



〃Pass　your　hand；〃　I　said；　〃over　the　wall；　you　cannot　help

feeling　the　nitre。　　Indeed；　it　is　　very　damp。　　Once　more　let　me

　implore　you　to　return。　　No？　　Then　I　must　positively　leave　you。　

But　I　must　first　render　you　all　the　little　attentions　in　my　power。〃



〃The　Amontillado！〃　ejaculated　my　friend；　not　yet　recovered

from　his　astonishment。



〃True；〃　I　replied；　〃the　Amontillado。〃



As　I　said　these　words　I　busied　myself　among　the　pile　of　bones

of　which　I　have　before　spoken。　　Throwing　them　aside；　I　soon　un…　

covered　a　quantity　of　building　stone　and　mortar。　　With　these

materials　and　with　the　aid　of　my　trowel；　I　began　vigorously　to　wall

up　the　entrance　of　the　niche。



I　had　scarcely　laid　the　first　tier　of　the　masonry　when　I　discovered

that　the　intoxication　of　Fortunato　had　in　a　great　measure　worn　off。　

The　earliest　indication　I　had　of　this　was　a　low　moaning　cry　from

the　depth　of　the　recess。　　It　was　　not　the　cry　of　a　drunken　man。　

There　was　then　a　long　and　obstinate　silence。　　I　laid　the　second

tier；　and　the　third；　and　the　fourth；　and　then　I　heard　the　furious

vibrations　of　the　chain。　　The　noise　lasted　for　several　minutes；

during　which；　that　I　might　hearken　to　it　with　the　more

satisfaction；　I　ceased　my　labours　and　sat　down　upon　the　bones。　

When　at　last　the　clanking　subsided；　I　resumed　the　trowel；　and

finished　without　interruption　the　fifth；　the　sixth；　and　the　seventh

tier。　　The　wall　was　now　nearly　upon　a　level　with　my　breast。　　I

again　paused；　and　holding　the　flambeaux　over　the　mason…work；　threw

a　few　feeble　rays　upon　the　figure　within。



A　succession　of　loud　and　shrill　screams；　bursting　suddenly

from　the　throat　of　the　chained　form；　seemed　to　thrust　me　violently

back。　　For　a　brief　moment　I　hesitated　I　trembled。　　Unsheathing　my

rapier；　I　began　to　grope　with　it　about　the　recess；　but　the　thought

of　an　instant　reassured　me。　　I　placed　my　hand　upon　the　solid　fabric

of　the　catacombs；　and　felt　satisfied。　　I　reapproached　the　wall；　I

replied　to　the　yells　of　him　who　clamoured。　　I　re…echoed　I　aided

I　surpassed　them　in　volume　and　in　strength。　　I　did　this；　and　the

clamourer　grew　still。



It　was　now　midnight；　and　my　task　was　drawing　to　a　close。　　I

had　completed　the　eighth；　the　ninth；　and　the　tenth　tier。　　I　had

finished　a　portion　of　the　last　and　the　eleventh；　there　remained　but

a　single　stone　to　be　fitted　and　plastered　in。　　I　struggled　with　its

weight；　I　placed　it　partially　in　its　destined　position。　　But　now

there　came　from　out　the　niche　a　low　laugh　that　erected　the　hairs

upon　my　head。　　It　was　succeeded　by　a　sad　voice；　which　I　had

difficulty　in　recognizing　as　that　of　the　noble　Fortunato。　　The

voice　said



〃Ha！　ha！　ha！he！　he！　he！a　very　good　joke　indeedan

excellent　jest。　　We　shall　have　many　a　rich　laugh　about　it　at　the

palazzohe！　he！　he！over　our　winehe！　he！　he！〃



〃The　Amontillado！〃　I　said。　



〃He！　he！　he！he！　he！　he！yes；　the　Amontillado。　　But　is　it

not　getting　late？　　Will　not　they　be　awaiting　us　at　the　palazzo；　the

Lady　Fortunato　and　the　rest？　　Let　us　be　gone。〃



〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃let　us　be　gone。〃



〃　For　the　love　of　God；　Montresor！〃



〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃for　the　love　of　God！〃



But　to　these　words　I　hearkened　in　vain　for　a　reply。　　I　grew　impatient。

I　called　aloud



〃Fortunato！〃



No　answer。　　I　called　again



〃Fortunato〃



No　answer　still。　　I　thrust　a　torch　through　the　remaining　aperture

and　let　it　fall　within。　　There　came　forth　in　reply　only　a　jingling

of　the　bells。　　My　heart　grew　sick　on　account　of　the　dampness　of

the　catacombs。　　I　hastened　to　make　an　end　of　my　labour。　　I　forced

the　last　stone　into　its　position；　I　plastered　it　up。　　Against　the

new　masonry　I　re…erected　the　old　rampart　of　bones。　　For　the　half

of　a　century　no　mortal　has　disturbed　them。　　　In　pace　requiescat！









End