Cask of Amontillado

It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use in itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.

There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time.

It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend.

He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.

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The Cask of Amontillado

Edgar Allan Poe

THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.

Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit.

"A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel."

I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within.

He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much.

I must not only punish, but punish with impunity.

Once more let me IMPLORE you to return.

AT LENGTH I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled -- but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk.

Against the new masonry I reerected the old rampart of bones.

He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells.

Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see.

He repeated the movement -- a grotesque one.

There was then a long and obstinate silence.

Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we perceived a still interior recess, in depth about four feet, in width three, in height six or seven.