the cask of amontillado-第2章

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at　a　deep　crypt；　in　which　the　foulness　of　the　air　caused

our　flambeaux　rather　to　glow　than　flame。



At　the　most　remote　end　of　the　crypt　there　appeared　another

less　spacious。　　Its　walls　had　been　lined　with　human　remains；　piled

to　the　vault　overhead；　in　the　fashion　of　the　great　catacombs　of

Paris。　　Three　sides　of　this　interior　crypt　were　still　ornamented　in

this　manner。　　From　the　fourth　side　the　bones　had　been　thrown　down；

and　lay　promiscuously　upon　the　earth；　forming　at　one　point　a　mound

of　some　size。　　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。　　It　seemed

to　have　been　constructed　for　no　especial　use　within　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。



It　was　in　vain　that　Fortunato；　uplifting　his　dull　torch；

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