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The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. Now Montresor began to develop the perfect plan of retribution. During this time, Montresor was careful not to arouse Fortunato's suspicions. [N]either by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his [destruction].
Fortunato had a weakness which Montresor felt could be advantageous to implementing his plan. Fortunato prided himself upon being a connoisseur of fine wines. In this respect, they were equals. Montresor was skillful in Italian vintages and bought largely whenever [he] could. Around dusk one evening during the carnival season, Montresor encountered his friend Fortunato, who accosted [him] with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. Fortunato wore the costume of a court jester including a conical cap and bells.
Montresor proclaimed how glad he was to encounter Fortunato since he had just purchased a large cask of what passes for Amontillado [a variety of dry sherry], but he had his doubts about its authenticity. Fortunato also had doubts. How? said Fortunato. Amontillado? Impossible!
And in the middle of the carnival! I have my doubts, said Montresor; and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain. As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If anyone [can tell genuine Amontillado], it is he. Fortunato was outraged.
Luchesi was not a connoisseur of Amontillado. Fortunato said, Come, let us go. To your vaults[to taste the Amontillado]. Montresor responded by telling his friend that he could see that he had a prior engagement as well as he noticed that Fortunato was afflicted with a severe cough and cold. The dampness of the vault and the niter (white or gray salt deposit) with which the walls were encrusted, would not be good for Fortunato's health. Fortunato responded by saying, Let us go, nevertheless.
The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. As for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish [sweet] sherry from Amontillado. Fortunato had taken the bait, and the plan was put into action. When they reached Montresor's palazzo (luxurious house), they found no one at home.
The servants had departed according to plan. Montresor handed Fortunato a flambeaux (lighted torch) as he took one for himself, and they made their way to the catacombs of the Montresor's wherein lay the wine vaults. Fortunato's gait was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he walked. Fortunato began to cough from the niter, and Montresor said that they must go back. [W]e will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed.
For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi Fortunato said, Enough the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.
True true, said Montresor. A draft of this Medoc [a French red wine] will defend us from the damps. Montresor knocked off the neck of the bottle of wine, and passed it to Fortunato. Fortunato raised the bottle to his lips as his bells jingled, and said, I drink the buried that repose around us. Montresor said, And I [drink] to your long life.
They now proceeded through the vaults. Fortunato had forgotten how great and numerous a family Montresor had. He asked about the Montresor's coat of arms. Montresor said that on the shield was [a] hugh human foot dor, in a field of azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are embedded in the heel. The motto stated: Nemo me immune la cessit [No one assails me with impunity]. Montresor and Fortunato had now reached the inmost recesses of the catacombs.
The niter was hanging like moss upon the vaults. They were below the rivers bed. The drops of moisture trickle[d] among the bones. Montresor said, Come we will go back ere it is too late.
Your cough But Fortunato replied, It is nothing let us go on. But first, another draft of the Medoc. Montresor opened another bottle of wine (De Grave) in the same manner as before, and handed it to Fortunato. He emptied it at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upwards [while making a gesture that Montresor] did not understand.
Fortunato repeated the movement, and when he saw that Montresor still did not understand, he said, Then you are not of the brotherhood. You are not of the masons [the Freemasons, a secret fraternal order; also, bricklayers]. However, Montresor insisted that he was. Fortunato asked for a sign of some sort to prove that Montresor really was a mason.
Montresor reached beneath the folds of his cloak and produced a trowel (the tool that would later seal Fortunato's fate). You jest, Fortunato exclaimed. But let us proceed to the Amontillado. At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains. Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner.
However, the bones had been removed from the fourth wall, and scattered outside the crypt. By removing the bones, an interior recess in depth about four feet, in width three, in height six or seven. had been created. Montresor told Fortunato to proceed within, since herein [was] the Amontillado. Fortunato, who was extremely intoxicated at this point, did as he was instructed to do, only to realize that he had reached the extremity of the niche. In a moment, Montresor had chained 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 [Fortunato's] waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it. Fortunato was taken by surprise, and was much too intoxicated to resist. Fortunato called out, The Amontillado!
True, [Montresor] replied; the Amontillado. As Montresor spoke these words, he continued with the last part of his plan of revenge. From beneath the scattered bones, he uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of [his] trowel. [Montresor] began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche. Fortunato's intoxication was beginning to wear off, and a low moaning cry [came] from the depth of the recess.
Montresor continued his work even though he could hear Fortunato struggling with the chains. When the wall had reached chest level, Montresor using his torch, peeked inside the niche. A succession of loud and shrill screams, [suddenly burst forth] from the throat of the chained [Fortunato]. This initially shocked Montresor; but realizing that Fortunato could not be heard, he began to reecho, and finally surpassed the shrieks of Fortunato with those of his own until Fortunato was silent once more.
It was midnight, and the task was almost complete. Just as Montresor was inserting the last stone, a low laugh could be heard from the interior of the niche. It was followed by a somewhat sad voice, which said, Ha! ha! ha!
he! he! a very good joke indeed an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo he! he! he!
over our wine! he! he! Montresor echoed Fortunato's laughter.
Fortunato reminded Montresor that it was getting late, and that they would be missed. Let us be gone, Fortunato said. Yes, [Montresor] said, let us be gone. Fortunato cried out, For the love of God, Montresor! And he replied, for the love of God! Then all was quiet.
Montresor called out Fortunato's name, but there was no reply. Again using the torch, Montresor tried to see inside of the niche. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. Montresor grew sick at heart due to the dampness of the catacombs.
He hurried to finish his task. The last stone was put and plastered into place. Against the new masonry, Montresor stacked the old bones. For half of [a] century no mortal has disturbed them. In pace requiescat! (May he rest in peace! )
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Research essay sample on Bottle Of Wine Love Of God
