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〃It is nothing；〃 he said； 〃let us go on。 But first； another draught of the
Medoc。〃
I broke and reached him a flagon of De Grave。 He emptied it at a
breath。 His eyes flashed with a fierce light。 He laughed and threw the
bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand。
I looked at him in surprise。 He repeated the movementa grotesque
one。
〃You do not comprehend？〃 he said。
〃Not I；〃 I replied。
〃Then you are not of the brotherhood。〃
〃How？〃
〃You are not of the masons。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 I said； 〃yes； yes。〃
〃You？ Impossible！ A mason？〃
〃A mason；〃 I replied。
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〃A sign；〃 he said； 〃a sign。〃
〃It is this；〃 I answered； producing a trowel from beneath the folds of
my roquelaire。
〃You jest；〃 he exclaimed； recoiling a few paces。 〃But let us proceed
to the Amontillado。〃
〃Be it so；〃 I said； replacing the tool beneath the cloak and again
offering him my arm。 He leaned upon it heavily。 We continued our
route in search of the Amontillado。 We passed through a range of low
arches； descended； passed on； and descending again； arrived 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
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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
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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