第31章 The Cask of Amontillado (第1/4页)
吴文智主编提示您：看后求收藏（宜小说jmvip3.com），接着再看更方便。
EdgarAllanPoe
ThethousandinjuriesofFortunatoIhadborneasIbestcould,butwhenheventureduoninsult,Ivowedrevenge.You,whosowellknowthenatureofmysoul,willnotsuose,however,thatIgaveutterancetoathreat.AtlengthIwouldbeavenged;thiswasaointdefinitivelysettled-buttheverydefinitivenesswithwhichitwasresolvedrecludedtheideaofrisk.Imustnotonlyunish,butunishwithimunity.Awrongisunredressedwhenretributionovertakesitsredresser.Itisequallyunredressedwhentheavengerfailstomakehimselffeltassuchtohimwhohasdonethewrong.
ItmustbeunderstoodthatneitherbywordnordeedhadIgivenFortunatocausetodoubtmygoodwill.Icontinued,aswasmywont,tosmileinhisface,andhedidnoterceivethatmysmilenowwasatthethoughtofhisimmolation.
Hehadaweakoint-thisFortunato-althoughinotherregardshewasamantoberesectedandevenfeared.Heridedhimselfonhisconnoisseurshiinwine.FewItalianshavethetruevirtuososirit.Forthemostarttheirenthusiasmisadotedtosuitthetimeandoortunity,toractiseimostureuontheBritishandAustrianmillionaires.Inaintingandgemmary,Fortunato,likehiscountrymen,wasaquack,butinthematterofoldwineshewassincere.InthisresectIdidnotdifferfromhimmaterially;-IwasskilfulintheItalianvintagesmyself,andboughtlargelywheneverIcould.
Itwasaboutdusk,oneeveningduringthesurememadnessofthecarnivalseason,thatIencounteredmyfriend.Heaccostedmewithexcessivewarmth,forhehadbeendrinkingmuch.Themanworemotley.Hehadonatight-fittingarti-strieddressandhisheadwassurmountedbytheconicalcaandbells.Iwassoleasedtoseehim,thatIthoughtIshouldneverhavedonewringinghishand.
Isaidtohim-
"MydearFortunato,youareluckilymet.Howremarkablywellyouarelookingtoday!ButIhavereceivedaieofwhatassesforAmontillado,andIhavemydoubts.
"
"How?
"saidhe,
"Amontillado?Aie?Imossible?Andinthemiddleofthecarnival?
"
"Ihavemydoubts,
"Irelied,
"andIwassillyenoughtoaythefullAmontilladoricewithoutconsultingyouinthematter.Youwerenottobefound,andIwasfearfuloflosingabargain.
"
"Amontillado!
"
"Ihavemydoubts.
"
"Amontillado!
"
"AndImustsatisfythem.
"
"Amontillado!
"
"Asyouareengaged,IamonmywaytoLuchresi.Ifanyonehasacriticalturn,itishe.Hewilltellme-
"
"LuchresicannottellAmontilladofromSherry.
"
"Andyetsomefoolswillhaveitthathistasteisamatchforyourown.
"
"Come,letusgo.
"
"Whither?
"
"Toyourvaults.
"
"Myfriend,no,Iwillnotimoseuonyourgoodnature.Ierceiveyouhaveanengagement.Luchresi-
"
"Ihavenoengagement,-come.
"
"Myfriend,no.Itisnottheengagement,buttheseverecoldwithwhichIerceiveyouareafflicted.Thevaultsareinsufferablydam.Theyareencrustedwithnitre.
"
"Letusgo,nevertheless.Thecoldismerelynothing.Amontillado!Youhavebeenimoseduon;andasforLuchresi,hecannotdistinguishSherryfromAmontillado.
"
Thusseaking,Fortunatoossessedhimselfofmyarm.Puttingonamaskofblacksilkanddrawingaroquelaurecloselyaboutmyerson,IsufferedhimtohurrymetomyPalazzo.
Therewerenoattendantsathome;theyhadabscondedtomakemerryinhonourofthetime.IhadtoldthemthatIshouldnotreturnuntilthemorningandhadgiventhemexlicitordersnottostirfromthehouse.Theseordersweresufficient,Iwellknew,toinsuretheirimmediatedisaearance,oneandall,assoonasmybackwasturned.
Itookfromtheirsconcestwoflambeaux,andgivingonetoFortunato,bowedhimthroughseveralsuitesofroomstothearchwaythatledintothevaults.Iasseddownalongandwindingstaircase,requestinghimtobecautiousashefollowed.Wecameatlengthtothefootofthedescent,andstoodtogetheronthedamgroundofthecatacombsoftheMontresors.
Thegaitofmyfriendwasunsteady,andthebellsuonhiscajingledashestrode.
