THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could ; but when he ventured
upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not
suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. 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. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is
unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the
avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.
It must be understood, that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to
doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not
perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.
He had a weak point --- this Fortunato --- although in other regards he was a man to be
respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few
Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit
the time and opportunity - to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian
millionaires. In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen , was a quack - but
in the matter of old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him
materially : I was skilful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I
could.
It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that
I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been
drinking much. The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and
his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. I was so pleased to see him, that I
thought I should never have done wringing his hand.
I said to him: "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are
looking to-day! But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my
doubts."
"How?" said he. "Amontillado? A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of the
carnival!"
"I have my doubts," I replied ; "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."
