the cask of amontillado-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



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