Боченя амонтільядо

           Threesidesofthisinteriorcryptwerestillornamentedinthismanner. Fromthefourthsidetheboneshadbeenthrowndown,andlaypromiscuouslyupontheearth,formingatonepointamoundofsomesize. Withinthewallthusexposedbythedisplacingofthebones,weperceivedastillinteriorcryptorrecess,indepthaboutfourfeet,inwidththree,inheightsixorseven. Itseemedtohavebeenconstructedfornoespecialusewithinitself,butformedmerelytheintervalbetweentwoofthecolossalsupportsoftheroofofthecatacombs,andwasbackedbyoneoftheircircumscribingwallsofsolidgranite. 

           ItwasinvainthatFortunato,upliftinghisdulltorch,endeavouredtopryintothedepthoftherecess. Itsterminationthefeeblelightdidnotenableustosee. 

           “Proceed,”Isaid;“hereinistheAmontillado.AsforLuchresi—” 

           “Heisanignoramus,”interruptedmyfriend,ashesteppedunsteadilyforward,whileIfollowedimmediatelyathisheels. Inniche,andfindinganinstanthehadreachedtheextremityoftheniche,andfindinghisprogressarrestedbytherock,stoodstupidlybewildered. AmomentmoreandIhadfetteredhimtothegranite. Initssurfaceweretwoironstaples,distantfromeachotherabouttwofeet,horizontally. Fromoneofthesedependedashortchain,fromtheotherapadlock. Throwingthelinksabouthiswaist,itwasbuttheworkofafewsecondstosecureit. Hewastoomuchastoundedtoresist. WithdrawingthekeyIsteppedbackfromtherecess.