Бочонок амонтильядо

           ThethousandinjuriesofFortunatoIhadborneasIbestcould,butwhenheventureduponinsultIvowedrevenge. You,whosowellknowthenatureofmysoul,willnotsuppose,however,thatgaveutterancetoathreat. AtlengthIwouldbeavenged; thiswasapointdefinitely,settled—buttheverydefinitivenesswithwhichitwasresolvedprecludedtheideaofrisk. Imustnotonlypunishbutpunishwithimpunity. Awrongisunredressedwhenretributionovertakesitsredresser. Itisequallyunredressedwhentheavengerfailstomakehimselffeltassuchtohimwhohasdonethewrong. 

           ItmustbeunderstoodthatneitherbywordnordeedhadIgivenFortunatocausetodoubtmygoodwill. Icontinued,aswasmyintosmileinhisface,andhedidnotperceivethatmytosmilenowwasatthethoughtofhisimmolation. 

           Hehadaweakpoint—thisFortunato—althoughinotherregardshewasamantoberespectedandevenfeared. Hepridedhimselfonhisconnoisseurshipinwine. FewItalianshavethetruevirtuosospirit. Forthemostparttheirenthusiasmisadoptedtosuitthetimeandopportunity,topractiseimpostureupontheBritishandAustrianmillionaires. Inpaintingandgemmary,Fortunato,likehiscountrymen,wasaquack,butinthematterofoldwineshewassincere. InthisrespectIdidnotdifferfromhimmaterially; —IwasskilfulintheItalianvintagesmyself,andboughtlargelywheneverIcould.