When
Montresor encounters Fortunato on the street he twice pretends to believe that Fortunato has an
"engagement," that is, that Fortunato is expected somewhere. Montresor would not like
to lure Fortunato to his palazzo if, for example, he were expected at home. His wife might send
servants out looking for him and asking questions; and people on the streets might remember that
he had been with Montresor when last seen. But since everybody had been drinking, it was likely
that nobody would remember much of anything the next day, or the day after that, when it was
finally realized that Fortunato was missing. Montresor gets no response from his intended victim
the first time he pretends to think Fortunato has an "engagement," but the second time
he tries the same ploy he gets the answer he wanted. Fortunato says:
I have no engagement;come.
This foreshadows Fortunato's doom, since the reader knows full well that Montresor
hates Fortunato and is probably looking for a way to kill him without getting caught or
suspected. Later, when Fortunato finds himself chained inside a narrow recess in the rock wall
of the catacombs, he tries to plant seeds of doubt in Montresor's mind by suggesting that he
actually is expected at home. He says:
"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.
But Montresor knows his victim is lying and
desperately trying trickery to get himself released.
Another good example
ofis to be seen in the bait Montresor uses to entice Fortunato to his underground wine vaults
and extensive caverns.
He had a weak pointthis
Fortunatoalthough in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided
himself on his connoisseur-ship in wine.
The reader will
sense that the nonexistent cask of Amontillado will be the means by which Montresor will
accomplish the difficult task of getting Fortunato to come to his palazzo immediately, in spite
of the fact that it is nighttime, Fortunato is having a good time at the carnival, Fortunato is
inadequately dressed for going into a cold, damp cavern, Fortunato has a bad cold, and Fortunato
is drunk.
I said to himMy 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.
If
Fortunato takes the bait he is doomed. But Montresor knows his man.
He prided himself on his connoisseur-ship in wine.
Montresor makes it a matter of urgency by telling him:
"You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a
bargain.
It is the idea of a bargain that motivates
Fortunato. He assumes that Montresor bought only one cask because he wasn't quite sure it was
genuine Amontillado. Fortunato can tell with one sip. If it is genuine, he would like to get in
on the bargain. The cask must have come by ship. He could easily find that Spanish ship in the
harbor without going home with Montresor. He could taste the wine on board and deal directly
with the captain or purser. But Montresor has told him:
As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If any one has a critical turn it is
he. He will tell me
If Fortunato doesn't go home with
Montresor immediately, Montresor will go to Luchesi, and Fortunato would find himself competing
with another expert for the cargo of nonexistent Amontillado. All of this foreshadows
Fortunato's arrival underground in a thin jester's costume following Montresor to his gruesome
death.
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