A character in Edgar Allen
Poe's famous story "The Cask of Ammontillado," he believes that his rival,
Fortunato, has wronged him horribly, and sets about to take his revenge deep within his wine cellars. As he descends, the feeling of death
increases, finally growing to its
culmination:
"Ha! ha! ha!--he! he!--a very good joke indeed--an excellent jest.
We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo--he! he! he!--
over our wine--he! he! he!"
"The Amontillado!" I said.
"He! he! he!--he! he! he!--yes, the Amontillado. But it is 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 return only a jingling of the bells.
- From "The Cask of Ammontillado"