The Cask of Amontillado

"The Cask of Amontillado" (sometimes spelled "The Casque of Amontillado") is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in Godey's Lady's Book in November 1846.

 Story 
The narrator [Montresor] talks to a priest about his sin. Montresor wants to take revenge on Fortunato for an insult.

During a masquerade (ball where people wear masks) in the city. Fortunato is dressed in a jester's costume. Montresor tells Fortunato he has bought a wine called amontillado. He wants Fortunato to test it to be sure it is real. Montresor leads Fortunato into his underground  catacombs/wine cellar to test the wine. When there, Montressor chains Fortunato and then walls him up alive in a niche. 

Fortunato cries out "For the love of God, Montresor!" to which Montresor replies, "Yes, for the love of God!" He twice calls out for a reply but hears nothing. Before placing the last stone, he drops a burning torch through the gap, but hears only the jester's bells ringing. 

The crime took place 50 years before... Montressor expresses no regrets except for remarking about Fortunato: In pace requiescat! ("May he rest in peace!").

 Other websites 

 "The Cask of Amontillado" - Full text of the first printing, from Godey's Lady's Book, 1846
 The Cask of Amontillado , found online at Ye Olde Library 
The Cask of Amontillado  at American Literature 
 Full text on PoeStories.com with hyperlinked vocabulary words.
 Free-to-download MP3 dramatisation of the story  (Yuri Rasovsky)

Category:1840s short stories
Category:Horror stories
Category:Short stories by Edgar Allan Poe