They thought that I was away. They knew that they had to stay in the house. The day of the party was like every other day for my workers. That was what I told them. But they left the house, of course, after I left.
I took Fortunato through the house and down many, many stone steps. We were in the underground caves, with the tombs of my family, the Montresors.
Fortunato could not walk very fast. His eyes were wet and he did not look well.
“Where is the barrel?” he asked.
He could to cough terribly.
“How long have you had your cough?” I asked.
He could not answer me for some minutes. “Do not worry,” he said at last. “It is nothing.”
“No. We must go back. It is dangerous to your health down here. Unlike me, you are a rich, important and popular person. We will go back. I do not want your illness to become worse. I can talk to Luchesi about the Amontillado.”
