Thusspeaking, Fortunatopossessedhimselfofmyarm; andputtingonamaskofblacksilkanddrawingaroquelaurecloselyaboutmyperson, IsufferedhimtohurrymetomyPalazzo.
Therewerenoattendantsathome; , , Iwellknew, toinsuretheirimmediatedisappearance, oneandall, assoonasmybackwasturned.
Itookfromtheirsconcestwoflambeaux, andgivingonetoFortunato, , , andstoodtogetheronthedampgroundofthecatacombsoftheMontresors.
Thegaitofmyfriendwasunsteady, andthebellsuponhiscapjingledashestrode.
"Thepipe," hesaid.
"Itisfartheron," saidI; "butobservethewhiteweb-workwhichgleamsfromthesecavernwalls."
Heturnedtowardsmeandlookedintomyeyeswithtwofilmyorbsthatdistilledtherheumofintoxication.
"Nitre?" heaskedatlength.
"Nitre," Ireplied, "Howlonghaveyouhadthatcough!"
"Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!—Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!—Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!—Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!—Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!"
Mypoorfriendfounditimpossibletoreplyformanyminutes.
"Itisnothing," hesaid, atlast.
"Come," Isaid, withdecision, "wewillgoback; , respected, admired, beloved; ; , thereisLuchresi—"
"Enough," hesaid, "thecoughisamerenothing; ."
"True—true," Ireplied; "and, indeed, Ihadnointentionofalarmingyouunnecessarily—."
HereIknockedofftheneckofabottlewhichIdrewfromalongrowofitsfellowsthatlayuponthemould.
"Drink," Isaid, presentinghimthewine.
, whilehisbellsjingled.
"Idrink," hesaid, "totheburiedthatreposearoundus."
"AndItoyourlonglife."
Heagaintookmyarm, andweproceeded.
"Thesevaults," hesaid, "areextensive."
"TheMontresors," Ireplied, "wereagreatandnumerousfamily."
"Iforgetyourarms."
