No criminal shall away prosecution, regardless of their status in the society, welfare, gender, or a case’s circumstances. Montresor, being exceptionally intelligent, took great efforts to end Fortunato’s, his old “friend,” life. Despite claiming that it would not be an act of revenge if the performed were caught, the one who betrayed the trust and buried a miserable Fortunato is standing in the courtroom. He has been keeping a secret for more than fifty-two years, clandestinely and annually celebrating his revenge, with a glass of two of notorious Amontillado. Great wine for revealing old wounds and making the most rigorous and emotionless soul suffer.
At the front door of death, old Montresor had negligence to say to one of his drinking companions that he was the last ever to see Fortunato before he suddenly lost. Several detractors pulled the necessary strings to dig out old rumors and even found a couple of witnesses. All the pieces of the puzzle are placed in their proper places, and the old man is waiting for the final stage of the trial. Prosecuting attorney is saying his closing argument, summarizing all evidence that proves Montresor’s guilt:
“Both witnesses confirmed that they saw Fortunato escaping the event in the evening he was last seen, with Montresor. It was also found that no servant was allowed to stay at the house where the murder was committed. Presumably, this order was given by Montresor to cover the potential evidence of the crime, as none had a chance to see both the victim and the criminal entering the vault. However, it was found that one of the walls in the dungeon has a space behind it. The wall was broken, and the bones of a man were found there. It was proved that the dead man is Fortunato, as the victim used to wear a family treasure, a necklace with the crest of the House Fortunato belonged to.
Finally, there is a concrete motive for Montresor to commit a crime. It was discovered that the victim used to bull the criminal in his childhood. Presumably, Montresor had been seeking revenge before the convenient time had come. Then, he invited the victim to his house’s dungeon and murdered him by burying him behind the wall with cold blood. It is that the murder is a reason for the fifty-two years-old disappearance of the respected Fortunato, and the Montresor’s guild is undeniable.”
This long speech did not strike a chord with the old man’s soul, as his conscience had forced him to experience a countless number of similar scenes in his mind. It made Montresor accept his fate a long time ago. To be honest, he would merely accept any punishment, but his defense attorney’s still is trying to save him from his worst sin, or at least to let Montresor live a couple more years in this world.
“Even though the victim’s bones and the family necklace were found in the dungeon of the Montresor’s house, there is no evidence that would prove that the murder was committed by the defendant as well. The servants were told to have fun at the celebration, while Montresor and Fortunato left the vault after tasting wine. The murder could be committed by anyone else, without the defendant’s knowing….”
The rest of his defender’s speech drowned in Montresor’s ears. All that he heard after was the jury’s final verdict: “…responsible for the murder. Shall be buried at the prison alive to atone for his crime.” The complete darkness is the last that Montresor has ever seen. Just like the miserable Fortunato, who has left this world fifty-two years, three months, and four days ago.