October 24, 2022 • 21 mins
In this episode, we offer up the second of two classic tales of the macabre from the master himself, Edgar Allan Poe - and just in time for the Halloween season.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:04):
Hello again folks, and welcometo another fine episode of
Forward Into the Past.
I'm JC Rid Renee, your host andnarrator, and today we're going
to continue with the spookystories for the Halloween season
offering up the second of twostories from the master of the
Macab, Edgar Allen Poe, the castof a mania, as suggested by you,
(00:25):
the listening audience for theshow.
Nowadays we consider tellingghost stories part of Halloween
tradition.
But as I mentioned in the lastepisode, ghost stories were
primarily told around theChristmas Hearth and not as much
around a Halloween bonfire.
There are a few thoughts why,but I'm guessing it was because
people living in those earlycenturies were a very
(00:48):
superstitious lot.
If you have a day that isdedicated to spirits and
goblins, Why would you temptfate by bringing them closer to
home with the telling of storiesabout them?
Now, remember, the tradition ofdressing up in a costume for
Halloween stems back to thoseearly days when people would
wear masks and costumes in orderto confuse any wandering evil
(01:09):
spirit that may cause them harm.
Jack Lanterns were used for thesame reason.
you know, and those have a veryinteresting backstory that I
will more than likely share withyou in the next episode,
especially considering the storyI'm going to read.
So stay tuned for that.
Halloween in America, reallycame into its own thing right
(01:31):
around the middle of the 19thcentury, around the time of the
American Civil War.
And around the same time thatstory papers and dime novels
really hit their strides.
Ironically enough, it was aroundthis time that the US got a huge
wave of immigrants from Europe.
In the former New Englandcolonies.
Up until then, Halloween wasreally not celebrated at all due
(01:54):
to the strict puritan rules thathad been in place there and just
became everyday life for them..
Halloween celebrations were muchmore common in the southern
states, but not as we know themtoday.
More of a harvest celebrationthan anything else.
Now it was due to the wave ofScottish and Irish immigrants
that flooded the Easternseaboard and elsewhere that
(02:15):
really started our AmericanHalloween traditions.
They brought with them thecustoms of dressing up in
costume to trick ghosts from thePagan celebration of Samhain,
Jack o'lanterns, of course, camefrom the Irish story of Stingy
Jack, and again, stay tuned forthat.
And trick or treating came froma European custom of going from
house to house in a village andasking for treats or money by
(02:38):
children to pray for the soulsof the departed of the family.
Now there's a lot more to tell,but I don't want to take any
more time away from the story athand Pose, Classic Tale of
Vengeance, the Cas of a Miato.
Enjoy.
Ed Gar pose the cas of a manto,The thousand injuries of four
(03:01):
nato.
I had born as best I could, butwhen he ventured upon insult, I
vowed revenge.
You who so well know?
The nature of my soul will notsuppose however, that I gave
utterance to a threat.
At length, I would be avenged.
This was a point definitivelysettled, but the very
(03:23):
definitiveness with which it wasresolved precluded the idea of
risk.
I must not only punish butpunish with impunity.
A wrong is unredressed.
When retribution overtakes, itsredresser.
It is equally unaddressed whenthe avenger fails to make
himself felt as such.
(03:43):
To him who has done the wrong,it must be understood that
neither by word nor deed had Igiven Fornado cause to doubt my
goodwill.
I continued as was my want tosmile in his face, and he did
not perceive that my smile nowwas at the thought of his
(04:04):
emulation.
He had a weak point this FortuneAuto, although in other regards,
he was a man to be respected andeven feared.
He prided himself upon hisconnoisseurship in wine.
Few Italians had the truevirtuoso spirit.
For the most part, theirenthusiasm is adopted to suit
the time and opportunity topractice imposture upon the
(04:26):
British and Austrianmillionaires in painting and
gemmery Fortunato like hiscountrymen.
Was a quack, but in a matter ofold wines.
He was sincere.
In this respect I did not differfrom him materially.
I was skillful in the Italianvintages myself and bought
largely whenever I could.
(04:49):
It was about dusk.
One evening during the suprememadness of the carnival season
that I encountered my friend, heaccosted me with excessive
warmth while he had beendrinking much.
The man wore Motley.
He had on a tight fitting,partially striped costume, and
his head was surmounted by theconical cap and bells.
(05:10):
I was so pleased to see him thatI thought I should never have
been done ringing his hand.
I said to him, my dearFortunato, You are luckily met!.
How remarkably well you arelooking today, but I have
received a pipe of what passesfor Amontillado and I have my
doubt.
How said he Amontillado?
(05:33):
a pipe?
Impossible.
And in the middle of thecarnival, I have my doubts.
I replied, and I was sillyenough to pay the full
Amontillado price withoutconsulting you in the matter.
You were not to be found.
And I was fearful of losing a.
A tdo.
I have my doubt a Mondo, and Imust satisfy them.
(05:56):
A Mondo.
As you are engaged, I am on myway to Lu Casey.
If anyone has a critical turn,it is he.
He will tell me, Lu Casey cannottell a tdo from Sherry, and yet
some fools will have it.
That his taste is a match foryour own.
Huh?
come let us go.
Uh, wither to your vaults.
(06:16):
Oh, my friend.
No, I will not impose upon yourgood nature.
I perceive you have anengagement.
Luke, Casey, I have noengagement.
Come my friend.
No, it is not the engagement.
Oh.
But the severe cold with which Iperceive you are afflicted.
The vaults are insufferablydamp.
They are encrusted with nitre.
(06:38):
Let us go.
Nevertheless, the cold is merelynothing.
A Mondo you have been imposedupon.
And as for Lu Casey, he cannotdistinguish Sherry from Amando.
Thus speaking, Foro possessedhimself in my arm, putting on a
mask of black silk and drawing aroquelaire closely about my
person.
(06:59):
I suffered him to hurry me to myPalazzo.
There were no attendance athome.
They had absconded to make Maryin honor of the time I had told
them that I should not returnuntil the morning and had given
them explicit orders not to stirfrom the house.
These orders were sufficient.
Well, I knew to ensure theirimmediate disappearance one at
(07:22):
all.
As soon as my back was turned, Itook from their SCOs to flam bow
and giving one to fortune.
NATO bowed him through severalsuites of rooms to the archway,
which led to the vaults.
I passed down a long end windingstaircase, requesting him to be
cautious as he followed.
We came at length to the foot ofthe descent and stood together
(07:45):
on the damp ground of thecatacombs of the Montes souls.
The gate of my friend wasunsteady, and the bells upon his
cap jingled as he st str thepipe said he Oh, Oh.
It is farther on, said I.
But the white WebWork, whichgleams from these cavern walls.
(08:05):
He turned towards me and lookedinto my eyes with two fill me
orbs that distilled the room ofintoxication.
Nighter.
He asked at length.
Hmm, nighter.
How long have you had thatcough?
my poor friend.
Found it impossible to apply formany minutes.
(08:26):
It is nothing he said at last.
Come.
I said With decision, we will goback.
Your health is precious.
You are rich, respected,admired, Beloved.
You are happy.
As once I was, you are a man tobe missed for me it is.
No matter we will go back, youwill be ill and I cannot be
(08:47):
responsible.
Uh, besides there is Luke Caseyenough.
He said the cough is a merenothing.
It will not kill me.
I shall not die of a golf.
True.
True.
I replied, and indeed I had nointention of alarming you
unnecessarily, but you shoulduse all proper caution.
(09:11):
Ah, a draft of this medoc willdefend us from the damps.
here.
I knocked off the neck of abottle, which I drew from a long
rove.
Its fellows that lay upon themold drink.
I said presenting in the wine.
He raised it to his lips withAlia.
He paused and nodded to mefamiliarly while his bells
(09:32):
jingled.
Now I drink.
He said to the buried, that repoaround us and I to your long
life.
He again took my arm and weproceeded, Oh, these volts are
extensive.
He said, The mantra saws.
I replied, What a great andnumerous family.
(09:54):
I forget your arms.
A huge human foot door in afield.
Azure, The foot crushes aserpent rampant whose fangs are
embedded in the heel, and themotto, NI translation, No one as
sails me with impunity.
(10:17):
Huh, Good.
He said The wine sparkled in hiseyes and the bells jingled my
own fancy grew warm with amedoc.
We had passed through walls ofpiled bones with casks and punch
ins intermingling into theinmost recesses of the
catacombs.
I paused again and this time Imade bold to seize fortune auto
(10:38):
by at arm above the elbow.
The Nier.
I said, See, it increases.
It hangs like moss upon thevaults, we are below the river's
bed.
The drops of moisture trickleamong the bones come.
We will go back and it's toolate your cough.
It is nothing.
He said, Let us go on hope.
(11:00):
But, but first, another draft ofthe medoc.
I broke and reached him a flagof degra.
He emptied it at a breath.
His eyes flashed with a fiercelight.
He laughed and threw the bottleupwards with a gesticulation.
I did not understand.
I looked at him in surprise.
He repeated the movement Agrowtest one.
(11:23):
You do not comprehend.
He said, Not.
I replied, Then you are not ofthe brotherhood, how you are not
of the mason.
Oh, oh, yes, yes.
I said, Yes.
You impossible.
A Mason.
(11:43):
A Mason.
I replied a sign.
He said, Ah, it is this.
I answered producing a trollfrom beneath the folds of my
Roku.
you just, he exclaimed,recoiling a few paces.
Ah, but let us proceed to theamount yato, be it so, I said,
(12:05):
replacing the tool beneath mycloak and again, offering him my
arm.
He leaned upon it heavily.
We continued our route in searchof the Iman.
We passed through a range of lowarches, descended, passed on,
and descending again, arrivingat a deep crypt in which the
fallous of the egg caused offLambo rather to glow than flame.
(12:28):
At the most remote end of thecrypt there appeared another
less spacious.
Its walls had been lined withhuman remains piled to the vault
overhead in the fashion of thegreat catacombs of pat.
Three sides of this interiorcrypt were still ornamented in
this manner.
From the fourth, the bones hadbeen thrown down and laid
promiscuously upon the earth,forming at one point a mound of
(12:52):
some size.
Within the wall, thus exposed bythe displacing of the bones.
We perceived a still interiorrecess, in depth, about four
feet in width, three in height,six or seven.
It seemed to have beenconstructed for no special use
in itself, but formed merely theinterval between two of the
(13:12):
colossal supports of the roof ofthe catacombs, and was backed by
one of their circumscribingwalls of solid granite.
It was in vain that fortune,nato uplifting his dull torch,
endeavored to pry into the depthof the recess its termination.
The feeble light did not enableus to see.
Proceed.
(13:33):
I said, Here it in is the I tto.
As for Luke Casey, he is anignoramus.
Interrupted my friend as hestepped steadily forward while I
followed immediately at hisheels.
In an instant, he had reachedthe extremity of the niche and
finding his progress.
Arrested by the rock stoodstupidly bewildered a moment
(13:56):
more, and I had fed at him tothe granite.
In its surface with two ironstaples distant from each other
of about two feet horizontallyfrom one of these depended, a
short chain from the other, apadlock throwing the links about
his waist.
It was, but the work of a fewseconds to secure it.
He was much to astounded, toresist withdrawing the key.
(14:18):
I step back from the recess.
Pass your hand.
I said over the wall, you cannothelp feeling the nighter.
Indeed, it is very damp.
Once more, let me implore you toreturn.
No.
Then I must positively leaveyou.
But first I must render you allthe little tensions in my power,
(14:40):
the the TDO ejaculated, myfriend, not yet recovered from
his astonishment.
True.
I replied via Mondo as I saidthese words.
I busied myself among the pileof bones of which I have before
spoken.
Throwing them aside, I soonuncovered a quantity of building
stone and mortar.
With these materials and withthe aid of my tr, I began
(15:03):
vigorously to wall up theentrance of the niche.
I had scarcely laid the firsttier of my masonry when I
discovered that the intoxicationof Fortune Auto had in great
measure worn off.
The earliest indication I had ofthis was a low moaning cry from
the depths of the recess.
It was not the cry of a drunkenman.
(15:25):
There was then a long andobstinate silence.
I laid the second tier and thethird and the fourth, and then I
heard the furious vibration ofthe chains.
The noise lasted for severalminutes during which that I
might hark into it With moresatisfaction, I ceased my labors
and sat down upon the bones.
(15:48):
When it lasts, the clankingsubsided.
I resumed the trial and finishedwithout interruption, the fifth,
the sixth, and the seventh year.
The wall was now nearly upon alevel with my breast.
I, again, paused and holding theflam O over the mason, work
through a few feeble rays.
Upon the figure within asuccession of loud and shrill
(16:11):
screams, bursting suddenly fromthe throat of the chain form
seemed to thrust me violentlyback.
For a brief moment, I hesitated.
I trembled un sheathing my rapehere.
I began to grope with it aboutthe recess.
But the thought of an instantreassured me.
I placed my hand upon the solidfabric of the catacombs and felt
(16:32):
satisfied.
I reapproached the wall.
I replied to the yells of himwho clammed.
I reechoed.
I ate it.
I surpassed them in volume andin strength.
I did this, and the clamor grewstill.
It was now midnight and my taskwas drawing to a close.
I had completed the eighth, theninth, and the 10th tier.
(16:56):
I had finished a portion of thelast and the 11th.
There remained, but a singlestone to be fitted and plastered
in.
I struggled with its weight.
I placed it partially in itsdestined position, but now there
came without the niche, a lowlaugh that erected the hairs
upon my head.
It was succeeded by the sadvoice, which I had difficulty in
(17:21):
recognizing as that of the noblefortune Auto.
The voice said Um, a very goodjoke indeed.
An excellent, just, we will havemany a rich laugh about it at
(17:42):
the Blaz.
So over our wine, the Ito, Isaid.
Yes, Yes, the Ito But is it notgetting late?
Will they not be awaiting us atthe Palazzo?
The lady fora and the rest?
(18:07):
let us be gone.
Yes.
I said, let us be gone.
For the love of God butcherssoul.
Yes.
I said for the love of God.
But to these words, I heared invain for a reply.
I grew impatient.
I called aloud fortunato, noanswer.
(18:31):
I called again, Fortunato, noanswer still.
I thrust the torch through theremaining aperture and let it
fall within.
There came forth in return, onlya jingling of the bells.
My heart grew sick on account ofthe dampness of the catacombs.
(18:54):
I hasten to make an end of mylabor.
I forced the last stone into itsposition.
I, I plastered it up against thenew masonry.
I rear erected the old Rampartbones for the half of the
(19:16):
century.
No mortal has disturbed them Inpace, requiescat!
J.C. (19:25):
Well folks.
That concludes our latestepisode.
I hope that it brought you someenjoyment.
Um, as for me.
I'm going to take a small breakto prepare for the next episode.
Washington Irving's classicHonda tale, the legend of sleepy
hollow.
And I hope you will join meagain.
(19:47):
For now.
I'm going to enjoy the smallcheese plate and partake of
this.
Wine.
I hope you will indulge me thissmall break.
Mm, well, Until next time asalways.
Thank you for listening.
Keep sharing the stories andBIA.
(20:09):
Good human.
Bye for now.
Hello again folks, and welcometo another fine episode of
Forward Into the Past.
I'm JC Rid Renee, your host andnarrator, and today we're going
to continue with the spookystories for the Halloween season
offering up the second of twostories from the master of the
Macab, Edgar Allen Poe, the castof a mania, as suggested by you,
(00:25):
the listening audience for theshow.
Nowadays we consider tellingghost stories part of Halloween
tradition.
But as I mentioned in the lastepisode, ghost stories were
primarily told around theChristmas Hearth and not as much
around a Halloween bonfire.
There are a few thoughts why,but I'm guessing it was because
people living in those earlycenturies were a very
(00:48):
superstitious lot.
If you have a day that isdedicated to spirits and
goblins, Why would you temptfate by bringing them closer to
home with the telling of storiesabout them?
Now, remember, the tradition ofdressing up in a costume for
Halloween stems back to thoseearly days when people would
wear masks and costumes in orderto confuse any wandering evil
(01:09):
spirit that may cause them harm.
Jack Lanterns were used for thesame reason.
you know, and those have a veryinteresting backstory that I
will more than likely share withyou in the next episode,
especially considering the storyI'm going to read.
So stay tuned for that.
Halloween in America, reallycame into its own thing right
(01:31):
around the middle of the 19thcentury, around the time of the
American Civil War.
And around the same time thatstory papers and dime novels
really hit their strides.
Ironically enough, it was aroundthis time that the US got a huge
wave of immigrants from Europe.
In the former New Englandcolonies.
Up until then, Halloween wasreally not celebrated at all due
(01:54):
to the strict puritan rules thathad been in place there and just
became everyday life for them..
Halloween celebrations were muchmore common in the southern
states, but not as we know themtoday.
More of a harvest celebrationthan anything else.
Now it was due to the wave ofScottish and Irish immigrants
that flooded the Easternseaboard and elsewhere that
(02:15):
really started our AmericanHalloween traditions.
They brought with them thecustoms of dressing up in
costume to trick ghosts from thePagan celebration of Samhain,
Jack o'lanterns, of course, camefrom the Irish story of Stingy
Jack, and again, stay tuned forthat.
And trick or treating came froma European custom of going from
house to house in a village andasking for treats or money by
(02:38):
children to pray for the soulsof the departed of the family.
Now there's a lot more to tell,but I don't want to take any
more time away from the story athand Pose, Classic Tale of
Vengeance, the Cas of a Miato.
Enjoy.
Ed Gar pose the cas of a manto,The thousand injuries of four
(03:01):
nato.
I had born as best I could, butwhen he ventured upon insult, I
vowed revenge.
You who so well know?
The nature of my soul will notsuppose however, that I gave
utterance to a threat.
At length, I would be avenged.
This was a point definitivelysettled, but the very
(03:23):
definitiveness with which it wasresolved precluded the idea of
risk.
I must not only punish butpunish with impunity.
A wrong is unredressed.
When retribution overtakes, itsredresser.
It is equally unaddressed whenthe avenger fails to make
himself felt as such.
(03:43):
To him who has done the wrong,it must be understood that
neither by word nor deed had Igiven Fornado cause to doubt my
goodwill.
I continued as was my want tosmile in his face, and he did
not perceive that my smile nowwas at the thought of his
(04:04):
emulation.
He had a weak point this FortuneAuto, although in other regards,
he was a man to be respected andeven feared.
He prided himself upon hisconnoisseurship in wine.
Few Italians had the truevirtuoso spirit.
For the most part, theirenthusiasm is adopted to suit
the time and opportunity topractice imposture upon the
(04:26):
British and Austrianmillionaires in painting and
gemmery Fortunato like hiscountrymen.
Was a quack, but in a matter ofold wines.
He was sincere.
In this respect I did not differfrom him materially.
I was skillful in the Italianvintages myself and bought
largely whenever I could.
(04:49):
It was about dusk.
One evening during the suprememadness of the carnival season
that I encountered my friend, heaccosted me with excessive
warmth while he had beendrinking much.
The man wore Motley.
He had on a tight fitting,partially striped costume, and
his head was surmounted by theconical cap and bells.
(05:10):
I was so pleased to see him thatI thought I should never have
been done ringing his hand.
I said to him, my dearFortunato, You are luckily met!.
How remarkably well you arelooking today, but I have
received a pipe of what passesfor Amontillado and I have my
doubt.
How said he Amontillado?
(05:33):
a pipe?
Impossible.
And in the middle of thecarnival, I have my doubts.
I replied, and I was sillyenough to pay the full
Amontillado price withoutconsulting you in the matter.
You were not to be found.
And I was fearful of losing a.
A tdo.
I have my doubt a Mondo, and Imust satisfy them.
(05:56):
A Mondo.
As you are engaged, I am on myway to Lu Casey.
If anyone has a critical turn,it is he.
He will tell me, Lu Casey cannottell a tdo from Sherry, and yet
some fools will have it.
That his taste is a match foryour own.
Huh?
come let us go.
Uh, wither to your vaults.
(06:16):
Oh, my friend.
No, I will not impose upon yourgood nature.
I perceive you have anengagement.
Luke, Casey, I have noengagement.
Come my friend.
No, it is not the engagement.
Oh.
But the severe cold with which Iperceive you are afflicted.
The vaults are insufferablydamp.
They are encrusted with nitre.
(06:38):
Let us go.
Nevertheless, the cold is merelynothing.
A Mondo you have been imposedupon.
And as for Lu Casey, he cannotdistinguish Sherry from Amando.
Thus speaking, Foro possessedhimself in my arm, putting on a
mask of black silk and drawing aroquelaire closely about my
person.
(06:59):
I suffered him to hurry me to myPalazzo.
There were no attendance athome.
They had absconded to make Maryin honor of the time I had told
them that I should not returnuntil the morning and had given
them explicit orders not to stirfrom the house.
These orders were sufficient.
Well, I knew to ensure theirimmediate disappearance one at
(07:22):
all.
As soon as my back was turned, Itook from their SCOs to flam bow
and giving one to fortune.
NATO bowed him through severalsuites of rooms to the archway,
which led to the vaults.
I passed down a long end windingstaircase, requesting him to be
cautious as he followed.
We came at length to the foot ofthe descent and stood together
(07:45):
on the damp ground of thecatacombs of the Montes souls.
The gate of my friend wasunsteady, and the bells upon his
cap jingled as he st str thepipe said he Oh, Oh.
It is farther on, said I.
But the white WebWork, whichgleams from these cavern walls.
(08:05):
He turned towards me and lookedinto my eyes with two fill me
orbs that distilled the room ofintoxication.
Nighter.
He asked at length.
Hmm, nighter.
How long have you had thatcough?
my poor friend.
Found it impossible to apply formany minutes.
(08:26):
It is nothing he said at last.
Come.
I said With decision, we will goback.
Your health is precious.
You are rich, respected,admired, Beloved.
You are happy.
As once I was, you are a man tobe missed for me it is.
No matter we will go back, youwill be ill and I cannot be
(08:47):
responsible.
Uh, besides there is Luke Caseyenough.
He said the cough is a merenothing.
It will not kill me.
I shall not die of a golf.
True.
True.
I replied, and indeed I had nointention of alarming you
unnecessarily, but you shoulduse all proper caution.
(09:11):
Ah, a draft of this medoc willdefend us from the damps.
here.
I knocked off the neck of abottle, which I drew from a long
rove.
Its fellows that lay upon themold drink.
I said presenting in the wine.
He raised it to his lips withAlia.
He paused and nodded to mefamiliarly while his bells
(09:32):
jingled.
Now I drink.
He said to the buried, that repoaround us and I to your long
life.
He again took my arm and weproceeded, Oh, these volts are
extensive.
He said, The mantra saws.
I replied, What a great andnumerous family.
(09:54):
I forget your arms.
A huge human foot door in afield.
Azure, The foot crushes aserpent rampant whose fangs are
embedded in the heel, and themotto, NI translation, No one as
sails me with impunity.
(10:17):
Huh, Good.
He said The wine sparkled in hiseyes and the bells jingled my
own fancy grew warm with amedoc.
We had passed through walls ofpiled bones with casks and punch
ins intermingling into theinmost recesses of the
catacombs.
I paused again and this time Imade bold to seize fortune auto
(10:38):
by at arm above the elbow.
The Nier.
I said, See, it increases.
It hangs like moss upon thevaults, we are below the river's
bed.
The drops of moisture trickleamong the bones come.
We will go back and it's toolate your cough.
It is nothing.
He said, Let us go on hope.
(11:00):
But, but first, another draft ofthe medoc.
I broke and reached him a flagof degra.
He emptied it at a breath.
His eyes flashed with a fiercelight.
He laughed and threw the bottleupwards with a gesticulation.
I did not understand.
I looked at him in surprise.
He repeated the movement Agrowtest one.
(11:23):
You do not comprehend.
He said, Not.
I replied, Then you are not ofthe brotherhood, how you are not
of the mason.
Oh, oh, yes, yes.
I said, Yes.
You impossible.
A Mason.
(11:43):
A Mason.
I replied a sign.
He said, Ah, it is this.
I answered producing a trollfrom beneath the folds of my
Roku.
you just, he exclaimed,recoiling a few paces.
Ah, but let us proceed to theamount yato, be it so, I said,
(12:05):
replacing the tool beneath mycloak and again, offering him my
arm.
He leaned upon it heavily.
We continued our route in searchof the Iman.
We passed through a range of lowarches, descended, passed on,
and descending again, arrivingat a deep crypt in which the
fallous of the egg caused offLambo rather to glow than flame.
(12:28):
At the most remote end of thecrypt there appeared another
less spacious.
Its walls had been lined withhuman remains piled to the vault
overhead in the fashion of thegreat catacombs of pat.
Three sides of this interiorcrypt were still ornamented in
this manner.
From the fourth, the bones hadbeen thrown down and laid
promiscuously upon the earth,forming at one point a mound of
(12:52):
some size.
Within the wall, thus exposed bythe displacing of the bones.
We perceived a still interiorrecess, in depth, about four
feet in width, three in height,six or seven.
It seemed to have beenconstructed for no special use
in itself, but formed merely theinterval between two of the
(13:12):
colossal supports of the roof ofthe catacombs, and was backed by
one of their circumscribingwalls of solid granite.
It was in vain that fortune,nato uplifting his dull torch,
endeavored to pry into the depthof the recess its termination.
The feeble light did not enableus to see.
Proceed.
(13:33):
I said, Here it in is the I tto.
As for Luke Casey, he is anignoramus.
Interrupted my friend as hestepped steadily forward while I
followed immediately at hisheels.
In an instant, he had reachedthe extremity of the niche and
finding his progress.
Arrested by the rock stoodstupidly bewildered a moment
(13:56):
more, and I had fed at him tothe granite.
In its surface with two ironstaples distant from each other
of about two feet horizontallyfrom one of these depended, a
short chain from the other, apadlock throwing the links about
his waist.
It was, but the work of a fewseconds to secure it.
He was much to astounded, toresist withdrawing the key.
(14:18):
I step back from the recess.
Pass your hand.
I said over the wall, you cannothelp feeling the nighter.
Indeed, it is very damp.
Once more, let me implore you toreturn.
No.
Then I must positively leaveyou.
But first I must render you allthe little tensions in my power,
(14:40):
the the TDO ejaculated, myfriend, not yet recovered from
his astonishment.
True.
I replied via Mondo as I saidthese words.
I busied myself among the pileof bones of which I have before
spoken.
Throwing them aside, I soonuncovered a quantity of building
stone and mortar.
With these materials and withthe aid of my tr, I began
(15:03):
vigorously to wall up theentrance of the niche.
I had scarcely laid the firsttier of my masonry when I
discovered that the intoxicationof Fortune Auto had in great
measure worn off.
The earliest indication I had ofthis was a low moaning cry from
the depths of the recess.
It was not the cry of a drunkenman.
(15:25):
There was then a long andobstinate silence.
I laid the second tier and thethird and the fourth, and then I
heard the furious vibration ofthe chains.
The noise lasted for severalminutes during which that I
might hark into it With moresatisfaction, I ceased my labors
and sat down upon the bones.
(15:48):
When it lasts, the clankingsubsided.
I resumed the trial and finishedwithout interruption, the fifth,
the sixth, and the seventh year.
The wall was now nearly upon alevel with my breast.
I, again, paused and holding theflam O over the mason, work
through a few feeble rays.
Upon the figure within asuccession of loud and shrill
(16:11):
screams, bursting suddenly fromthe throat of the chain form
seemed to thrust me violentlyback.
For a brief moment, I hesitated.
I trembled un sheathing my rapehere.
I began to grope with it aboutthe recess.
But the thought of an instantreassured me.
I placed my hand upon the solidfabric of the catacombs and felt
(16:32):
satisfied.
I reapproached the wall.
I replied to the yells of himwho clammed.
I reechoed.
I ate it.
I surpassed them in volume andin strength.
I did this, and the clamor grewstill.
It was now midnight and my taskwas drawing to a close.
I had completed the eighth, theninth, and the 10th tier.
(16:56):
I had finished a portion of thelast and the 11th.
There remained, but a singlestone to be fitted and plastered
in.
I struggled with its weight.
I placed it partially in itsdestined position, but now there
came without the niche, a lowlaugh that erected the hairs
upon my head.
It was succeeded by the sadvoice, which I had difficulty in
(17:21):
recognizing as that of the noblefortune Auto.
The voice said Um, a very goodjoke indeed.
An excellent, just, we will havemany a rich laugh about it at
(17:42):
the Blaz.
So over our wine, the Ito, Isaid.
Yes, Yes, the Ito But is it notgetting late?
Will they not be awaiting us atthe Palazzo?
The lady fora and the rest?
(18:07):
let us be gone.
Yes.
I said, let us be gone.
For the love of God butcherssoul.
Yes.
I said for the love of God.
But to these words, I heared invain for a reply.
I grew impatient.
I called aloud fortunato, noanswer.
(18:31):
I called again, Fortunato, noanswer still.
I thrust the torch through theremaining aperture and let it
fall within.
There came forth in return, onlya jingling of the bells.
My heart grew sick on account ofthe dampness of the catacombs.
(18:54):
I hasten to make an end of mylabor.
I forced the last stone into itsposition.
I, I plastered it up against thenew masonry.
I rear erected the old Rampartbones for the half of the
(19:16):
century.
No mortal has disturbed them Inpace, requiescat!
J.C. (19:25):
Well folks.
That concludes our latestepisode.
I hope that it brought you someenjoyment.
Um, as for me.
I'm going to take a small breakto prepare for the next episode.
Washington Irving's classicHonda tale, the legend of sleepy
hollow.
And I hope you will join meagain.
(19:47):
For now.
I'm going to enjoy the smallcheese plate and partake of
this.
Wine.
I hope you will indulge me thissmall break.
Mm, well, Until next time asalways.
Thank you for listening.
Keep sharing the stories andBIA.
(20:09):
Good human.
Bye for now.
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