"
HereIknockedofftheneckofabottlewhichIdrewfromalongrowofitsfellowsthatlayuonthemould。
"Drink,
"Isaid,resentinghimthewine。
Heraisedittohisliswithaleer。Heausedandnoddedtomefamiliarly,whilehisbellsjingled。
"Idrink,
"hesaid,
"totheburiedthatreosearoundus。
"
"AndItoyourlonglife。
"
Heagaintookmyarmandweroceeded。
"Thesevaults,
"hesaid,
"areextensive。
"
"TheMontresors,
"Irelied,
"wereagreatandnumerousfamily。
"
"Iforgetyourarms。
"
"Ahugehumanfootd&aos;or,inafieldazure;thefootcrushesaserentramantwhosefangsareimbeddedintheheel。
"
"Andthemotto?
"
"Nemomeimunelacessit。
"
"Good!
"hesaid。
Thewinesarkledinhiseyesandthebellsjingled。MyownfancygrewwarmwiththeMedoc。Wehadassedthroughlongwallsofiledbones,withcasksanduncheonsintermingling,intotheinmostrecessesofthecatacombs。Iausedagain,andthistimeImadeboldtoseizeFortunatobyanarmabovetheelbow。
"Thenitre!
"Isaid,
"see,itincreases。Ithangslikemossuonthevaults。Wearebelowtheriver&aos;sbed。Thedrosofmoisturetrickleamongthebones。Come,wewillgobackereitistoolate。Yourcough-
"
"Itisnothing,
"hesaid,
"letusgoon。Butfirst,anotherdraughtoftheMedoc。
"
IbrokeandreachedhimaflagonofDeGrave。Heemtieditatabreath。Hiseyesflashedwithafiercelight。HelaughedandthrewthebottleuwardswithagesticulationIdidnotunderstand。