The 'The Cask of Amontillado' is a dark and chilling tale. Fortunato, dressed for a carnival, is led deeper and deeper into the underground vaults by Montresor. Montresor plays on Fortunato's pride in his knowledge of wines. Once they reach a niche, Montresor quickly chains Fortunato and begins to build a wall, ignoring Fortunato's pleas. It shows Poe's skill in creating a tense and macabre atmosphere within a relatively short story.