C D

The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could,

but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who

so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however,

that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged;

this was a point definitely settled—but the very definitiveness

with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not

only punish but punish with impunity.* A wrong is unredressed

when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally

unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as

such to him who has done the wrong

It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had !

given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as

was my wont, to smile in his face and he did not perceive that

my smile now was at the thought of his immolation. **

Which theme, or lesson about life, would the character’s thoughts i