Montresor plots his revenge upon Fortunato carefully, as he tells the reader in the story. He must "not only punish but punish with impunity;" yet Montresor also recognizes that his satisfaction will be complete only if the murder is undetected and he remains free of incarceration. First, Montresor chooses "the supreme madness of the carnival season" as the backdrop for his plan. He gives no clue to Fortunato that there is even a problem between the two men: Though Montresor claims Fortunato to be his sworn enemy, Fortunato does not seem aware of this, and Montresor continues to "smile in his face" whenever the two men meet. He eliminates the possibility of his own servants as possible witnesses by deliberately lying to them
