Bily teaches English at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. In the following essay, she discusses the concepts of duplicity and doubling in "The Cask of Amontillado."

When Montresor decides that it is time to seek revenge for the "thousand injuries of Fortunato," he does not make his feelings known. Although the honor code of the day might have called for a public challenge and a duel to the death, Montresor decides that he will not give "utterance to a threat." Instead, while he waits for his opportunity, he behaves as though nothing is wrong: "It must be understood, that neither by word not deed had I 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."

The word for Montresor's behavior is "duplicitous...