What does Fortunato's cold/cough symbolize in "The Cask of Amontillado?"

Fortunato's cough, the result of a fairly severe cold, symbolizes the weakness in his character, his pride—this is the weakness that Montresor can exploit in order to do his nemesis in. Montresor says, "He had a weak point—this Fortunato . . .  He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine." He knows that Fortunato will not want to miss the opportunity to shame him for overpaying for wine which cannot possibly be the rare amontillado....

Fortunato's cough, the result of a fairly severe cold, symbolizes the weakness in his character, his pride—this is the weakness that Montresor can exploit in order to do his nemesis in. Montresor says, "He had a weak point—this Fortunato . . .  He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine." He knows that Fortunato will not want to miss the opportunity to shame him for overpaying for wine which cannot possibly be the rare amontillado. Montresor warns Fortunato that the niter built up in the vaults is very bad and will have a deleterious effect on Fortunato's health. However, just as Montresor knows that Fortunato's pride in his superior wine expertise will urge him on, he knows that Fortunato's cough will not hold back. He warns Fortunato again and again, but Fortunato's pride and desire to demean Montresor compel him to persist and cloud his judgment.