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the wanton； much of the bizarre； something of the terrible； and
not a little of that which might have excited disgust。 To and fro
in the seven chambers there stalked； in fact； a multitude of
dreams。 And thesethe dreamswrithed in and about taking hue
from the rooms； and causing the wild music of the orchestra to seem
as the echo of their steps。 And； anon； there strikes the ebony
clock which stands in the hall of the velvet。 And then； for a
moment； all is still； and all is silent save the voice of the
clock。 The dreams are stiff…frozen as they stand。 But the echoes
of the chime die awaythey have endured but an instantand a
light； half…subdued laughter floats after them as they depart。 And
now again the music swells； and the dreams live； and writhe to and
fro more merrily than ever； taking hue from the many tinted windows
through which stream the rays from the tripods。 But to the chamber
which lies most westwardly of the seven； there are now none of the
maskers who venture； for the night is waning away； and there flows
a ruddier light through the blood…coloured panes； and the blackness
of the sable drapery appals； and to him whose foot falls upon the
sable carpet； there comes from the near clock of ebony a muffled
peal more solemnly emphatic than any which reaches their ears
who indulged in the more remote gaieties of the other apartments。
But these other apartments were densely crowded； and in them
beat feverishly the heart of life。 And the revel went whirlingly
on； until at length there commenced the sounding of midnight upon
the clock。 And then the music ceased； as I have told； and the
evolutions of the waltzers were quieted； and there was an uneasy
cessation of all things as before。 But now there were twelve
strokes to be sounded by the bell of the clock； and thus it
happened； perhaps； that more of thought crept； with more of time；
into the meditations of the thoughtful among those who revelled。
And thus too； it happened； perhaps； that before the last echoes of
the last chime had utterly sunk into silence； there were many
individuals in the crowd who had found leisure to become aware of
the presence of a masked figure which had arrested the
attention of no single individual before。 And the rumour of this
new presence having spread itself whisperingly around； there arose
at length from the whole company a buzz； or murmur； expressive of
disapprobation and surprisethen； finally； of terror； of horror；
and of disgust。
In an assembly of phantasms such as I have painted； it may
well be supposed that no ordinary appearance could have excited
such sensation。 In truth the masquerade licence of the night was
nearly unlimited； but the figure in question had out…Heroded Herod；
and gone beyond the bounds of even the prince's indefinite decorum。
There are chords in the hearts of the most reckless which cannot be
touched without emotion。 Even with the utterly lost； to whom life
and death are equally jests； there are matters of which no jest can
be made。 The whole company； indeed； seemed now deeply to feel that
in the costume and bearing of the stranger neither wit nor
propriety existed。 The figure was tall and gaunt； and shrouded
from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave。 The mask which
concealed the visage was made so nearly to resemble the countenance
of a stiffened corpse that the closest scrutiny must have had
difficulty in detecting the cheat。 And yet all this might have
been endured； if not approved； by the mad revellers around。 But
the mummer had gone so far as to assume the type of the Red Death。
His vesture was dabbled in bloodand his broad brow； with all
the features of the face； was besprinkled with the scarlet horror。
When the eyes of the Prince Prospero fell upon this spectral
image （which； with a slow and solemn movement； as if more fully to
sustain its role； stalked to and fro among the waltzers） he was
seen to be convulsed； in the first moment with a strong shudder
either of terror or distaste； but； in the next； his brow reddened
with rage。
〃Who dares；〃he demanded hoarsely of the courtiers who stood
near him〃who dares insult us with this blasphemous mockery？
Seize him and unmask himthat we may know whom we have to hang； at
sunrise； from the battlements！〃
It was in the eastern or blue chamber in which stood the
Prince Prospero as he uttered these words。 They rang throughout
the seven rooms loudly and clearly； for the prince was a bold and
robust man； and the music had become hushed at the waving of his
hand。
It was in the blue room where stood the prince； with a group
of pale courtiers by his side。 At first； as he spoke；
there was a slight rushing movement of this group in the direction
of the intruder； who at the moment was also near at hand； and now；
with deliberate and stately step； made closer approach to the
speaker。 But from a certain nameless awe with which the mad
assumptions of the mummer had inspired the whole party； there were
found none who put forth hand to seize him； so that； unimpeded； he
passed within a yard of the prince's person； and； while the vast
assembly； as if with one impulse； shrank from the centres of the
rooms to the walls； he made his way uninterruptedly； but with the
same solemn and measured step which had distinguished him from the
first； through the blue chamber to the purplethrough the purple
to the greenthrough the green to the orangethrough this again
to the whiteand even thence to the violet； ere a decided movement
had been made to arrest him。 It was then； however； that the Prince
Prospero； maddening with rage and the shame of his own momentary
cowardice； rushed hurriedly through the six chambers； while none
followed him on account of a deadly terror that had seized upon
all。 He bore aloft a drawn dagger； and had approached； in rapid
impetuosity； to within three or four feet of the retreating figure；
when the latter； having attained the extremity of the velvet
apartment； turned suddenly and confronted his pursuer。 There was
a sharp cryand the dagger dropped gleaming upon the sable carpet；
upon which； instantly afterwards； fell prostrate in death the
Prince Prospero。 Then； summoning the wild courage of despair； a
throng of the revellers at once threw themselves into the black
apartment； and； seizing the mummer； whose tall figure stood erect
and motionless within the shadow of the ebony clock； gasped in
unutterable horror at finding the grave cerements and corpse…like
mask； which they handled with so violent a rudeness； untenanted by
any tangible form。
And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death。 He
had come like a thief in the night。 And one by one dropped the
revellers in the blood…bedewed halls of their revel； and died each
in the despairing posture of his fall。 And the life of the ebony
clock went out with that of the last of the gay。 And the flames of
the tripods expired。 And Dark