Маска Красной Смерти

           Butfromacertainnamelessawewithwhichthemadassumptionsofthemummerhadinspiredthewholeparty,therewerefoundnonewhoputforthhandtoseizehim; sothat,unimpeded,hepassedwithinayardoftheprince’sperson; and,whilethevastassembly,asifwithoneimpulse,shrankfromthecentresoftheroomstothewalls,hemadehiswayuninterruptedly,butwiththesamesolemnandmeasuredstepwhichhaddistinguishedhimfromthefirst, throughthebluechambertothepurple—throughthepurpletothegreen—throughthegreentotheorange—throughthisagaintothewhite—andeventhencetotheviolet,ereadecidedmovementhadbeenmadetoarresthim. Itwasthen,however,thatthePrinceProspero,maddeningwithrageandtheshameofhisownmomentarycowardice,rushedhurriedlythroughthesixchambers,whilenonefollowedhimonaccountofadeadlyterrorthathadseizeduponall. Heborealoftadrawndagger,andhadapproached,inrapidimpetuosity,towithinthreeorfourfeetoftheretreatingfigure,whenthelatter,havingattainedtheextremityofthevelvetapartment,turnedsuddenlyandconfrontedhispursuer. Therewasasharpcry—andthedaggerdroppedgleaminguponthesablecarpet,uponwhich,instantlyafterwards,fellprostrateindeaththePrinceProspero.