Маска Червоної Смерті

           WhentheeyesofPrinceProsperofelluponthisspectralimage(whichwithaslowandsolemnmovement,asifmorefullytosustainitsrole,stalkedtoandfroamongthewaltzers)hewasseentobeconvulsed,inthefirstmomentwithastrongshuddereitherofterrorordistaste; but,inthenext,hisbrowreddenedwithrage. 

           “Whodares?”hedemandedhoarselyofthecourtierswhostoodnearhim—“whodaresinsultuswiththisblasphemousmockery? Seizehimandunmaskhim—thatwemayknowwhomwehavetohangatsunrise,fromthebattlements!” 

           ItwasintheeasternorbluechamberinwhichstoodthePrinceProsperoasheutteredthesewords. Theyrangthroughoutthesevenroomsloudlyandclearly—fortheprincewasaboldandrobustman,andthemusichadbecomehushedatthewavingofhishand. 

           Itwasintheblueroomwherestoodtheprince,withagroupofpalecourtiersbyhisside. Atfirst,ashespoke,therewasaslightrushingmovementofthisgroupinthedirectionoftheintruder,whoatthemomentwasalsonearathand,andnow,withdeliberateandstatelystep,madecloserapproachtothespeaker.