Маска Красной Смерти

           Thesecondchamberwaspurpleinitsornamentsandtapestries,andherethepaneswerepurple. Thethirdwasgreenthroughout,andsowerethecasements. Thefourthwasfurnishedandlightedwithorange—thefifthwithwhite—thesixthwithviolet. Theseventhapartmentwascloselyshroudedinblackvelvettapestriesthathungallovertheceilinganddownthewalls,fallinginheavyfoldsuponacarpetofthesamematerialandhue. Butinthischamberonly,thecolorofthewindowsfailedtocorrespondwiththedecorations. Thepanesherewerescarlet—adeepbloodcolor. Nowinnooneofthesevenapartmentswasthereanylamporcandelabrum,amidtheprofusionofgoldenornamentsthatlayscatteredtoandfroordependedfromtheroof. Therewasnolightofanykindemanatingfromlamporcandlewithinthesuiteofchambers. Butinthecorridorsthatfollowedthesuite,therestood,oppositetoeachwindow,aheavytripod,bearingabrazieroffirethatprotecteditsraysthroughthetintedglassandsoglaringlyilluminedtheroom. Andthuswereproducedamultitudeofgaudyandfantasticappearances. Butinthewesternorblackchambertheeffectofthefire-lightthatstreameduponthedarkhangingsthroughtheblood-tintedpanes,wasghastlyintheextreme,andproducedsowildalookuponthecountenancesofthosewhoentered,thattherewerefewofthecompanyboldenoughtosetfootwithinitsprecinctsatall. 

           Itwasinthisapartment,also,thattherestoodagainstthewesternwall,agiganticclockofebony.