Маска Красной Смерти

           Itspendulumswungtoandfrowithadull,heavy,monotonousclang; andwhentheminute-handmadethecircuitoftheface,andthehourwastobestricken,therecamefromthebrazenlungsoftheclockasoundwhichwasclearandloudanddeepandexceedinglymusical,butofsopeculiaranoteandemphasisthat,ateachlapseofanhour,themusiciansoftheorchestrawereconstrainedtopause,momentarily,intheirperformance,tohearkentothesound; andthusthewaltzersperforceceasedtheirevolutions;andtherewasabriefdisconcertofthewholegaycompany; and,whilethechimesoftheclockyetrang,itwasobservedthatthegiddiestgrewpale,andthemoreagedandsedatepassedtheirhandsovertheirbrowsasifinconfusedreverieormeditation. Butwhentheechoeshadfullyceased,alightlaughteratoncepervadedtheassembly; themusicianslookedateachotherandsmiledasifattheirownnervousnessandfolly,andmadewhisperingvows,eachtotheother,thatthenextchimingoftheclockshouldproduceinthemnosimilaremotion; andthen,afterthelapseofsixtyminutes,(whichembracethreethousandandsixhundredsecondsoftheTimethatflies,)therecameyetanotherchimingoftheclock,andthenwerethesamedisconcertandtremulousnessandmeditationasbefore. 

           But,inspiteofthesethings,itwasagayandmagnificentrevel. Thetastesofthedukewerepeculiar. Hehadafineeyeforcolorsandeffects.Hedisregardedthedecoraofmerefashion.