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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
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THE RAVENTHE RAVEN
THE RAVENTHE RAVEN
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 green
through 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
Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all。
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THE RAVENTHE RAVEN
THE RAVENTHE RAVEN
The Cask of Amontillado
The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could； but
when he ventured upon insult； I vowed revenge。 You； who so well know
the nature of my soul； will not suppose； however； that I gave utterance to a
threat。 At length I would be avenged； this was a point definitely settled…
…but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved； precluded the idea
of risk。 I must not only punish； but punish with impunity。 A wrong is
unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser。 It is equally
unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him
who has done the wrong。
It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given
Fortunato cause to doubt my good will。 I continued； as was my wont； to
smile in his face； and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the
thought of his immolation。
He had a weak pointthis Fortunatoalthough in other regards he was
a man to be respected and even feared。 He prided himself on his
connoisseurship in wine。 Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit。 For
the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity
to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires。 In
painting and gemmary； Fortunato； like his countrymen； was a quack but
in the matter of old wines he was sincere。 In this respect I did not differ
from him materially： I was skillful in the Italian vintag