Buttheseotherapartmentsweredenselycrowded，andinthembeatfeverishlytheheartoflife。Andtherevelwentwhirlinglyon，untilatlengththerecommencedthesoundingofmidnightupontheclock。
　　Andthenthemusicceased，asIhavetold；andtheevolutionsofthewaltzerswerequieted；andtherewasanuneasycessationofallthingsasbefore。Butnowthereweretwelvestrokestobesoundedbythebelloftheclock；andthusithappened，perhaps，thatmoreofthoughtcrept，withmoreoftime，intothemeditationsofthethoughtfulamongthosewhorevelled。Andthus，too，ithappened，perhaps，thatbeforethelastechoesofthelastchimehadutterlysunkintosilence，thereweremanyindividualsinthecrowdwhohadfoundleisuretobecomeawareofthepresenceofamaskedfigurewhichhadarrestedtheattentionofnosingleindividualbefore。Andtherumorofthisnewpresencehavingspreaditselfwhisperinglyaround，therearoseatlengthfromthewholecompanyabuzz，ormurmur，expressiveofdisapprobationandsurprisethen，finally，ofterror，ofhorror，andofdisgust。
　　InanassemblyofphantasmssuchasIhavepainted，itmaywellbesupposedthatnoordinaryappearancecouldhaveexcitedsuchsensation。Intruththemasqueradelicenseofthenightwasnearlyunlimited；butthefigureinquestionhadout-HerodedHerod，andgonebeyondtheboundsofeventheprince’sindefinitedecorum。Therearechordsintheheartsofthemostrecklesswhichcannotbetouchedwithoutemotion。Evenwiththeutterlylost，towhomlifeanddeathareequallyjests，therearemattersofwhichnojestcanbemade。
　　Thewholecompany，indeed，seemednowdeeplytofeelthatinthecostumeandbearingofthestrangerneitherwitnorproprietyexisted。Thefigurewastallandgaunt，andshroudedfromheadtofootinthehabilimentsofthegrave。Themaskwhichconcealedthevisagewasmadesonearlytoresemblethecountenanceofastiffenedcorpsethattheclosestscrutinymusthavehaddifficultyindetectingthecheat。Andyetallthismighthavebeenendured，ifnotapproved，bythemadrevellersaround。ButthemummerhadgonesofarastoassumethetypeoftheRedDeath。Hisvesturewasdabbledinbloodandhisbroadbrow，withallthefeaturesoftheface，wasbesprinkledwiththescarlethorror。
　　WhentheeyesofPrinceProsperofelluponthisspectralimagewhichwithaslowandsolemnmovement，asifmorefullytosustainitsrole，stalkedtoandfroamongthewaltzershewasseentobeconvulsed，inthefirstmomentwithastrongshuddereitherofterrorordistaste；but，inthenext，hisbrowreddenedwithrage。
　　“Whodares？”hedemandedhoarselyofthecourtierswhostoodnearhim“whodaresinsultuswiththisblasphemousmockery？Seizehimandunmaskhimthatwemayknowwhomwehavetohangatsunrise，fromthebattlements！”
　　ItwasintheeasternorbluechamberinwhichstoodthePrinceProsperoasheutteredthesewords。Theyrangthroughoutthesevenroomsloudlyandclearlyfortheprincewasaboldandrobustman，andthemusichadbecomehushedatthewavingofhishand。
　　Itwasintheblueroomwherestoodtheprince，withagroupofpalecourtiersbyhisside。Atfirst，ashespoke，therewasaslightrushingmovementofthisgroupinthedirectionoftheintruder，whoatthemomentwasalsonearathand，andnow，withdeliberateandstatelystep，madecloserapproachtothespeaker。Butfromacertainnamelessawewithwhichthemadassumptionsofthemummerhadinspiredthewholeparty，therewerefoundnonewhoputforthhandtoseizehim；sothat，unimpeded，hepassedwithinayardoftheprince’sperson；and，whilethevastassembly，asifwithoneimpulse，shrankfromthecentresoftheroomstothewalls，hemadehiswayuninterruptedly，butwiththesamesolemnandmeasuredstepwhichhaddistinguishedhimfromthefirst，throughthebluechambertothepurplethroughthepurpletothegreenthroughthegreentotheorangethroughthisagaintothewhiteandeventhencetotheviolet，ereadecidedmovementhadbeenmadetoarresthim。Itwasthen，however，thatthePrinceProspero，maddeningwithrageandtheshameofhisownmomentarycowardice，rushedhurriedlythroughthesixchambers，whilenonefollowedhimonaccountofadeadlyterrorthathadseizeduponall。Heborealoftadrawndagger，andhadapproached，inrapidimpetuosity，towithinthreeorfourfeetoftheretreatingfigure，whenthelatter，havingattainedtheextremityofthevelvetapartment，turnedsuddenlyandconfrontedhispursuer。
　　Therewasasharpcryandthedaggerdroppedgleaminguponthesablecarpet，uponwhich，instantlyafterwards，fellprostrateindeaththePrinceProspero。Then，summoningthewildcourageofdespair，athrongoftherevellersatoncethrewthemselvesintotheblackapartment，and，seizingthemummer，whosetallfigurestooderectandmotionlesswithintheshadowoftheebonyclock，gaspedinunutterablehorroratfindingthegrave-cerementsandcorpse-likemaskwhichtheyhandledwithsoviolentarudeness，untenantedbyanytangibleform。
　　AndnowwasacknowledgedthepresenceoftheRedDeath。Hehadcomelikeathiefinthenight。Andonebyonedroppedtherevellersintheblood-bedewedhallsoftheirrevel，anddiedeachinthedespairingpostureofhisfall。Andthelifeoftheebonyclockwentoutwiththatofthelastofthegay。Andtheflamesofthetripodsexpired。AndDarknessandDecayandtheRedDeathheldillimitabledominionoverall。
　　THEthousandinjuriesofFortunatoIhadborneasIbestcould；
　　butwhenheventureduponinsult，Ivowedrevenge。You，whosowellknowthenatureofmysoul，willnotsuppose，however，thatIgaveutterancetoathreat。_Atlength_Iwouldbeavenged；thiswasapointdefinitivelysettled-buttheverydefinitivenesswithwhichitwasresolved，precludedtheideaofrisk。Imustnotonlypunish，butpunishwithimpunity。Awrongisunredressedwhenretributionovertakesitsredresser。Itisequallyunredressedwhentheavengerfailstomakehimselffeltassuchtohimwhohasdonethewrong。
　　Itmustbeunderstood，thatneitherbywordnordeedhadIgivenFortunatocausetodoubtmygoodwill。Icontinued，aswasmywont，tosmileinhisface，andhedidnotperceivethatmysmile_now_wasatthethoughtofhisimmolation。
　　Hehadaweakpoint-thisFortunato-althoughinotherregardshewasamantoberespectedandevenfeared。Hepridedhimselfonhisconnoisseurshipinwine。FewItalianshavethetruevirtuosospirit。Forthemostparttheirenthusiasmisadoptedtosuitthetimeandopportunity-topractiseimpostureupontheBritishandAustrian_millionaires_。Inpaintingandgemmary，Fortunato，likehiscountrymen，wasaquack-butinthematterofoldwineshewassincere。InthisrespectIdidnotdifferfromhimmaterially：I
　　wasskilfulintheItalianvintagesmyself，andboughtlargelywheneverIcould。
　　Itwasaboutdusk，oneeveningduringthesuprememadnessofthecarnivalseason，thatIencounteredmyfriend。Heaccostedmewithexcessivewarmth，forhehadbeendrinkingmuch。Themanworemotley。Hehadonatight-fittingparti-stripeddress，andhisheadwassurmountedbytheconicalcapandbells。Iwassopleasedtoseehim，thatIthoughtIshouldneverhavedonewringinghishand。
　　Isaidtohim-“MydearFortunato，youareluckilymet。Howremarkablywellyouarelookingto-day！ButIhavereceivedapipeofwhatpassesforAmontillado，andIhavemydoubts。”
　　“How？”saidhe。“Amontillado？Apipe？Impossible！Andinthemiddleofthecarnival！”
　　“Ihavemydoubts。”Ireplied；“andIwassillyenoughtopaythefullAmontilladopricewithoutconsultingyouinthematter。Youwerenottobefound，andIwasfearfuloflosingabargain。”
　　“Amontillado！”
　　“Ihavemydoubts。”
　　“Amontillado！”
　　“AndImustsatisfythem。”
　　“Amontillado！”
　　“Asyouareengaged，IamonmywaytoLuchesi。Ifanyonehasacriticalturn，itishe。Hewilltellme“
　　“LuchesicannottellAmontilladofromSherry。”
　　“Andyetsomefoolswillhaveitthathistasteisamatchforyourown。”
　　“Come，letusgo。”
　　“Whither？”
　　“Toyourvaults。”
　　“Myfriend，no；Iwillnotimposeuponyourgoodnature。I
　　perceiveyouhaveanengagement。Luchesi“
　　“Ihavenoengagement；-come。”
　　“Myfriend，no。Itisnottheengagement，buttheseverecoldwithwhichIperceiveyouareafflicted。Thevaultsareinsufferablydamp。Theyareencrustedwithnitre。”
　　“Letusgo，nevertheless。Thecoldismerelynothing。
　　Amontillado！Youhavebeenimposedupon。AndasforLuchesi，hecannotdistinguishSherryfromAmontillado。”
　　Thusspeaking，Fortunatopossessedhimselfofmyarm。Puttingonamaskofblacksilk，anddrawinga_roquelaire_closelyaboutmyperson，Isufferedhimtohurrymetomypalazzo。
　　Therewerenoattendantsathome；theyhadabscondedtomakemerryinhonorofthetime。IhadtoldthemthatIshouldnotreturnuntilthemorning，andhadgiventhemexplicitordersnottostirfromthehouse。Theseordersweresufficient，Iwellknew，toinsuretheirimmediatedisappearance，oneandall，assoonasmybackwasturned。
　　Itookfromtheirsconcestwoflambeaux，andgivingonetoFortunato，bowedhimthroughseveralsuitesofroomstothearchwaythatledintothevaults。Ipasseddownalongandwindingstaircase，requestinghimtobecautiousashefollowed。Wecameatlengthtothefootofthedescent，andstoodtogetheronthedampgroundofthecatacombsoftheMontresors。
　　Thegaitofmyfriendwasunsteady，andthebellsuponhiscapjingledashestrode。
　　“Thepipe。”saidhe。
　　“Itisfartheron。”saidI；“butobservethewhiteweb-workwhichgleamsfromthesecavernwalls。”
　　Heturnedtowardsme，andlookedintomyeyeswithtwofilmyorbsthatdistilledtherheumofintoxication。
　　“Nitre？”heasked，atlength。
　　“Nitre。”Ireplied。“Howlonghaveyouhadthatcough？”
　　“Ugh！ugh！ugh！-ugh！ugh！ugh！-ugh！ugh！ugh！-
　　ugh！ugh！ugh！-ugh！ugh！ugh！”
　　Mypoorfriendfounditimpossibletoreplyformanyminutes。
　　“Itisnothing。”hesaid，atlast。
　　“Come。”Isaid，withdecision，“wewillgoback；yourhealthisprecious。Youarerich，respected，admired，beloved；youarehappy，asonceIwas。Youareamantobemissed。Formeitisnomatter。Wewillgoback；youwillbeill，andIcannotberesponsible。Besides，thereisLuchesi“
　　“Enough。”hesaid；“thecoughisamerenothing；itwillnotkillme。Ishallnotdieofacough。”
　　“True-true。”Ireplied；“and，indeed，Ihadnointentionofalarmingyouunnecessarily-butyoushoulduseallpropercaution。
　　AdraughtofthisMedocwilldefendusfromthedamps。”
　　HereIknockedofftheneckofabottlewhichIdrewfromalongrowofitsfellowsthatlayuponthemould。
　　“Drink。”Isaid，presentinghimthewine。
　　Heraisedittohislipswithaleer。Hepausedandnoddedtomefamiliarly，whilehisbellsjingled。
　　“Idrink。”hesaid，“totheburiedthatreposearoundus。”
　　“AndItoyourlonglife。”
　　Heagaintookmyarm，andweproceeded。
　　“Thesevaults。”hesaid，“areextensive。”
　　“TheMontresors。”Ireplied，“wereagreatandnumerousfamily。”
　　“Iforgetyourarms。”
　　“Ahugehumanfootd’or，inafieldazure；thefootcrushesaserpentrampantwhosefangsareimbeddedintheheel。”
　　“Andthemotto？”
　　“_Nemomeimpunelacessit_。”
　　“Good！”hesaid。