The Masque of the Red Death

There was no light of any kind emanating from lamp or candle within the suite of chambers.

shrouded in black velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the walls, falling in heavy folds upon a carpet of the same material and hue.

close of the fifth or sixth month

friends from among the knights and dames of his court, and with these retired to the deep seclusion of one of his castellated abbeys.

Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious.

Red Death" had long devastated the country