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the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all。
It was in this apartment； also； that there stood against the western wall；
a gigantic clock of ebony。 Its pendulum swung to and fro with a dull；
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heavy； monotonous clang； and when the minute…hand made the circuit of
the face； and the hour was to be stricken； there came from the brazen lungs
of the clock a sound which was clear and loud and deep and exceedingly
musical； but of so peculiar a note and emphasis that； at each lapse of an
hour； the musicians of the orchestra were constrained to pause；
momentarily； in their performance； to harken to the sound； and thus the
waltzers perforce ceased their evolutions； and there was a brief disconcert
of the whole gay company； and； while the chimes of the clock yet rang； it
was observed that the giddiest grew pale； and the more aged and sedate
passed their hands over their brows as if in confused revery or meditation。
But when the echoes had fully ceased； a light laughter at once pervaded
the assembly； the musicians looked at each other and smiled as if at their
own nervousness and folly； and made whispering vows； each to the other；
that the next chiming of the clock should produce in them no similar
emotion； and then； after the lapse of sixty minutes； （which embrace three
thousand and six hundred seconds of the Time that flies；） there came yet
another chiming of the clock； and then were the same disconcert and
tremulousness and meditation as before。
But； in spite of these things； it was a gay and magnificent revel。 The
tastes of the duke were peculiar。 He had a fine eye for colours and
effects。 He disregarded the decora of mere fashion。 His plans were
bold and fiery； and his conceptions glowed with barbaric lustre。 There
are some who would have thought him mad。 His followers felt that he
was not。 It was necessary to hear and see and touch him to be sure that
he was not。
He had directed； in great part； the movable embellishments of the
seven chambers； upon occasion of this great fete； and it was his own
guiding taste which had given character to the masqueraders。 Be sure
they were grotesque。 There were much glare and glitter and piquancy
and phantasmmuch of what has been since seen in 〃Hernani〃。
There were arabesque figures with unsuited limbs and appointments。
There were delirious fancies such as the madman fashions。 There were
much of the beautiful； much of the wanton； much of the bizarre；
something of the terrible； and not a little of that which might have excited
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disgust。 To and fro in the seven chambers there stalked； in fact； a
multitude of dreams。 And thesethe dreamswrithed in and about taking
hue from the rooms； and causing the wild music of the orchestra to seem
as the echo of their steps。 And； anon； there strikes the ebony clock which
stands in the hall of the velvet。 And then； for a moment； all is still； and
all is silent save the voice of the clock。 The dreams are stiff…frozen as
they stand。 But the echoes of the chime die awaythey have endured but
an instantand a light； half…subdued laughter floats after them as they
depart。 And now again the music swells； and the dreams live； and writhe
to and fro more merrily than ever； taking hue from the many tinted
windows through which stream the rays from the tripods。 But to the
chamber which lies most westwardly of the seven； there are now none of
the maskers who venture； for the night is waning away； and there flows a
ruddier light through the blood…coloured panes； and the blackness of the
sable drapery appals； and to him whose foot falls upon the sable carpet；
there comes from the near clock of ebony a muffled peal more solemnly
emphatic than any which reaches their ears who indulged in the more
remote gaieties of the other apartments。
But these other apartments were densely crowded； and in them beat
feverishly the heart of life。 And the revel went whirlingly on； until at
length there commenced the sounding of midnight upon the clock。 And
then the music ceased； as I have told； and the evolutions of the waltzers
were quieted； and there was an uneasy cessation of all things as before。
But now there were twelve strokes to be sounded by the bell of the clock；
and thus it happened； perhaps； that more of thought crept； with more of
time； into the meditations of the thoughtful among those who revelled。
And thus too； it happened； perhaps； that before the last echoes of the last
chime had utterly sunk into silence； there were many individuals in the
crowd who had found leisure to become aware of the presence of a
masked figure which had arrested the attention of no single individual
before。 And the rumour of this new presence having spread itself
whisperingly around； there arose at length from the whole company a buzz；
or murmur； expressive of disapprobation and surprisethen； finally； of
terror； of horror； and of disgust。
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In an assembly of phantasms such as I have painted； it may well be
supposed that no ordinary appearance could have excited such sensation。
In truth the masquerade licence of the night was nearly unlimited； but the
figure in question had out…Heroded Herod； and gone beyond the bounds of
even the prince's indefinite decorum。 There are chords in the hearts of
the most reckless which cannot be touched without emotion