He was in love. And, no doubt, he would soon receive a very natural
explanation of her curious absence.
The black domino turned back from time to time to see if the white
domino was still following.
As Raoul once more passed through the great crush-room, this time
in the wake of his guide, he could not help noticing a group crowding
round a person whose disguise, eccentric air and gruesome appearance
were causing a sensation. It was a man dressed all in scarlet,
with a huge hat and feathers on the top of a wonderful death's head.
From his shoulders hung an immense red-velvet cloak, which trailed
along the floor like a king's train; and on this cloak was embroidered,
in gold letters, which every one read and repeated aloud,
"Don't touch me! I am Red Death stalking abroad!"
Then one, greatly daring, did try to touch him...but a skeleton
hand shot out of a crimson sleeve and violently seized the rash
one's wrist; and he, feeling the clutch of the knucklebones,
the furious grasp of Death, uttered a cry of pain and terror.
When Red Death released him at last, he ran away like a very madman,
pursued by the jeers of the bystanders.
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