It was toward the close of the fifth or sixth month of his seclusion that the Prince
Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most unusual
magnificence.
Which statement best describes how the sentence fits into the overall structure of the excerpt?
E. It indicates a shift to the realization that the Red Death is already present within the abbey.
F. It emphasizes a shift from analysis of the courtiers' behavior to the behavior of the prince.
G. It introduces the idea that time has passed while foreshadowing a momentous event.
H. It provides a transition to the observation that the courtiers dislike being secluded.