Everything is going wonderfully at the Montmartre costume ball - the music, the atmosphere, and the food are all perfect. Until one of the lead dancers jumps into the crowd and passes out. As a doctor appears and helps the dancer back home, he meets his wife and learns of their tragic tale. "The Mask" explores marriage, devotion, and the inevitability of old age.

Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a French writer. Famed for being a master of the short story, he also wrote travel books and occasionally dabbled in poetry. His stories mainly focus on the relationships between men and women sitting at crossroads in their lives - whether personal or professional. His dramatic flair is largely influenced by French novelist Gustave Flaubert and is perfect for fans of Anton Chekhov's short stories. The most notable of the 300 short stories that he wrote include 'Bel Ami', 'Une Vie', and 'The Dumpling'.