Призрак Оперы
IX At The Masked Ball
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Raoul’sfingersclutchedathisflesh,abovehisjealousheart.Inhisinexperience,henowaskedhimselfwithterrorwhatgamethegirlwasplaying?Uptowhatpointcouldanopera-singermakeafoolofagood-naturedyoungman,quitenewtolove?Omisery!...
ThusdidRaoul’sthoughtsflyfromoneextremetotheother.HenolongerknewwhethertopityChristineortocurseher;andhepitiedandcursedherturnandturnabout.Atallevents,heboughtawhitedomino.
Thehouroftheappointmentcameatlast.Withhisfaceinamasktrimmedwithlong,thicklace,lookinglikeapierrotinhiswhitewrap,theviscountthoughthimselfveryridiculous.MenoftheworlddonotgototheOperaballinfancy-dress!Itwasabsurd.Onethought,however,consoledtheviscount:hewouldcertainlyneverberecognized!
Thisballwasanexceptionalaffair,givensometimebeforeShrovetide,inhonoroftheanniversaryofthebirthofafamousdraftsman;anditwasexpectedtobemuchgayer,noisier,moreBohemianthantheordinarymaskedball.Numbersofartistshadarrangedtogo,accompaniedbyawholecohortofmodelsandpupils,who,bymidnight,begantocreateatremendousdin.Raoulclimbedthegrandstaircaseatfiveminutestotwelve,didnotlingertolookatthemotleydressesdisplayedallthewayupthemarblesteps,oneoftherichestsettingsintheworld,allowednofacetiousmasktodrawhimintoawarofwits,repliedtonojestsandshookofftheboldfamiliarityofanumberofcoupleswhohadalreadybecomeatrifletoogay.
