Призрак Оперы
IX At The Masked Ball
ButIshallsnatchoffhismask,asIshallsnatchoffmyown;and,thistime,weshalllookeachotherintheface,heandI,withnoveilandnoliesbetweenus;andIshallknowwhomyouloveandwholovesyou!"
Heburstintoamadlaugh,whileChristinegaveadisconsolatemoanbehindhervelvetmask.Withatragicgesture,sheflungouthertwoarms,whichfixedabarrierofwhitefleshagainstthedoor.
"Inthenameofourlove,Raoul,youshallnotpass!..."
Hestopped.Whathadshesaid?...Inthenameoftheirlove?...Neverbeforehadsheconfessedthatshelovedhim.Andyetshehadhadopportunitiesenough...Pooh,heronlyobjectwastogainafewseconds!...ShewishedtogivetheRedDeathtimetoescape...And,inaccentsofchildishhatred,hesaid:
"Youlie,madam,foryoudonotlovemeandyouhaveneverlovedme!WhatapoorfellowImustbetoletyoumockandfloutmeasyouhavedone!Whydidyougivemeeveryreasonforhope,atPerros...forhonesthope,madam,forIamanhonestmanandIbelievedyoutobeanhonestwoman,whenyouronlyintentionwastodeceiveme!Alas,youhavedeceivedusall!Youhavetakenashamefuladvantageofthecandidaffectionofyourbenefactressherself,whocontinuestobelieveinyoursinceritywhileyougoabouttheOperaballwithRedDeath!...Idespiseyou!..."
Andheburstintotears.Sheallowedhimtoinsulther.Shethoughtofbutonething,tokeephimfromleavingthebox.
"Youwillbegmypardon,oneday,forallthoseuglywords,Raoul,andwhenyoudoIshallforgiveyou!"
Heshookhishead.
