Призрак Оперы
IX At The Masked Ball
Strugglingagainstthecharmthatseemedtodeprivehimofallhiswillandallhisenergyandofalmostallhislucidityatthemomentwhenheneededthemmost,hesucceededindrawingbackthecurtainthathidhimandhewalkedtowhereChristinestood.Sheherselfwasmovingtothebackoftheroom,thewholewallofwhichwasoccupiedbyagreatmirrorthatreflectedherimage,butnothis,forhewasjustbehindherandentirelycoveredbyher.
"Fatelinkstheetomeforeverandaday!"
Christinewalkedtowardherimageintheglassandtheimagecametowardher.ThetwoChristines—therealoneandthereflection—endedbytouching;andRaoulputouthisarmstoclaspthetwoinoneembrace.But,byasortofdazzlingmiraclethatsenthimstaggering,Raoulwassuddenlyflungback,whileanicyblastsweptoverhisface;hesaw,nottwo,butfour,eight,twentyChristinesspinningroundhim,laughingathimandfleeingsoswiftlythathecouldnottouchoneofthem.Atlast,everythingstoodstillagain;andhesawhimselfintheglass.ButChristinehaddisappeared.
Herusheduptotheglass.Hestruckatthewalls.Nobody!Andmeanwhiletheroomstillechoedwithadistantpassionatesinging:
"Fatelinkstheetomeforeverandaday!"
Whichway,whichwayhadChristinegone?...Whichwaywouldshereturn?...
Wouldshereturn?Alas,hadshenotdeclaredtohimthateverythingwasfinished?Andwasthevoicenotrepeating:
"Fatelinkstheetomeforeverandaday!"
Tome?Towhom?
Then,wornout,beaten,empty-brained,hesatdownonthechairwhichChristinehadjustleft
