Призрак Оперы
I Is It A Ghost?
Thenfeelingalleyesuponher,watchingherlastmovement,shemadeanefforttoshowcourage,andsaidveryloudly:
"Isthereanyonebehindthedoor?"
"Oh,yes,yes!Ofcoursethereis!"criedthatlittledriedplumofaMegGiry,heroicallyholdingSorellibackbyhergauzeskirt."Whateveryoudo,don’topenthedoor!Oh,Lord,don’topenthedoor!"
ButSorelli,armedwithadaggerthatneverlefther,turnedthekeyanddrewbackthedoor,whiletheballet-girlsretreatedtotheinnerdressing-roomandMegGirysighed:
"Mother!Mother!"
Sorellilookedintothepassagebravely.Itwasempty;agas-flame,initsglassprison,castaredandsuspiciouslightintothesurroundingdarkness,withoutsucceedingindispellingit.Andthedancerslammedthedooragain,withadeepsigh.
"No,"shesaid,"thereisnoonethere."
"Still,wesawhim!"Jammesdeclared,returningwithtimidlittlestepstoherplacebesideSorelli."Hemustbesomewhereprowlingabout.Ishan’tgobacktodress.Wehadbetterallgodowntothefoyertogether,atonce,forthe’speech,’andwewillcomeupagaintogether."
Andthechildreverentlytouchedthelittlecoralfinger-ringwhichsheworeasacharmagainstbadluck,whileSorelli,stealthily,withthetipofherpinkrightthumb-nail,madeaSt.Andrew’scrossonthewoodenringwhichadornedthefourthfingerofherlefthand.Shesaidtothelittleballet-girls:
"Come,children,pullyourselvestogether!Idaresaynoonehaseverseentheghost."
"Yes,yes,wesawhim—wesawhimjustnow!"criedthegirls.
