Призрак Оперы
XII Apollo's Lyre
IaskedhimifIshouldthenbefreeandhesaid,’Youwillbefree,Christine,for,whenthosefivedaysarepast,youwillhavelearnednottoseeme;andthen,fromtimetotime,youwillcometoseeyourpoorErik!’Hepointedtoachairoppositehim,atasmalltable,andIsatdown,feelinggreatlyperturbed.However,Iateafewprawnsandthewingofachickenanddrankhalfaglassoftokay,whichhehadhimself,hetoldme,broughtfromtheKonigsbergcellars.Erikdidnoteatordrink.IaskedhimwhathisnationalitywasandifthatnameofErikdidnotpointtohisScandinavianorigin.HesaidthathehadnonameandnocountryandthathehadtakenthenameofErikbyaccident.
"Afterlunch,heroseandgavemethetipsofhisfingers,sayinghewouldliketoshowmeoverhisflat;butIsnatchedawaymyhandandgaveacry.WhatIhadtouchedwascoldand,atthesametime,bony;andIrememberedthathishandssmeltofdeath.’Oh,forgiveme!’hemoaned.Andheopenedadoorbeforeme.’Thisismybedroom,ifyoucaretoseeit.Itisrathercurious.’Hismanners,hiswords,hisattitudegavemeconfidenceandIwentinwithouthesitation.IfeltasifIwereenteringtheroomofadeadperson.Thewallswereallhungwithblack,but,insteadofthewhitetrimmingsthatusuallysetoffthatfunerealupholstery,therewasanenormousstaveofmusicwiththenotesoftheDIESIRAE,manytimesrepeated.Inthemiddleoftheroomwasacanopy,fromwhichhungcurtainsofredbrocadedstuff,and,underthecanopy,anopencoffin.’ThatiswhereIsleep,’saidErik.
