XIII A Master-stroke Of The Trap-door Lover

           RaoulandChristineran,eagertoescapefromtheroofandtheblazingeyesthatshowedonlyinthedark;andtheydidnotstopbeforetheycametotheeighthflooronthewaydown.

           TherewasnoperformanceattheOperathatnightandthepassageswereempty.Suddenly,aqueer-lookingformstoodbeforethemandblockedtheroad:

           "No,notthisway!"

           Andtheformpointedtoanotherpassagebywhichtheyweretoreachthewings.Raoulwantedtostopandaskforanexplanation.Buttheform,whichworeasortoflongfrock-coatandapointedcap,said:

           "Quick!Goawayquickly!"

           ChristinewasalreadydraggingRaoul,compellinghimtostartrunningagain.

           "Butwhoishe?Whoisthatman?"heasked.

           Christinereplied:"It’sthePersian."

           "What’shedoinghere?"

           "Nobodyknows.HeisalwaysintheOpera."

           "Youaremakingmerunaway,forthefirsttimeinmylife.IfwereallysawErik,whatIoughttohavedonewastonailhimtoApollo’slyre,justaswenailtheowlstothewallsofourBretonfarms;andtherewouldhavebeennomorequestionofhim."

           "MydearRaoul,youwouldfirsthavehadtoclimbuptoApollo’slyre:thatisnoeasymatter."

           "Theblazingeyeswerethere!"

           "Oh,youaregettinglikemenow,seeinghimeverywhere!WhatItookforblazingeyeswasprobablyacoupleofstarsshiningthroughthestringsofthelyre."

           AndChristinewentdownanotherfloor,withRaoulfollowingher.

           "Asyouhavequitemadeupyourmindtogo,Christine,Iassureyouitwouldbebettertogoatonce.Whywaitforto-morrow?Hemayhaveheardusto-night.