Призрак Оперы
XIII A Master-stroke Of The Trap-door Lover
And,whilefootstepscamehurryingalongthepassages,Raoulsatupwithoutstretchedarm,readytofireagain,ifneedbe.
Thistime,thetwoeyeshaddisappeared.
Servantsappeared,carryinglights;CountPhilippe,terriblyanxious:
"Whatisit?"
"IthinkIhavebeendreaming,"repliedtheyoungman."Ifiredattwostarsthatkeptmefromsleeping."
"You’reraving!Areyouill?ForGod’ssake,tellme,Raoul:whathappened?"
Andthecountseizedholdoftherevolver.
"No,no,I’mnotraving...Besides,weshallsoonsee..."
Hegotoutofbed,putonadressing-gownandslippers,tookalightfromthehandsofaservantand,openingthewindow,steppedoutonthebalcony.
Thecountsawthatthewindowhadbeenpiercedbyabulletataman’sheight.Raoulwasleaningoverthebalconywithhiscandle:"Aha!"hesaid."Blood!...Blood!...Here,there,moreblood!...That’sagoodthing!Aghostwhobleedsislessdangerous!"hegrinned.
"Raoul!Raoul!Raoul!"
Thecountwasshakinghimasthoughheweretryingtowakenasleep-walker.
"But,mydearbrother,I’mnotasleep!"Raoulprotestedimpatiently."Youcanseethebloodforyourself.IthoughtIhadbeendreamingandfiringattwostars.ItwasErik’seyes...andhereishisblood!...Afterall,perhapsIwaswrongtoshoot;andChristineisquitecapableofneverforgivingme...AllthiswouldnothavehappenedifIhaddrawnthecurtainsbeforegoingtobed."
"Raoul,haveyousuddenlygonemad?Wakeup!"
"What,still?YouwoulddobettertohelpmefindErik...for,afterall,aghostwhobleedscanalwaysbefound.
