Призрак Оперы
XIII A Master-stroke Of The Trap-door Lover
"
Thecount’svaletsaid:
"Thatisso,sir;thereisbloodonthebalcony."
Theotherman-servantbroughtalamp,bythelightofwhichtheyexaminedthebalconycarefully.Themarksofbloodfollowedtherailtilltheyreachedagutter-spout;thentheywentupthegutter-spout.
"Mydearfellow,"saidCountPhilippe,"youhavefiredatacat."
"Themisfortuneis,"saidRaoul,withagrin,"thatit’squitepossible.WithErik,youneverknow.IsitErik?Isitthecat?Isittheghost?No,withErik,youcan’ttell!"
Raoulwentonmakingthisstrangesortofremarkswhichcorrespondedsointimatelyandlogicallywiththepreoccupationofhisbrainandwhich,atthesametime,tendedtopersuademanypeoplethathismindwasunhinged.Thecounthimselfwasseizedwiththisidea;and,later,theexaminingmagistrate,onreceivingthereportofthecommissaryofpolice,cametothesameconclusion.
"WhoisErik?"askedthecount,pressinghisbrother’shand.
"Heismyrival.And,ifhe’snotdead,it’sapity."
HedismissedtheservantswithawaveofthehandandthetwoChagnyswereleftalone.Butthemenwerenotoutofearshotbeforethecount’svaletheardRaoulsay,distinctlyandemphatically:
"IshallcarryoffChristineDaaeto-night."
ThisphrasewasafterwardrepeatedtoM.Faure,theexamining-magistrate.Butnooneeverknewexactlywhatpassedbetweenthetwobrothersatthisinterview.Theservantsdeclaredthatthiswasnottheirfirstquarrel.Theirvoicespenetratedthewall;anditwasalwaysanactresscalledChristineDaaethatwasinquestion.
