XIX The Viscount And The Persian

           Raoulnowrememberedthathisbrotherhadonceshownhimthatmysteriousperson,ofwhomnothingwasknownexceptthathewasaPersianandthathelivedinalittleold-fashionedflatintheRuedeRivoli.

           Themanwiththeebonyskin,theeyesofjadeandtheastrakhancapbentoverRaoul.

           "Ihope,M.deChagny,"hesaid,"thatyouhavenotbetrayedErik’ssecret?"

           "AndwhyshouldIhesitatetobetraythatmonster,sir?"Raoulrejoinedhaughtily,tryingtoshakeofftheintruder."Isheyourfriend,byanychance?"

           "IhopethatyousaidnothingaboutErik,sir,becauseErik’ssecretisalsoChristineDaae’sandtotalkaboutoneistotalkabouttheother!"

           "Oh,sir,"saidRaoul,becomingmoreandmoreimpatient,"youseemtoknowaboutmanythingsthatinterestme;andyetIhavenotimetolistentoyou!"

           "Oncemore,M.deChagny,whereareyougoingsofast?"

           "Cannotyouguess?ToChristineDaae’sassistance..."

           "Then,sir,stayhere,forChristineDaaeishere!"

           "WithErik?"

           "WithErik."

           "Howdoyouknow?"

           "IwasattheperformanceandnooneintheworldbutErikcouldcontriveanabductionlikethat!...Oh,"hesaid,withadeepsigh,"Irecognizedthemonster’stouch!..."

           "Youknowhimthen?"

           ThePersiandidnotreply,butheavedafreshsigh.

           "Sir,"saidRaoul,"Idonotknowwhatyourintentionsare,butcanyoudoanythingtohelpme?Imean,tohelpChristineDaae?"

           "Ithinkso,M.deChagny,andthatiswhyIspoketoyou."

           "Whatcanyoudo?"

           "Trytotakeyoutoher...andtohim."

           "Ifyoucandomethatservice,sir,mylifeisyours!...