Призрак Оперы
XIX The Viscount And The Persian
ThePersianstoppedRaouland,inthesoftestofwhispers,asked:
"Whatdidyousaytothecommissary?"
"IsaidthatChristineDaae’sabductorwastheAngelofMusic,ALIAStheOperaghost,andthattherealnamewas..."
"Hush!...Anddidhebelieveyou?"
"No."
"Heattachednoimportancetowhatyousaid?"
"No."
"Hetookyouforabitofamadman?"
"Yes."
"Somuchthebetter!"sighedthePersian.
Andtheycontinuedtheirroad.AftergoingupanddownseveralstaircaseswhichRaoulhadneverseenbefore,thetwomenfoundthemselvesinfrontofadoorwhichthePersianopenedwithamaster-key.ThePersianandRaoulwereboth,ofcourse,indress-clothes;but,whereasRaoulhadatallhat,thePersianworetheastrakhancapwhichIhavealreadymentioned.Itwasaninfringementoftherulewhichinsistsuponthetallhatbehindthescenes;butinFranceforeignersareallowedeverylicense:theEnglishmanhistraveling-cap,thePersianhiscapofastrakhan.
"Sir,"saidthePersian,"yourtallhatwillbeinyourway:youwoulddowelltoleaveitinthedressing-room."
"Whatdressing-room?"askedRaoul.
"ChristineDaae’s."
AndthePersian,lettingRaoulthroughthedoorwhichhehadjustopened,showedhimtheactress’roomopposite.TheywereattheendofthepassagethewholelengthofwhichRaoulhadbeenaccustomedtotraversebeforeknockingatChristine’sdoor.
"HowwellyouknowtheOpera,sir!"
"Notsowellas’he’does!"saidthePersianmodestly.
AndhepushedtheyoungmanintoChristine’sdressing-room,whichwasasRaoulhadleftitafewminutesearlier.
