Призрак Оперы
XIX The Viscount And The Persian
Closingthedoor,thePersianwenttoaverythinpartitionthatseparatedthedressing-roomfromabiglumber-roomnexttoit.Helistenedandthencoughedloudly.
Therewasasoundofsomeonestirringinthelumber-room;and,afewsecondslater,afingertappedatthedoor.
"Comein,"saidthePersian.
Amanentered,alsowearinganastrakhancapanddressedinalongovercoat.Hebowedandtookarichlycarvedcasefromunderhiscoat,putitonthedressing-table,bowedonceagainandwenttothedoor.
"Didnooneseeyoucomein,Darius?"
"No,master."
"Letnooneseeyougoout."
Theservantglanceddownthepassageandswiftlydisappeared.
ThePersianopenedthecase.Itcontainedapairoflongpistols.
"WhenChristineDaaewascarriedoff,sir,Isentwordtomyservanttobringmethesepistols.Ihavehadthemalongtimeandtheycanbereliedupon."
"Doyoumeantofightaduel?"askedtheyoungman.
"Itwillcertainlybeaduelwhichweshallhavetofight,"saidtheother,examiningtheprimingofhispistols."Andwhataduel!"HandingoneofthepistolstoRaoul,headded,"Inthisduel,weshallbetwotoone;butyoumustbepreparedforeverything,forweshallbefightingthemostterribleadversarythatyoucanimagine.ButyouloveChristineDaae,doyounot?"
"Iworshipthegroundshestandson!Butyou,sir,whodonotloveher,tellmewhyIfindyoureadytoriskyourlifeforher!YoumustcertainlyhateErik!"
"No,sir,"saidthePersiansadly,"Idonothatehim.IfIhatedhim,hewouldlongagohaveceaseddoingharm.
