Призрак Оперы
XX In The Cellars Of The Opera
ThePersiandrewRaoulbehindasetpiece.Theysawpassingbeforeandabovethemoldmenbentbyageandthepastburdenofopera-scenery.Somecouldhardlydragthemselvesalong;others,fromhabit,withstoopingbodiesandoutstretchedhands,lookedfordoorstoshut.
Theywerethedoor-shutters,theold,worn-outscene-shifters,onwhomacharitablemanagementhadtakenpity,givingthemthejobofshuttingdoorsaboveandbelowthestage.Theywentaboutincessantly,fromtoptobottomofthebuilding,shuttingthedoors;andtheywerealsocalled"Thedraft-expellers,"atleastatthattime,forIhavelittledoubtthatbynowtheyarealldead.Draftsareverybadforthevoice,wherevertheymaycomefrom.
Thetwomenmighthavestumbledoverthem,wakingthemupandprovokingarequestforexplanations.Forthemoment,M.Mifroid’sinquirysavedthemfromanysuchunpleasantencounters.
ThePersianandRaoulwelcomedthisincident,whichrelievedthemofinconvenientwitnesses,forsomeofthosedoor-shutters,havingnothingelsetodoornowheretolaytheirheads,stayedattheOpera,fromidlenessornecessity,andspentthenightthere.
Buttheywerenotlefttoenjoytheirsolitudeforlong.Othershadesnowcamedownbythesamewaybywhichthedoor-shuttershadgoneup.Eachoftheseshadescarriedalittlelanternandmoveditabout,above,belowandallaround,asthoughlookingforsomethingorsomebody.
"Hangit!"mutteredthePersian."Idon’tknowwhattheyarelookingfor,buttheymighteasilyfindus...Letusgetaway,quick!...Yourhandup,sir,readytofire!...Bendyourarm...
