Призрак Оперы
XX In The Cellars Of The Opera
Fortheycoulddistinguishtheshadesufficientlytoseethatitworeacloakwhichshroudeditfromheadtofoot.Onitsheadithadasoftfelthat...
Itmovedaway,drawingitsfeetagainstthewallsandsometimesgivingakickintoacorner.
"Whew!"saidthePersian."We’vehadanarrowescape;thatshadeknowsmeandhastwicetakenmetothemanagers’office."
"Isitsomeonebelongingtothetheaterpolice?"askedRaoul.
"It’ssomeonemuchworsethanthat!"repliedthePersian,withoutgivinganyfurtherexplanation.
"It’snot...he?"
"He?...Ifhedoesnotcomebehindus,weshallalwaysseehisyelloweyes!Thatismoreorlessoursafeguardto-night.Buthemaycomefrombehind,stealingup;andwearedeadmenifwedonotkeepourhandsasthoughabouttofire,atthelevelofoureyes,infront!"
ThePersianhadhardlyfinishedspeaking,whenafantasticfacecameinsight...awholefieryface,notonlytwoyelloweyes!
Yes,aheadoffirecametowardthem,ataman’sheight,butwithnobodyattachedtoit.Thefaceshedfire,lookedinthedarknesslikeaflameshapedasaman’sface.
"Oh,"saidthePersian,betweenhisteeth."Ihaveneverseenthisbefore!...Pampinwasnotmad,afterall:hehadseenit!...Whatcanthatflamebe?ItisnotHE,buthemayhavesentit!...Takecare!...Takecare!Yourhandatthelevelofyoureyes,inHeaven’sname,atthelevelofyoureyes!...knowmostofhistricks...butnotthisone...Come,letusrun...itissafer.Handatthelevelofyoureyes!"
Andtheyfleddownthelongpassagethatopenedbeforethem.
