Призрак Оперы
XX In The Cellars Of The Opera
Howdidthatredmoonmanagetoglidethroughthedarkness,ataman’sheight,withnothingtosupportit,atleastapparently?Andhowdiditgosofast,sostraightahead,withsuchstaring,staringeyes?Andwhatwasthatscratching,scraping,gratingsoundwhichitbroughtwithit?
ThePersianandRaoulcouldretreatnofartherandflattenedthemselvesagainstthewall,notknowingwhatwasgoingtohappenbecauseofthatincomprehensibleheadoffire,andespeciallynow,becauseofthemoreintense,swarming,living,"numerous"sound,forthesoundwascertainlymadeupofhundredsoflittlesoundsthatmovedinthedarkness,underthefieryface.
Andthefieryfacecameon...withitsnoise...camelevelwiththem!...
Andthetwocompanions,flatagainsttheirwall,felttheirhairstandonendwithhorror,fortheynowknewwhatthethousandnoisesmeant.Theycameinatroop,hustledalongintheshadowbyinnumerablelittlehurriedwaves,swifterthanthewavesthatrushoverthesandsathightide,littlenight-wavesfoamingunderthemoon,underthefieryheadthatwaslikeamoon.Andthelittlewavespassedbetweentheirlegs,climbinguptheirlegs,irresistibly,andRaoulandthePersiancouldnolongerrestraintheircriesofhorror,dismayandpain.Norcouldtheycontinuetoholdtheirhandsattheleveloftheireyes:theirhandswentdowntotheirlegstopushbackthewaves,whichwerefulloflittlelegsandnailsandclawsandteeth.
Yes,RaoulandthePersianwerereadytofaint,likePampinthefireman.
