Призрак Оперы
XX In The Cellars Of The Opera
Toanyoneunderstandingthearchitectureoftheedifice,thePersian’sactionwouldseemtoindicatethatErik’smysterioushousehadbeenbuiltinthedoublecase,formedofathickwallconstructedasanembankmentordam,thenofabrickwall,atremendouslayerofcementandanotherwallseveralyardsinthickness.
AtthePersian’swords,Raoulflunghimselfagainstthewallandlistenedeagerly.Butheheardnothing...nothing...exceptdistantstepssoundingontheflooroftheupperportionsofthetheater.
ThePersiandarkenedhislanternagain.
"Lookout!"hesaid."Keepyourhandup!Andsilence!Forweshalltryanotherwayofgettingin."
Andheledhimtothelittlestaircasebywhichtheyhadcomedownlately.
Theywentup,stoppingateachstep,peeringintothedarknessandthesilence,tilltheycametothethirdcellar.HerethePersianmotionedtoRaoultogoonhisknees;and,inthisway,crawlingonbothkneesandonehand—fortheotherhandwasheldinthepositionindicated—theyreachedtheendwall.
AgainstthiswallstoodalargediscardedscenefromtheROIDELAHORE.Closetothisscenewasasetpiece.Betweenthesceneandthesetpiecetherewasjustroomforabody...forabodywhichonedaywasfoundhangingthere.ThebodyofJosephBuquet.
ThePersian,stillkneeling,stoppedandlistened.Foramoment,heseemedtohesitateandlookedatRaoul;thenheturnedhiseyesupward,towardthesecondcellar,whichsentdownthefaintglimmerofalantern,throughacrannybetweentwoboards.ThisglimmerseemedtotroublethePersian.
