Призрак Оперы
XX In The Cellars Of The Opera
Atlast,hetossedhisheadandmadeuphismindtoact.HeslippedbetweenthesetpieceandthescenefromtheROIDELAHORE,withRaoulcloseuponhisheels.Withhisfreehand,thePersianfeltthewall.Raoulsawhimbearheavilyuponthewall,justashehadpressedagainstthewallinChristine’sdressing-room.Thenastonegaveway,leavingaholeinthewall.
Thistime,thePersiantookhispistolfromhispocketandmadeasigntoRaoultodoashedid.Hecockedthepistol.
And,resolutely,stillonhisknees,hewiggledthroughtheholeinthewall.Raoul,whohadwishedtopassfirst,hadtobecontenttofollowhim.
Theholewasverynarrow.ThePersianstoppedalmostatonce.Raoulheardhimfeelingthestonesaroundhim.ThenthePersiantookouthisdarklanternagain,stoopedforward,examinedsomethingbeneathhimandimmediatelyextinguishedhislantern.Raoulheardhimsay,inawhisper:
"Weshallhavetodropafewyards,withoutmakinganoise;takeoffyourboots."
ThePersianhandedhisownshoestoRaoul.
"Putthemoutsidethewall,"hesaid."Weshallfindthemtherewhenweleave."
Hecrawledalittlefartheronhisknees,thenturnedrightroundandsaid:
"IamgoingtohangbymyhandsfromtheedgeofthestoneandletmyselfdropINTOHISHOUSE.Youmustdoexactlythesame.Donotbeafraid.Iwillcatchyouinmyarms."
Raoulsoonheardadullsound,evidentlyproducedbythefallofthePersian,andthendroppeddown.
HefelthimselfclaspedinthePersian’sarms.
"Hush!"saidthePersian.
Andtheystoodmotionless,listening.
