XXI Interesting Vicissitudes

           THEPERSIAN’SNARRATIVE

           ItwasthefirsttimethatIenteredthehouseonthelake.Ihadoftenbeggedthe"trap-doorlover,"asweusedtocallErikinmycountry,toopenitsmysteriousdoorstome.Healwaysrefused.Imadeverymanyattempts,butinvain,toobtainadmittance.WatchhimasImight,afterIfirstlearnedthathehadtakenuphispermanentabodeattheOpera,thedarknesswasalwaystoothicktoenablemetoseehowheworkedthedoorinthewallonthelake.Oneday,whenIthoughtmyselfalone,IsteppedintotheboatandrowedtowardthatpartofthewallthroughwhichIhadseenErikdisappear.ItwasthenthatIcameintocontactwiththesirenwhoguardedtheapproachandwhosecharmwasverynearlyfataltome.

           IhadnosoonerputofffromthebankthanthesilenceamidwhichIfloatedonthewaterwasdisturbedbyasortofwhisperedsingingthathoveredallaroundme.Itwashalfbreath,halfmusic;itrosesoftlyfromthewatersofthelake;andIwassurroundedbyitthroughIknewnotwhatartifice.Itfollowedme,movedwithmeandwassosoftthatitdidnotalarmme.Onthecontrary,inmylongingtoapproachthesourceofthatsweetandenticingharmony,Ileanedoutofmylittleboatoverthewater,fortherewasnodoubtinmymindthatthesingingcamefromthewateritself.Bythistime,Iwasaloneintheboatinthemiddleofthelake;thevoice—foritwasnowdistinctlyavoice—wasbesideme,onthewater.Ileanedover,leanedstillfarther.