Призрак Оперы

           "Whytrytoentermyhouse?Ineverinvitedyou!Idon’twantyouthere,noranybody!Didyousavemylifeonlytomakeitunbearabletome?Howevergreattheserviceyourenderedhim,Erikmayendbyforgettingit;andyouknowthatnothingcanrestrainErik,notevenErikhimself."

           Hespoke,butIhadnownootherwishthantoknowwhatIalreadycalledthetrickofthesiren.Hesatisfiedmycuriosity,forErik,whoisarealmonster—IhaveseenhimatworkinPersia,alas—isalso,incertainrespects,aregularchild,vainandself-conceited,andthereisnothinghelovessomuch,afterastonishingpeople,astoproveallthereallymiraculousingenuityofhismind.

           Helaughedandshowedmealongreed.

           "It’sthesilliesttrickyoueversaw,"hesaid,"butit’sveryusefulforbreathingandsinginginthewater.IlearneditfromtheTonkinpirates,whoareabletoremainhiddenforhoursinthebedsoftherivers."

           Ispoketohimseverely.

           "It’satrickthatnearlykilledme!"Isaid."Anditmayhavebeenfataltoothers!Youknowwhatyoupromisedme,Erik?Nomoremurders!"

           "HaveIreallycommittedmurders?"heasked,puttingonhismostamiableair.

           "Wretchedman!"Icried."HaveyouforgottentherosyhoursofMazenderan?"

           "Yes,"hereplied,inasaddertone,"Iprefertoforgetthem.Iusedtomakethelittlesultanalaugh,though!"

           "Allthatbelongstothepast,"Ideclared;"butthereisthepresent...andyouareresponsibletomeforthepresent,because,ifIhadwished,therewouldhavebeennoneatallforyou.