Призрак Оперы
XXI Interesting Vicissitudes
IcontinuedtobegreatlyinterestedintherelationsbetweenErikandChristineDaae,notfromanymorbidcuriosity,butbecauseoftheterriblethoughtwhichobsessedmymindthatErikwascapableofanything,ifheoncediscoveredthathewasnotlovedforhisownsake,asheimagined.Icontinuedtowander,verycautiously,abouttheOperaandsoonlearnedthetruthaboutthemonster’sdrearylove-affair.
HefilledChristine’smind,throughtheterrorwithwhichheinspiredher,butthedearchild’sheartbelongedwhollytotheVicomteRaouldeChagny.Whiletheyplayedabout,likeaninnocentengagedcouple,ontheupperfloorsoftheOpera,toavoidthemonster,theylittlesuspectedthatsomeonewaswatchingoverthem.Iwaspreparedtodoanything:tokillthemonster,ifnecessary,andexplaintothepoliceafterward.ButErikdidnotshowhimself;andIfeltnonethemorecomfortableforthat.
Imustexplainmywholeplan.Ithoughtthatthemonster,beingdrivenfromhishousebyjealousy,wouldthusenablemetoenterit,withoutdanger,throughthepassageinthethirdcellar.Itwasimportant,foreverybody’ssake,thatIshouldknowexactlywhatwasinside.Oneday,tiredofwaitingforanopportunity,Imovedthestoneandatonceheardanastoundingmusic:themonsterwasworkingathisDonJuanTriumphant,witheverydoorinhishousewideopen.Iknewthatthiswastheworkofhislife.Iwascarefulnottostirandremainedprudentlyinmydarkhole.
Hestoppedplaying,foramoment,andbeganwalkingabouthisplace,likeamadman.
