Призрак Оперы
XXI Interesting Vicissitudes
Andhesaidaloud,atthetopofhisvoice:
"ItmustbefinishedFIRST!Quitefinished!"
Thisspeechwasnotcalculatedtoreassuremeand,whenthemusicrecommenced,Iclosedthestoneverysoftly.
OnthedayoftheabductionofChristineDaae,Ididnotcometothetheateruntilratherlateintheevening,tremblinglestIshouldhearbadnews.Ihadspentahorribleday,for,afterreadinginamorningpapertheannouncementofaforthcomingmarriagebetweenChristineandtheVicomtedeChagny,Iwonderedwhether,afterall,Ishouldnotdobettertodenouncethemonster.Butreasonreturnedtome,andIwaspersuadedthatthisactioncouldonlyprecipitateapossiblecatastrophe.
When,mycabsetmedownbeforetheOpera,Iwasreallyalmostastonishedtoseeitstillstanding!ButIamsomethingofafatalist,likeallgoodOrientals,andIenteredready,foranything.
ChristineDaae’sabductioninthePrisonAct,whichnaturallysurprisedeverybody,foundmeprepared.IwasquitecertainthatshehadbeenjuggledawaybyErik,thatprinceofconjurers.AndIthoughtpositivelythatthiswastheendofChristineandperhapsofeverybody,somuchsothatIthoughtofadvisingallthesepeoplewhowerestayingonatthetheatertomakegoodtheirescape.Ifelt,however,thattheywouldbesuretolookuponmeasmadandIrefrained.
Ontheotherhand,Iresolvedtoactwithoutfurtherdelay,asfarasIwasconcerned.ThechanceswereinmyfavorthatErik,atthatmoment,wasthinkingonlyofhiscaptive.
