Призрак Оперы

           Thiswasthemomenttoenterhishousethroughthethirdcellar;andIresolvedtotakewithmethatpoorlittledesperateviscount,who,atthefirstsuggestion,accepted,withanamountofconfidenceinmyselfthattouchedmeprofoundly.Ihadsentmyservantformypistols.Igaveonetotheviscountandadvisedhimtoholdhimselfreadytofire,for,afterall,Erikmightbewaitingforusbehindthewall.WeweretogobytheCommunists’roadandthroughthetrap-door.

           Seeingmypistols,thelittleviscountaskedmeifweweregoingtofightaduel.Isaid:

           "Yes;andwhataduel!"But,ofcourse,Ihadnotimetoexplainanythingtohim.Thelittleviscountisabravefellow,butheknewhardlyanythingabouthisadversary;anditwassomuchthebetter.Mygreatfearwasthathewasalreadysomewherenearus,preparingthePunjablasso.NooneknowsbetterthanhehowtothrowthePunjablasso,forheisthekingofstranglersevenasheistheprinceofconjurors.Whenhehadfinishedmakingthelittlesultanalaugh,atthetimeofthe"rosyhoursofMazenderan,"sheherselfusedtoaskhimtoamuseherbygivingherathrill.ItwasthenthatheintroducedthesportofthePunjablasso.

           HehadlivedinIndiaandacquiredanincredibleskillintheartofstrangulation.Hewouldmakethemlockhimintoacourtyardtowhichtheybroughtawarrior—usually,amancondemnedtodeath—armedwithalongpikeandbroadsword.Erikhadonlyhislasso;anditwasalwaysjustwhenthewarriorthoughtthathewasgoingtofellErikwithatremendousblowthatweheardthelassowhistlethroughtheair.