Призрак Оперы
XXII In The Torture Chamber
"Therequiemmassisnotatallgay,"Erik’svoiceresumed,"whereastheweddingmass—youcantakemywordforit—ismagnificent!Youmusttakearesolutionandknowyourownmind!Ican’tgoonlivinglikethis,likeamoleinaburrow!DonJuanTriumphantisfinished;andnowIwanttolivelikeeverybodyelse.IwanttohaveawifelikeeverybodyelseandtotakeheroutonSundays.Ihaveinventedamaskthatmakesmelooklikeanybody.Peoplewillnoteventurnroundinthestreets.Youwillbethehappiestofwomen.Andwewillsing,allbyourselves,tillweswoonawaywithdelight.Youarecrying!Youareafraidofme!AndyetIamnotreallywicked.Lovemeandyoushallsee!AllIwantedwastobelovedformyself.IfyoulovedmeIshouldbeasgentleasalamb;andyoucoulddoanythingwithmethatyoupleased."
Soonthemoansthataccompaniedthissortoflove’slitanyincreasedandincreased.Ihaveneverheardanythingmoredespairing;andM.deChagnyandIrecognizedthatthisterriblelamentationcamefromErikhimself.Christineseemedtobestandingdumbwithhorror,withoutthestrengthtocryout,whilethemonsterwasonhiskneesbeforeher.
Threetimesover,Erikfiercelybewailedhisfate:
"Youdon’tloveme!Youdon’tloveme!Youdon’tloveme!"
Andthen,moregently:
"Whydoyoucry?Youknowitgivesmepaintoseeyoucry!"
Asilence.
Eachsilencegaveusfreshhope.Wesaidtoourselves:
"PerhapshehasleftChristinebehindthewall."
AndwethoughtonlyofthepossibilityofwarningChristineDaaeofourpresence,unknowntothemonster.
