Призрак Оперы

           Andtheangryvoiceroared:

           "Itoldyoutherewassomeone!Doyouseethewindownow?Thelightedwindow,rightupthere?Themanbehindthewallcan’tseeit!Butyoushallgoupthefoldingsteps:thatiswhattheyaretherefor!...Youhaveoftenaskedmetotellyou;andnowyouknow!...Theyaretheretogiveapeepintothetorture-chamber...youinquisitivelittlething!"

           "Whattortures?...Whoisbeingtortured?...Erik,Erik,sayyouareonlytryingtofrightenme!...Sayit,ifyouloveme,Erik!...Therearenotortures,arethere?"

           "Goandlookatthelittlewindow,dear!"

           Idonotknowiftheviscountheardthegirl’sswooningvoice,forhewastoomuchoccupiedbytheastoundingspectaclethatnowappearedbeforehisdistractedgaze.Asforme,Ihadseenthatsighttoooften,throughthelittlewindow,atthetimeoftherosyhoursofMazenderan;andIcaredonlyforwhatwasbeingsaidnextdoor,seekingforahinthowtoact,whatresolutiontotake.

           "Goandpeepthroughthelittlewindow!Tellmewhathelookslike!"

           Weheardthestepsbeingdraggedagainstthewall.

           "Upwithyou!...No!...No,Iwillgoupmyself,dear!"

           "Oh,verywell,Iwillgoup.Letmego!"

           "Oh,mydarling,mydarling!...Howsweetofyou!...Howniceofyoutosavemetheexertionatmyage!...Tellmewhathelookslike!"

           Atthatmoment,wedistinctlyheardthesewordsaboveourheads:

           "Thereisnoonethere,dear!"

           "Noone?...Areyousurethereisnoone?"

           "Why,ofcoursenot...noone!"

           "Well,that’sallright!...What’sthematter,Christine?You’renotgoingtofaint,areyou...