Призрак Оперы

           asthereisnoonethere?...Here...comedown...there!...Pullyourselftogether...asthereisnoonethere!...BUTHOWDOYOULIKETHELANDSCAPE?"

           "Oh,verymuch!"

           "There,that’sbetter!...You’rebetternow,areyounot?...That’sallright,you’rebetter!...Noexcitement!...Andwhatafunnyhouse,isn’tit,withlandscapeslikethatinit?"

           "Yes,it’sliketheMuseeGrevin...But,say,Erik...therearenotorturesinthere!...Whatafrightyougaveme!"

           "Why...asthereisnoonethere?"

           "Didyoudesignthatroom?It’sveryhandsome.You’reagreatartist,Erik."

           "Yes,agreatartist,inmyownline."

           "Buttellme,Erik,whydidyoucallthatroomthetorture-chamber?"

           "Oh,it’sverysimple.Firstofall,whatdidyousee?"

           "Isawaforest."

           "Andwhatisinaforest?"

           "Trees."

           "Andwhatisinatree?"

           "Birds."

           "Didyouseeanybirds?"

           "No,Ididnotseeanybirds."

           "Well,whatdidyousee?Think!YousawbranchesAndwhatarethebranches?"askedtheterriblevoice."THERE’SAGIBBET!ThatiswhyIcallmywoodthetorture-chamber!...Yousee,it’sallajoke.Ineverexpressmyselflikeotherpeople.ButIamverytiredofit!...I’msickandtiredofhavingaforestandatorture-chamberinmyhouseandoflivinglikeamountebank,inahousewithafalsebottom!...I’mtiredofit!Iwanttohaveanice,quietflat,withordinarydoorsandwindowsandawifeinsideit,likeanybodyelse!AwifewhomIcouldloveandtakeoutonSundaysandkeepamusedonweek-days...