Призрак Оперы

           HehadnotsaidawordoftheforestandIhopedthatmycompanion’sreasonwouldholdoutsometimelongeragainstthetorture.Butheadded:

           "WhatconsolesmeisthatthemonsterhasgivenChristineuntilelevento-morrowevening.Ifwecan’tgetoutofhereandgotoherassistance,atleastweshallbedeadbeforeher!ThenErik’smasscanserveforallofus!"

           Andhegulpeddownabreathofhotairthatnearlymadehimfaint.

           AsIhadnotthesamedesperatereasonsasM.leVicomteforacceptingdeath,Ireturned,aftergivinghimawordofencouragement,tomypanel,butIhadmadethemistakeoftakingafewstepswhilespeakingand,inthetangleoftheillusiveforest,Iwasnolongerabletofindmypanelforcertain!Ihadtobeginalloveragain,atrandom,feeling,fumbling,groping.

           Nowthefeverlaidholdofmeinmyturn...forIfoundnothing,absolutelynothing.Inthenextroom,allwassilence.Wewerequitelostintheforest,withoutanoutlet,acompass,aguideoranything.Oh,Iknewwhatawaitedusifnobodycametoouraid...orifIdidnotfindthespring!But,lookasImight,Ifoundnothingbutbranches,beautifulbranchesthatstoodstraightupbeforeme,orspreadgracefullyovermyhead.Buttheygavenoshade.Andthiswasnaturalenough,aswewereinanequatorialforest,withthesunrightaboveourheads,anAfricanforest.

           M.deChagnyandIhadrepeatedlytakenoffourcoatsandputthemonagain,findingatonetimethattheymadeusfeelstillhotterandatanotherthattheyprotectedusagainsttheheat.Iwasstillmakingamoralresistance,butM.