Призрак Оперы
II The New Margarita
HehadheardAMAN’SVOICEinthedressing-room,saying,inacuriouslymasterfultone:
"Christine,youmustloveme!"
AndChristine’svoice,infinitelysadandtrembling,asthoughaccompaniedbytears,replied:
"Howcanyoutalklikethat?WHENISINGONLYFORYOU!"
Raoulleanedagainstthepaneltoeasehispain.Hisheart,whichhadseemedgoneforever,returnedtohisbreastandwasthrobbingloudly.ThewholepassageechoedwithitsbeatingandRaoul’searsweredeafened.Surely,ifhisheartcontinuedtomakesuchanoise,theywouldhearitinside,theywouldopenthedoorandtheyoungmanwouldbeturnedawayindisgrace.WhatapositionforaChagny!Tobecaughtlisteningbehindadoor!Hetookhisheartinhistwohandstomakeitstop.
Theman’svoicespokeagain:"Areyouverytired?"
"Oh,to-nightIgaveyoumysoulandIamdead!"Christinereplied.
"Yoursoulisabeautifulthing,child,"repliedthegraveman’svoice,"andIthankyou.Noemperoreverreceivedsofairagift.THEANGELSWEPTTONIGHT."
Raoulheardnothingafterthat.Nevertheless,hedidnotgoaway,but,asthoughhefearedlestheshouldbecaught,hereturnedtohisdarkcorner,determinedtowaitforthemantoleavetheroom.Atoneandthesametime,hehadlearnedwhatlovemeant,andhatred.Heknewthatheloved.Hewantedtoknowwhomhehated.Tohisgreatastonishment,thedooropenedandChristineDaaeappeared,wrappedinfurs,withherfacehiddeninalaceveil,alone.Sheclosedthedoorbehindher,butRaoulobservedthatshedidnotlockit.Shepassedhim.
