Призрак Оперы
XXIV Barrels! Barrels!
AndthenIcaughtthepistolfromhim...andthenIdraggedmyselfonmykneestowardwhatIhadseen.
Ihaddiscovered,nearthePunjablasso,inagrooveinthefloor,ablack-headednailofwhichIknewtheuse.AtlastIhaddiscoveredthespring!Ifeltthenail...IliftedaradiantfacetoM.deChagny...Theblack-headednailyieldedtomypressure...
Andthen...
Andthenwesawnotadooropenedinthewall,butacellar-flapreleasedinthefloor.Coolaircameuptousfromtheblackholebelow.Westoopedoverthatsquareofdarknessasthoughoveralimpidwell.Withourchinsinthecoolshade,wedrankitin.Andwebentlowerandloweroverthetrap-door.Whatcouldtherebeinthatcellarwhichopenedbeforeus?Water?Watertodrink?
Ithrustmyarmintothedarknessandcameuponastoneandanotherstone...astaircase...adarkstaircaseleadingintothecellar.Theviscountwantedtoflinghimselfdownthehole;butI,fearinganewtrickofthemonster’s,stoppedhim,turnedonmydarklanternandwentdownfirst.
Thestaircasewasawindingoneandleddownintopitchydarkness.Butoh,howdeliciouslycoolwerethedarknessandthestairs?Thelakecouldnotbefaraway.
Wesoonreachedthebottom.Oureyeswerebeginningtoaccustomthemselvestothedark,todistinguishshapesaroundus...circularshapes...onwhichIturnedthelightofmylantern.
Barrels!
WewereinErik’scellar:itwasherethathemustkeephiswineandperhapshisdrinking-water.IknewthatErikwasagreatloverofgoodwine.Ah,therewasplentytodrinkhere!
M.