Призрак Оперы

           deChagnypattedtheroundshapesandkeptonsaying:

           "Barrels!Barrels!Whatalotofbarrels!..."

           Indeed,therewasquiteanumberofthem,symmetricallyarrangedintworows,oneoneithersideofus.TheyweresmallbarrelsandIthoughtthatErikmusthaveselectedthemofthatsizetofacilitatetheircarriagetothehouseonthelake.

           Weexaminedthemsuccessively,toseeifoneofthemhadnotafunnel,showingthatithadbeentappedatsometimeoranother.Butallthebarrelswerehermeticallyclosed.

           Then,afterhalfliftingonetomakesureitwasfull,wewentonourkneesand,withthebladeofasmallknifewhichIcarried,Ipreparedtostaveinthebung-hole.

           Atthatmoment,Iseemedtohear,comingfromveryfar,asortofmonotonouschantwhichIknewwell,fromoftenhearingitinthestreetsofParis:

           "Barrels!...Barrels!...Anybarrelstosell?"

           Myhanddesistedfromitswork.M.deChagnyhadalsoheard.Hesaid:

           "That’sfunny!Itsoundsasifthebarrelweresinging!"

           Thesongwasrenewed,fartheraway:

           "Barrels!...Barrels!...Anybarrelstosell?..."

           "Oh,Iswear,"saidtheviscount,"thatthetunediesawayinthebarrel!..."

           Westoodupandwenttolookbehindthebarrel.

           "It’sinside,"saidM.deChagny,"it’sinside!"

           Butweheardnothingthereandweredriventoaccusethebadconditionofoursenses.Andwereturnedtothebung-hole.M.deChagnyputhistwohandstogetherunderneathitand,withalasteffort,Iburstthebung.

           "What’sthis?"criedtheviscount."Thisisn’twater!"

           Theviscountputhistwofullhandsclosetomylantern...Istoopedtolook..