Призрак Оперы
XXV The Scorpion Or The Grasshopper: Which
Ifyouturnthescorpion,mademoiselle,allthatpowderwillbesoakedanddrowned.Mademoiselle,tocelebrateourwedding,youshallmakeaveryhandsomepresenttoafewhundredParisianswhoareatthismomentapplaudingapoormasterpieceofMeyerbeer’s...youshallmakethemapresentoftheirlives...For,withyourownfairhands,youshallturnthescorpion...Andmerrily,merrily,wewillbemarried!"
Apause;andthen:
"If,intwominutes,mademoiselle,youhavenotturnedthescorpion,Ishallturnthegrasshopper...andthegrasshopper,Itellyou,HOPSJOLLYHIGH!"
Theterriblesilencebegananew.TheVicomtedeChagny,realizingthattherewasnothinglefttodobutpray,wentdownonhiskneesandprayed.Asforme,mybloodbeatsofiercelythatIhadtotakemyheartinbothhands,lestitshouldburst.Atlast,weheardErik’svoice:
"Thetwominutesarepast...Good-by,mademoiselle...Hop,grasshopper!"Erik,"criedChristine,"doyousweartome,monster,doyousweartomethatthescorpionistheonetoturn?
"Yes,tohopatourwedding."
"Ah,yousee!Yousaid,tohop!"
"Atourwedding,ingenuouschild!...Thescorpionopenstheball...Butthatwilldo!...Youwon’thavethescorpion?ThenIturnthegrasshopper!"
"Erik!"
"Enough!"
IwascryingoutinconcertwithChristine.M.deChagnywasstillonhisknees,praying.
