Призрак Оперы
XXV The Scorpion Or The Grasshopper: Which
"Erik!Ihaveturnedthescorpion!"
Oh,thesecondthroughwhichwepassed!
Waiting!Waitingtofindourselvesinfragments,amidtheroarandtheruins!
Feelingsomethingcrackbeneathourfeet,hearinganappallinghissthroughtheopentrap-door,ahisslikethefirstsoundofarocket!
Itcamesoftly,atfirst,thenlouder,thenveryloud.Butitwasnotthehissoffire.Itwasmorelikethehissofwater.Andnowitbecameagurglingsound:"Guggle!Guggle!"
Werushedtothetrap-door.Allourthirst,whichvanishedwhentheterrorcame,nowreturnedwiththelappingofthewater.
Thewaterroseinthecellar,abovethebarrels,thepowder-barrels—"Barrels!...Barrels!Anybarrelstosell?"—andwewentdowntoitwithparchedthroats.Itrosetoourchins,toourmouths.Andwedrank.Westoodonthefloorofthecellaranddrank.Andwewentupthestairsagaininthedark,stepbystep,wentupwiththewater.
Thewatercameoutofthecellarwithusandspreadovertheflooroftheroom.If,thiswenton,thewholehouseonthelakewouldbeswamped.Thefloorofthetorture-chamberhaditselfbecomearegularlittlelake,inwhichourfeetsplashed.Surelytherewaswaterenoughnow!Erikmustturnoffthetap!
"Erik!Erik!Thatiswaterenoughforthegunpowder!Turnoffthetap!Turnoffthescorpion!"
ButErikdidnotreply.Weheardnothingbutthewaterrising:itwashalf-waytoourwaists!
"Christine!"criedM.deChagny."Christine!Thewaterisuptoourknees!"
ButChristinedidnotreply...Weheardnothingbutthewaterrising.
