XXVI The End Of The Ghost's Love Story

           ThepreviouschaptermarkstheconclusionofthewrittennarrativewhichthePersianleftbehindhim.

           Notwithstandingthehorrorsofasituationwhichseemeddefinitelytoabandonthemtotheirdeaths,M.deChagnyandhiscompanionweresavedbythesublimedevotionofChristineDaae.AndIhadtherestofthestoryfromthelipsofthedarogahimself.

           WhenIwenttoseehim,hewasstilllivinginhislittleflatintheRuedeRivoli,oppositetheTuileries.Hewasveryill,anditrequiredallmyardorasanhistorianpledgedtothetruthtopersuadehimtolivetheincredibletragedyoveragainformybenefit.HisfaithfuloldservantDariusshowedmeintohim.ThedarogareceivedmeatawindowoverlookingthegardenoftheTuileries.Hestillhadhismagnificenteyes,buthispoorfacelookedveryworn.Hehadshavedthewholeofhishead,whichwasusuallycoveredwithanastrakhancap;hewasdressedinalong,plaincoatandamusedhimselfbyunconsciouslytwistinghisthumbsinsidethesleeves;buthismindwasquiteclear,andhetoldmehisstorywithperfectlucidity.

           Itseemsthat,whenheopenedhiseyes,thedarogafoundhimselflyingonabed.M.deChagnywasonasofa,besidethewardrobe.Anangelandadevilwerewatchingoverthem.

           Afterthedeceptionsandillusionsofthetorture-chamber,theprecisionofthedetailsofthatquietlittlemiddle-classroomseemedtohavebeeninventedfortheexpresspurposeofpuzzlingthemindofthemortalrashenoughtostrayintothatabodeoflivingnightmare.