Призрак Оперы
XXVI The End Of The Ghost's Love Story
Fauretookdownthedaroga’sdepositionsandproceededtotreathimasamadman.
Despairingofeverobtainingahearing,thePersiansatdowntowrite.Asthepolicedidnotwanthisevidence,perhapsthepresswouldbegladofit;andhehadjustwrittenthelastlineofthenarrativeIhavequotedintheprecedingchapters,whenDariusannouncedthevisitofastrangerwhorefusedhisname,whowouldnotshowhisfaceanddeclaredsimplythathedidnotintendtoleavetheplaceuntilhehadspokentothedaroga.
ThePersianatoncefeltwhohissingularvisitorwasandorderedhimtobeshownin.Thedarogawasright.Itwastheghost,itwasErik!
Helookedextremelyweakandleanedagainstthewall,asthoughhewereafraidoffalling.Takingoffhishat,herevealedaforeheadwhiteaswax.Therestofthehorriblefacewashiddenbythemask.
ThePersianrosetohisfeetasErikentered.
"MurdererofCountPhilippe,whathaveyoudonewithhisbrotherandChristineDaae?"
Erikstaggeredunderthisdirectattack,keptsilentforamoment,draggedhimselftoachairandheavedadeepsigh.Then,speakinginshortphrasesandgaspingforbreathbetweenthewords:
"Daroga,don’ttalktome...aboutCountPhilippe...Hewasdead...bythetime...Ileftmyhouse...hewasdead...when...thesirensang...Itwasan...accident...asad...averysad...accident.Hefellveryawkwardly...butsimplyandnaturally...intothelake!..."
"Youlie!"shoutedthePersian.
Erikbowedhisheadandsaid:
"Ihavenotcomehere...totalkaboutCountPhilippe...buttotellyouthat...Iamgoing...todie...
