Epilogue

           Ihavenowtoldthesingular,butveraciousstoryoftheOperaghost.AsIdeclaredonthefirstpageofthiswork,itisnolongerpossibletodenythatErikreallylived.Thereareto-daysomanyproofsofhisexistencewithinthereachofeverybodythatwecanfollowErik’sactionslogicallythroughthewholetragedyoftheChagnys.

           Thereisnoneedtorepeatherehowgreatlythecaseexcitedthecapital.Thekidnappingoftheartist,thedeathoftheComtedeChagnyundersuchexceptionalconditions,thedisappearanceofhisbrother,thedruggingofthegas-manattheOperaandofhistwoassistants:whattragedies,whatpassions,whatcrimeshadsurroundedtheidyllofRaoulandthesweetandcharmingChristine!...Whathadbecomeofthatwonderful,mysteriousartistofwhomtheworldwasnever,nevertohearagain?...Shewasrepresentedasthevictimofarivalrybetweenthetwobrothers;andnobodysuspectedwhathadreallyhappened,nobodyunderstoodthat,asRaoulandChristinehadbothdisappeared,bothhadwithdrawnfarfromtheworldtoenjoyahappinesswhichtheywouldnothavecaredtomakepublicaftertheinexplicabledeathofCountPhilippe...Theytookthetrainonedayfrom"thenorthernrailwaystationoftheworld."...Possibly,Itooshalltakethetrainatthatstation,oneday,andgoandseekaroundthylakes,ONorway,OsilentScandinavia,fortheperhapsstilllivingtracesofRaoulandChristineandalsoofMammaValerius,whodisappearedatthesametime!...Possibly,someday,IshallhearthelonelyechoesoftheNorthrepeatthesingingofherwhoknewtheAngelofMusic!...