Призрак Оперы
Epilogue
LongafterthecasewaspigeonholedbytheunintelligentcareofM.leJuged’InstructionFaure,thenewspapersmadeefforts,atintervals,tofathomthemystery.Oneeveningpaperalone,whichknewallthegossipofthetheaters,said:
"WerecognizethetouchoftheOperaghost."
Andeventhatwaswrittenbywayofirony.
ThePersianaloneknewthewholetruthandheldthemainproofs,whichcametohimwiththepiousrelicspromisedbytheghost.Itfelltomylottocompletethoseproofswiththeaidofthedarogahimself.Daybyday,Ikepthiminformedoftheprogressofmyinquiries;andhedirectedthem.HehadnotbeentotheOperaforyearsandyears,buthehadpreservedthemostaccuraterecollectionofthebuilding,andtherewasnobetterguidethanhepossibletohelpmediscoveritsmostsecretrecesses.Healsotoldmewheretogatherfurtherinformation,whomtoask;andhesentmetocallonM.Poligny,atamomentwhenthepoormanwasnearlydrawinghislastbreath.Ihadnoideathathewassoveryill,andIshallneverforgettheeffectwhichmyquestionsabouttheghostproduceduponhim.HelookedatmeasifIwerethedevilandansweredonlyinafewincoherentsentences,whichshowed,however—andthatwasthemainthing—theextentoftheperturbationwhichO.G.,inhistime,hadbroughtintothatalreadyveryrestlesslife(forM.Polignywaswhatpeoplecallamanofpleasure).
WhenIcameandtoldthePersianofthepoorresultofmyvisittoM.Poligny,thedarogagaveafaintsmileandsaid:
"PolignyneverknewhowfarthatextraordinaryblackguardofanErikhumbuggedhim.
