Призрак Оперы
Epilogue
Andthatalsoisthewaybywhich,throughsometrickorother,theywerereturned.
SpeakingaboutthistothePersian,Isaid:
"Sowemaytakeit,astheforty-thousandfrancswerereturned,thatErikwassimplyamusinghimselfwiththatmemorandum-bookofhis?"
"Don’tyoubelieveit!"hereplied."Erikwantedmoney.Thinkinghimselfwithoutthepaleofhumanity,hewasrestrainedbynoscruplesandheemployedhisextraordinarygiftsofdexterityandimagination,whichhehadreceivedbywayofcompensationforhisextraordinaryuglinesss,topreyuponhisfellow-men.Hisreasonforrestoringtheforty-thousandfrancs,ofhisownaccord,wasthathenolongerwantedit.HehadrelinquishedhismarriagewithChristineDaae.Hehadrelinquishedeverythingabovethesurfaceoftheearth."
AccordingtothePersian’saccount,ErikwasborninasmalltownnotfarfromRouen.Hewasthesonofamaster-mason.Heranawayatanearlyagefromhisfather’shouse,wherehisuglinesswasasubjectofhorrorandterrortohisparents.Foratime,hefrequentedthefairs,whereashowmanexhibitedhimasthe"livingcorpse."HeseemstohavecrossedthewholeofEurope,fromfairtofair,andtohavecompletedhisstrangeeducationasanartistandmagicianattheveryfountain-headofartandmagic,amongtheGipsies.AperiodofErik’sliferemainedquiteobscure.HewasseenatthefairofNijni-Novgorod,wherehedisplayedhimselfinallhishideousglory.
