Призрак Оперы

           WespentagoodpartoftheeveningtogetherandhetoldmethewholeChagnycaseashehadunderstooditatthetime.Hewasboundtoconcludeinfavorofthemadnessoftheviscountandtheaccidentaldeathoftheelderbrother,forlackofevidencetothecontrary;buthewasneverthelesspersuadedthataterribletragedyhadtakenplacebetweenthetwobrothersinconnectionwithChristineDaae.HecouldnottellmewhatbecameofChristineortheviscount.WhenImentionedtheghost,heonlylaughed.He,too,hadbeentoldofthecuriousmanifestationsthatseemedtopointtotheexistenceofanabnormalbeing,residinginoneofthemostmysteriouscornersoftheOpera,andheknewthestoryoftheenvelope;buthehadneverseenanythinginitworthyofhisattentionasmagistrateinchargeoftheChagnycase,anditwasasmuchashehaddonetolistentotheevidenceofawitnesswhoappearedofhisownaccordanddeclaredthathehadoftenmettheghost.ThiswitnesswasnoneotherthanthemanwhomallPariscalledthe"Persian"andwhowaswell-knowntoeverysubscribertotheOpera.Themagistratetookhimforavisionary.

           IwasimmenselyinterestedbythisstoryofthePersian.Iwanted,iftherewerestilltime,tofindthisvaluableandeccentricwitness.MyluckbegantoimproveandIdiscoveredhiminhislittleflatintheRuedeRivoli,wherehehadlivedeversinceandwherehediedfivemonthsaftermyvisit.