Призрак Оперы
V The Enchanted Violin
IfeelthatImustwritetoyouto-day,whenIamgoingtoPerros,infulfilmentofasacredduty.To-morrowistheanniversaryofthedeathofmypoorfather,whomyouknewandwhowasveryfondofyou.Heisburiedthere,withhisviolin,inthegraveyardofthelittlechurch,atthebottomoftheslopewhereweusedtoplayaschildren,besidetheroadwhere,whenwewerealittlebigger,wesaidgood-byforthelasttime.
TheVicomtedeChagnyhurriedlyconsultedarailwayguide,dressedasquicklyashecould,wroteafewlinesforhisvalettotaketohisbrotherandjumpedintoacabwhichbroughthimtotheGareMontparnassejustintimetomissthemorningtrain.Hespentadismaldayintownanddidnotrecoverhisspiritsuntiltheevening,whenhewasseatedinhiscompartmentintheBrittanyexpress.HereadChristine’snoteoverandoveragain,smellingitsperfume,recallingthesweetpicturesofhischildhood,andspenttherestofthattediousnightjourneyinfeverishdreamsthatbeganandendedwithChristineDaae.DaywasbreakingwhenhealightedatLannion.HehurriedtothediligenceforPerros-Guirec.Hewastheonlypassenger.Hequestionedthedriverandlearnedthat,ontheeveningofthepreviousday,ayoungladywholookedlikeaParisianhadgonetoPerrosandputupattheinnknownastheSettingSun.
Thenearerhedrewtoher,themorefondlyherememberedthestoryofthelittleSwedishsinger.Mostofthedetailsarestillunknowntothepublic.
