Призрак Оперы
V The Enchanted Violin
SometimestheAngelleansovertheircradle,ashappenedtoLotte,andthatishowtherearelittleprodigieswhoplaythefiddleatsixbetterthanmenatfifty,which,youmustadmit,isverywonderful.Sometimes,theAngelcomesmuchlater,becausethechildrenarenaughtyandwon’tlearntheirlessonsorpractisetheirscales.And,sometimes,hedoesnotcomeatall,becausethechildrenhaveabadheartorabadconscience.
NooneeverseestheAngel;butheisheardbythosewhoaremeanttohearhim.Heoftencomeswhentheyleastexpecthim,whentheyaresadanddisheartened.Thentheirearssuddenlyperceivecelestialharmonies,adivinevoice,whichtheyrememberalltheirlives.PersonswhoarevisitedbytheAngelquiverwithathrillunknowntotherestofmankind.Andtheycannottouchaninstrument,oropentheirmouthstosing,withoutproducingsoundsthatputallotherhumansoundstoshame.ThenpeoplewhodonotknowthattheAngelhasvisitedthosepersonssaythattheyhavegenius.
LittleChristineaskedherfatherifhehadheardtheAngelofMusic.ButDaddyDaaeshookhisheadsadly;andthenhiseyeslitup,ashesaid:
"Youwillhearhimoneday,mychild!WhenIaminHeaven,Iwillsendhimtoyou!"
Daddywasbeginningtocoughatthattime.
Threeyearslater,RaoulandChristinemetagainatPerros.ProfessorValeriuswasdead,buthiswidowremainedinFrancewithDaddyDaaeandhisdaughter,whocontinuedtoplaytheviolinandsing,wrappingintheirdreamofharmonytheirkindpatroness,whoseemedhenceforthtoliveonmusicalone.
