Призрак Оперы
V The Enchanted Violin
ThefirsttimethatRaoulsawChristineattheOpera,hewascharmedbythegirl’sbeautyandbythesweetimagesofthepastwhichitevoked,butwasrathersurprisedatthenegativesideofherart.Hereturnedtolistentoher.Hefollowedherinthewings.HewaitedforherbehindaJacob’sladder.Hetriedtoattractherattention.Morethanonce,hewalkedafterhertothedoorofherbox,butshedidnotseehim.Sheseemed,forthatmatter,toseenobody.Shewasallindifference.Raoulsuffered,forshewasverybeautifulandhewasshyanddarednotconfesshislove,eventohimself.Andthencamethelightning-flashofthegalaperformance:theheavenstornasunderandanangel’svoicehearduponearthforthedelightofmankindandtheuttercaptureofhisheart.
Andthen...andthentherewasthatman’svoicebehindthedoor—"Youmustloveme!"—andnooneintheroom...
Whydidshelaughwhenheremindedheroftheincidentofthescarf?Whydidshenotrecognizehim?Andwhyhadshewrittentohim?...
Perroswasreachedatlast.Raoulwalkedintothesmokysitting-roomoftheSettingSunandatoncesawChristinestandingbeforehim,smilingandshowingnoastonishment.
"Soyouhavecome,"shesaid."IfeltthatIshouldfindyouhere,whenIcamebackfrommass.Someonetoldmeso,atthechurch."
"Who?"askedRaoul,takingherlittlehandinhis.
"Why,mypoorfather,whoisdead."
Therewasasilence;andthenRaoulasked:
"DidyourfathertellyouthatIloveyou,Christine,andthatIcannotlivewithoutyou?"
Christineblushedtotheeyesandturnedawayherhead.
