Призрак Оперы
V The Enchanted Violin
Thenhewenttohisroomandtriedtoread,wenttobedandtriedtosleep.Therewasnosoundinthenextroom.
Thehourspassedslowly.Itwasabouthalf-pastelevenwhenhedistinctlyheardsomeonemoving,withalight,stealthystep,intheroomnexttohis.ThenChristinehadnotgonetobed!Withouttroublingforareason,Raouldressed,takingcarenottomakeasound,andwaited.Waitedforwhat?Howcouldhetell?ButhisheartthumpedinhischestwhenheheardChristine’sdoorturnslowlyonitshinges.Wherecouldshebegoing,atthishour,wheneveryonewasfastasleepatPerros?Softlyopeningthedoor,hesawChristine’swhiteform,inthemoonlight,slippingalongthepassage.Shewentdownthestairsandheleanedoverthebalusteraboveher.Suddenlyheheardtwovoicesinrapidconversation.Hecaughtonesentence:"Don’tlosethekey."
Itwasthelandlady’svoice.Thedoorfacingtheseawasopenedandlockedagain.Thenallwasstill.
Raoulranbacktohisroomandthrewbackthewindow.Christine’swhiteformstoodonthedesertedquay.
ThefirstflooroftheSettingSunwasatnogreatheightandatreegrowingagainstthewallheldoutitsbranchestoRaoul’simpatientarmsandenabledhimtoclimbdownunknowntothelandlady.Heramazement,therefore,wasallthegreaterwhen,thenextmorning,theyoungmanwasbroughtbacktoherhalffrozen,moredeadthanalive,andwhenshelearnedthathehadbeenfoundstretchedatfulllengthonthestepsofthehighaltarofthelittlechurch.
