Призрак Оперы
V The Enchanted Violin
Daaeusedtoplaytousinhishoursofmelancholyandoffaith.IfChristine’sAngelhadexisted,hecouldnothaveplayedbetter,thatnight,onthelatemusician’sviolin.Whenthemusicstopped,Iseemedtohearanoisefromtheskullsintheheapofbones;itwasasthoughtheywerechucklingandIcouldnothelpshuddering."
Q."Diditnotoccurtoyouthatthemusicianmightbehidingbehindthatveryheapofbones?"
R."Itwastheonethoughtthatdidoccurtome,monsieur,somuchsothatIomittedtofollowMlle.Daae,whenshestoodupandwalkedslowlytothegate.ShewassomuchabsorbedjustthenthatIamnotsurprisedthatshedidnotseeme."
Q."Thenwhathappenedthatyouwerefoundinthemorninglyinghalf-deadonthestepsofthehighaltar?"
R."Firstaskullrolledtomyfeet...thenanother...thenanother...ItwasasifIwerethemarkofthatghastlygameofbowls.AndIhadanideathatfalsestepmusthavedestroyedthebalanceofthestructurebehindwhichourmusicianwasconcealed.ThissurmiseseemedtobeconfirmedwhenIsawashadowsuddenlyglidealongthesacristywall.Iranup.Theshadowhadalreadypushedopenthedoorandenteredthechurch.ButIwasquickerthantheshadowandcaughtholdofacornerofitscloak.Atthatmoment,wewerejustinfrontofthehighaltar;andthemoonbeamsfellstraightuponusthroughthestained-glasswindowsoftheapse.AsIdidnotletgoofthecloak,theshadowturnedround;andIsawaterribledeath’shead,whichdartedalookatmefromapairofscorchingeyes
