Призрак Оперы
VII Faust And What Followed
Leaningovertheledgeoftheirbox,theystaredatCarlottaasthoughtheydidnotrecognizeher.Thatinfernalgirlmusthavegiventhesignalforsomecatastrophe.Ah,theywerewaitingforthecatastrophe!Theghosthadtoldthemitwouldcome!Thehousehadacurseuponit!Thetwomanagersgaspedandpantedundertheweightofthecatastrophe.Richard’sstifledvoicewasheardcallingtoCarlotta:
"Well,goon!"
No,Carlottadidnotgoon...Bravely,heroically,shestartedafreshonthefatallineattheendofwhichthetoadhadappeared.
Anawfulsilencesucceededtheuproar.Carlotta’svoicealoneoncemorefilledtheresoundinghouse:
"Ifeelwithoutalarm..."
Theaudiencealsofelt,butnotwithoutalarm...
"Ifeelwithoutalarm...
Ifeelwithoutalarm—co-ack!
Withitsmelodyenwindme—co-ack!
Andallmyheartsub—co-ack!"
Thetoadalsohadstartedafresh!
Thehousebrokeintoawildtumult.Thetwomanagerscollapsedintheirchairsanddarednoteventurnround;theyhadnotthestrength;theghostwaschucklingbehindtheirbacks!And,atlast,theydistinctlyheardhisvoiceintheirrightears,theimpossiblevoice,themouthlessvoice,saying:
"SHEISSINGINGTO-NIGHTTOBRINGTHECHANDELIERDOWN!"
Withoneaccord,theyraisedtheireyestotheceilingandutteredaterriblecry.Thechandelier,theimmensemassofthechandelierwasslippingdown,comingtowardthem,atthecallofthatfiendishvoice.Releasedfromitshook,itplungedfromtheceilingandcamesmashingintothemiddleofthestalls,amidathousandshoutsofterror.Awildrushforthedoorsfollowed
