Призрак Оперы

           TheAngelofMusicforbidshertomarry!"

           "Oh,heforbidsher...withoutforbiddingher.It’slikethis:hetellsherthat,ifshegotmarried,shewouldneverhearhimagain.That’sall!...Andthathewouldgoawayforever!...So,youunderstand,shecan’tlettheAngelofMusicgo.It’squitenatural."

           "Yes,yes,"echoedRaoulsubmissively,"it’squitenatural."

           "Besides,IthoughtChristinehadtoldyouallthat,whenshemetyouatPerros,whereshewentwithhergoodgenius."

           "Oh,shewenttoPerroswithhergoodgenius,didshe?"

           "Thatistosay,hearrangedtomeetherdownthere,inPerroschurchyard,atDaae’sgrave.HepromisedtoplayherTheResurrectionofLazarusonherfather’sviolin!"

           RaouldeChagnyroseand,withaveryauthoritativeair,pronouncedtheseperemptorywords:

           "Madame,youwillhavethegoodnesstotellmewherethatgeniuslives."

           Theoldladydidnotseemsurprisedatthisindiscreetcommand.Sheraisedhereyesandsaid:

           "InHeaven!"

           Suchsimplicitybaffledhim.HedidnotknowwhattosayinthepresenceofthiscandidandperfectfaithinageniuswhocamedownnightlyfromHeaventohauntthedressing-roomsattheOpera.

           Henowrealizedthepossiblestateofmindofagirlbroughtupbetweenasuperstitiousfiddlerandavisionaryoldladyandheshudderedwhenhethoughtoftheconsequencesofitall.

           "IsChristinestillagoodgirl?"heaskedsuddenly,inspiteofhimself.

           "Iswearit,asIhopetobesaved!"exclaimedtheoldwoman,who,thistime,seemedtobeincensed."And,ifyoudoubtit,sir,Idon’tknowwhatyouareherefor!"

           Raoultoreathisgloves.