Привид Опери
IX At The Masked Ball
Itwasamandressedallinscarlet,withahugehatandfeathersonthetopofawonderfuldeath’shead.Fromhisshouldershunganimmensered-velvetcloak,whichtrailedalongthefloorlikeaking’strain;andonthiscloakwasembroidered,ingoldletters,whicheveryonereadandrepeatedaloud,"Don’ttouchme!IamRedDeathstalkingabroad!"
Thenone,greatlydaring,didtrytotouchhim...butaskeletonhandshotoutofacrimsonsleeveandviolentlyseizedtherashone’swrist;andhe,feelingtheclutchoftheknucklebones,thefuriousgraspofDeath,utteredacryofpainandterror.WhenRedDeathreleasedhimatlast,heranawaylikeaverymadman,pursuedbythejeersofthebystanders.
ItwasatthismomentthatRaoulpassedinfrontofthefunerealmasquerader,whohadjusthappenedtoturninhisdirection.Andhenearlyexclaimed:
"Thedeath’sheadofPerros-Guirec!"
Hehadrecognizedhim!...Hewantedtodartforward,forgettingChristine;buttheblackdomino,whoalsoseemedapreytosomestrangeexcitement,caughthimbythearmanddraggedhimfromthecrush-room,farfromthemadcrowdthroughwhichRedDeathwasstalking...
Theblackdominokeptonturningbackand,apparently,ontwooccasionssawsomethingthatstartledher,forshehurriedherpaceandRaoul’sasthoughtheywerebeingpursued.
Theywentuptwofloors.Here,thestairsandcorridorswerealmostdeserted.Theblackdominoopenedthedoorofaprivateboxandbeckonedtothewhitedominotofollowher.
