Привид Опери
XII Apollo's Lyre
"
"Whatdidyoudo?"
"Ihadnotimetothinkaboutthemeaningheputintohiswords.WeatoncebegantheduetinOthelloandalreadythecatastrophewasuponus.IsangDesdemonawithadespair,aterrorwhichIhadneverdisplayedbefore.Asforhim,hisvoicethunderedforthhisrevengefulsoulateverynote.Love,jealousy,hatred,burstoutaroundusinharrowingcries.Erik’sblackmaskmademethinkofthenaturalmaskoftheMoorofVenice.HewasOthellohimself.Suddenly,Ifeltaneedtoseebeneaththemask.IwantedtoknowtheFACEofthevoice,and,withamovementwhichIwasutterlyunabletocontrol,swiftlymyfingerstoreawaythemask.Oh,horror,horror,horror!"
Christinestopped,atthethoughtofthevisionthathadscaredher,whiletheechoesofthenight,whichhadrepeatedthenameofErik,nowthricemoanedthecry:
"Horror!...Horror!...Horror!"
RaoulandChristine,claspingeachotherclosely,raisedtheireyestothestarsthatshoneinaclearandpeacefulsky.Raoulsaid:
"Strange,Christine,thatthiscalm,softnightshouldbesofullofplaintivesounds.Onewouldthinkthatitwassorrowingwithus."
"Whenyouknowthesecret,Raoul,yourears,likemine,willbefulloflamentations."
ShetookRaoul’sprotectinghandsinhersand,withalongshiver,continued:
"Yes,ifIlivedtobeahundred,Ishouldalwayshearthesuperhumancryofgriefandragewhichheutteredwhentheterriblesightappearedbeforemyeyes...
