Привид Опери

           ThenknowthateachofmyvisitstoErikincreasedmyhorrorofhim;foreachofthosevisits,insteadofcalminghim,asIhoped,madehimmadwithlove!AndIamsofrightened,sofrightened!..."

           "Youarefrightened...butdoyouloveme?IfErikweregood-looking,wouldyouloveme,Christine?"

           Sheroseinherturn,puthertwotremblingarmsroundtheyoungman’sneckandsaid:

           "Oh,mybetrothedofaday,ifIdidnotloveyou,Iwouldnotgiveyoumylips!Takethem,forthefirsttimeandthelast."

           Hekissedherlips;butthenightthatsurroundedthemwasrentasunder,theyfledasattheapproachofastormandtheireyes,filledwithdreadofErik,showedthem,beforetheydisappeared,highupabovethem,animmensenight-birdthatstaredatthemwithitsblazingeyesandseemedtoclingtothestringofApollo’slyre.