Привид Опери
XX In The Cellars Of The Opera
Heseemedtobeworkingatthefloor;andsuddenlyheturnedoffhislight.ThenRaoulheardafaintclickandsawaverypaleluminoussquareinthefloorofthepassage.ItwasasthoughawindowhadopenedontheOperacellars,whichwerestilllit.RaoulnolongersawthePersian,buthesuddenlyfelthimbyhissideandheardhimwhisper:
"FollowmeanddoallthatIdo."
Raoulturnedtotheluminousaperture.ThenhesawthePersian,whowasstillonhisknees,hangbyhishandsfromtherimoftheopening,withhispistolbetweenhisteeth,andslideintothecellarbelow.
Curiouslyenough,theviscounthadabsoluteconfidenceinthePersian,thoughheknewnothingabouthim.Hisemotionwhenspeakingofthe"monster"struckhimassincere;and,ifthePersianhadcherishedanysinisterdesignsagainsthim,hewouldnothavearmedhimwithhisownhands.Besides,RaoulmustreachChristineatallcosts.Hethereforewentonhiskneesalsoandhungfromthetrapwithbothhands.
"Letgo!"saidavoice.
AndhedroppedintothearmsofthePersian,whotoldhimtoliedownflat,closedthetrap-doorabovehimandcroucheddownbesidehim.Raoultriedtoaskaquestion,butthePersian’shandwasonhismouthandheheardavoicewhichherecognizedasthatofthecommissaryofpolice.
RaoulandthePersianwerecompletelyhiddenbehindawoodenpartition.Nearthem,asmallstaircaseledtoalittleroominwhichthecommissaryappearedtobewalkingupanddown,askingquestions.ThefaintlightwasjustenoughtoenableRaoultodistinguishtheshapeofthingsaroundhim.
