Привид Опери
XX In The Cellars Of The Opera
Andhecouldnotrestrainadullcry:therewerethreecorpsesthere.
Thefirstlayonthenarrowlandingofthelittlestaircase;thetwoothershadrolledtothebottomofthestaircase.Raoulcouldhavetouchedoneofthetwopoorwretchesbypassinghisfingersthroughthepartition.
"Silence!"whisperedthePersian.
Hetoohadseenthebodiesandhegaveonewordinexplanation:
"HE!"
Thecommissary’svoicewasnowheardmoredistinctly.Hewasaskingforinformationaboutthesystemoflighting,whichthestage-managersupplied.Thecommissarythereforemustbeinthe"organ"oritsimmediateneighborhood.
Contrarytowhatonemightthink,especiallyinconnectionwithanopera-house,the"organ"isnotamusicalinstrument.Atthattime,electricitywasemployedonlyforaveryfewsceniceffectsandforthebells.Theimmensebuildingandthestageitselfwerestilllitbygas;hydrogenwasusedtoregulateandmodifythelightingofascene;andthiswasdonebymeansofaspecialapparatuswhich,becauseofthemultiplicityofitspipes,wasknownasthe"organ."Aboxbesidetheprompter’sboxwasreservedforthechiefgas-man,whofromtheregavehisorderstohisassistantsandsawthattheywereexecuted.Mauclairstayedinthisboxduringalltheperformances.
ButnowMauclairwasnotinhisboxandhisassistantsnotintheirplaces.
"Mauclair!Mauclair!"
Thestage-manager’svoiceechoedthroughthecellars.ButMauclairdidnotreply.
Ihavesaidthatadooropenedonalittlestaircasethatledtothesecondcellar.Thecommissarypushedit,butitresisted.
