Привид Опери
XX In The Cellars Of The Opera
Raouldidso;but,ashedidnotlifthishandinfrontofhiseyes,readytofire,thePersiantoldhimtoresumethatattitudeandtocontinueit,whateverhappened.
"Butittiresthehandunnecessarily,"whisperedRaoul."IfIdofire,Ishan’tbesureofmyaim."
"Thenshiftyourpistoltotheotherhand,"saidthePersian.
"Ican’tshootwithmylefthand."
Thereupon,thePersianmadethisqueerreply,whichwascertainlynotcalculatedtothrowlightintotheyoungman’sflurriedbrain:
"It’snotaquestionofshootingwiththerighthandortheleft;it’saquestionofholdingoneofyourhandsasthoughyouweregoingtopullthetriggerofapistolwithyourarmbent.Asforthepistolitself,whenallissaid,youcanputthatinyourpocket!"Andheadded,"Letthisbeclearlyunderstood,orIwillanswerfornothing.Itisamatteroflifeanddeath.Andnow,silenceandfollowme!"
ThecellarsoftheOperaareenormousandtheyarefiveinnumber.RaoulfollowedthePersianandwonderedwhathewouldhavedonewithouthiscompanioninthatextraordinarylabyrinth.Theywentdowntothethirdcellar;andtheirprogresswasstilllitbysomedistantlamp.
Thelowertheywent,themoreprecautionsthePersianseemedtotake.HekeptonturningtoRaoultoseeifhewasholdinghisarmproperly,showinghimhowhehimselfcarriedhishandasifalwaysreadytofire,thoughthepistolwasinhispocket.
Suddenly,aloudvoicemadethemstop.Someoneabovethemshouted:
"Allthedoor-shuttersonthestage!Thecommissaryofpolicewantsthem!"
Stepswereheardandshadowsglidedthroughthedarkness.
