Привид Опери
XX In The Cellars Of The Opera
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HewentinfrontofRaoul,seekinghisroad,stoppingabruptlywhenhewasafraidofmeetingsomewaterman.Thentheyhadtoprotectthemselvesagainsttheglowofasortofundergroundforge,whichthemenwereextinguishing,andatwhichRaoulrecognizedthedemonswhomChristinehadseenatthetimeofherfirstcaptivity.
Inthisway,theygraduallyarrivedbeneaththehugecellarsbelowthestage.Theymustatthistimehavebeenattheverybottomofthe"tub"andatanextremelygreatdepth,whenwerememberthattheearthwasdugoutatfiftyfeetbelowthewaterthatlayunderthewholeofthatpartofParis.
ThePersiantouchedapartition-wallandsaid:
"IfIamnotmistaken,thisisawallthatmighteasilybelongtothehouseonthelake."
Hewasstrikingapartition-wallofthe"tub,"andperhapsitwouldbeaswellforthereadertoknowhowthebottomandthepartition-wallsofthetubwerebuilt.Inordertopreventthewatersurroundingthebuilding-operationsfromremaininginimmediatecontactwiththewallssupportingthewholeofthetheatricalmachinery,thearchitectwasobligedtobuildadoublecaseineverydirection.Theworkofconstructingthisdoublecasetookawholeyear.ItwasthewallofthefirstinnercasethatthePersianstruckwhenspeakingtoRaoulofthehouseonthelake.
