Привид Опери
XXI Interesting Vicissitudes
Withaturnofthewrist,Eriktightenedthenooseroundhisadversary’sneckand,inthisfashion,draggedhimbeforethelittlesultanaandherwomen,whosatlookingfromawindowandapplauding.ThelittlesultanaherselflearnedtowieldthePunjablassoandkilledseveralofherwomenandevenofthefriendswhovisitedher.ButIprefertodropthisterriblesubjectoftherosyhoursofMazenderan.Ihavementioneditonlytoexplainwhy,onarrivingwiththeVicomtedeChagnyinthecellarsoftheOpera,Iwasboundtoprotectmycompanionagainsttheever-threateningdangerofdeathbystrangling.Mypistolscouldservenopurpose,forErikwasnotlikelytoshowhimself;butErikcouldalwaysstrangleus.Ihadnotimetoexplainallthistotheviscount;besides,therewasnothingtobegainedbycomplicatingtheposition.IsimplytoldM.deChagnytokeephishandatthelevelofhiseyes,withthearmbent,asthoughwaitingforthecommandtofire.Withhisvictiminthisattitude,itisimpossibleevenforthemostexpertstranglertothrowthelassowithadvantage.Itcatchesyounotonlyroundtheneck,butalsoroundthearmorhand.Thisenablesyoueasilytounloosethelasso,whichthenbecomesharmless.
Afteravoidingthecommissaryofpolice,anumberofdoor-shuttersandthefiremen,aftermeetingtherat-catcherandpassingthemaninthefelthatunperceived,theviscountandIarrivedwithoutobstacleinthethirdcellar,betweenthesetpieceandthescenefromtheRoideLahore.
