Привид Опери
XXII In The Torture Chamber
ShetrembledlestErikshoulddiscoverwhereRaoulwashidden;shetoldusinafewhurriedwordsthatErikhadgonequitemadwithloveandthathehaddecidedTOKILLEVERYBODYANDHIMSELFWITHEVERYBODYifshedidnotconsenttobecomehiswife.Hehadgivenhertilleleveno’clockthenexteveningforreflection.Itwasthelastrespite.Shemustchoose,ashesaid,betweentheweddingmassandtherequiem.
AndErikhadthenutteredaphrasewhichChristinedidnotquiteunderstand:
"Yesorno!Ifyouranswerisno,everybodywillbedeadANDBURIED!"
ButIunderstoodthesentenceperfectly,foritcorrespondedinaterriblemannerwithmyowndreadfulthought.
"CanyoutelluswhereErikis?"Iasked.
Sherepliedthathemusthaveleftthehouse.
"Couldyoumakesure?"
"No.Iamfastened.Icannotstiralimb."
Whenweheardthis,M.deChagnyandIgaveayelloffury.Oursafety,thesafetyofallthreeofus,dependedonthegirl’slibertyofmovement.
"Butwhereareyou?"askedChristine."Thereareonlytwodoorsinmyroom,theLouis-PhilipperoomofwhichItoldyou,Raoul;adoorthroughwhichErikcomesandgoes,andanotherwhichhehasneveropenedbeforemeandwhichhehasforbiddenmeevertogothrough,becausehesaysitisthemostdangerousofthedoors,thedoorofthetorture-chamber!"
"Christine,thatiswhereweare!"
"Youareinthetorture-chamber?"
"Yes,butwecannotseethedoor."
"Oh,ifIcouldonlydragmyselfsofar!Iwouldknockatthedoorandthatwouldtellyouwhereitis."
"Isitadoorwithalocktoit?"Iasked.
"Yes,withalock.
