Привид Опери

           "

           AndIpromisedhimthat,ifheletmeact,withoutdisturbingmebyshoutingandwalkingupanddown,Iwoulddiscoverthetrickofthedoorinlessthananhour’stime.

           Thenhelayflatonthefloor,asonedoesinawood,anddeclaredthathewouldwaituntilIfoundthedooroftheforest,astherewasnothingbettertodo!Andheaddedthat,fromwherehewas,"theviewwassplendid!"Thetorturewasworking,inspiteofallthatIhadsaid.

           Myself,forgettingtheforest,Itackledaglasspanelandbegantofingeritineverydirection,huntingfortheweakpointonwhichtopressinordertoturnthedoorinaccordancewithErik’ssystemofpivots.Thisweakpointmightbeamerespeckontheglass,nolargerthanapea,underwhichthespringlayhidden.Ihuntedandhunted.Ifeltashighasmyhandscouldreach.ErikwasaboutthesameheightasmyselfandIthoughtthathewouldnothaveplacedthespringhigherthansuitedhisstature.

           Whilegropingoverthesuccessivepanelswiththegreatestcare,Iendeavorednottoloseaminute,forIwasfeelingmoreandmoreovercomewiththeheatandwewereliterallyroastinginthatblazingforest.

           Ihadbeenworkinglikethisforhalfanhourandhadfinishedthreepanels,when,asill-luckwouldhaveit,Iturnedroundonhearingamutteredexclamationfromtheviscount.

           "Iamstifling,"hesaid."Allthosemirrorsaresendingoutaninfernalheat!Doyouthinkyouwillfindthatspringsoon?Ifyouaremuchlongeraboutit,weshallberoastedalive!"

           Iwasnotsorrytohearhimtalklikethis.