Привид Опери

           inthatthicket!Ifheroarsagain,Iwillfire!..."

           Andtheroaringbeganagain,louderthanbefore.Andtheviscountfired,butIdonotthinkthathehitthelion;only,hesmashedamirror,asIperceivedthenextmorning,atdaybreak.Wemusthavecoveredagooddistanceduringthenight,forwesuddenlyfoundourselvesontheedgeofthedesert,animmensedesertofsand,stonesandrocks.Itwasreallynotworthwhileleavingtheforesttocomeuponthedesert.Tiredout,Iflungmyselfdownbesidetheviscount,forIhadhadenoughoflookingforspringswhichIcouldnotfind.

           Iwasquitesurprised—andIsaidsototheviscount—thatwehadencounterednootherdangerousanimalsduringthenight.Usually,afterthelioncametheleopardandsometimesthebuzzofthetsetsefly.Thesewereeasilyobtainedeffects;andIexplainedtoM.deChagnythatErikimitatedtheroarofaliononalongtabourortimbrel,withanass’sskinatoneend.Overthisskinhetiedastringofcatgut,whichwasfastenedatthemiddletoanothersimilarstringpassingthroughthewholelengthofthetabour.Erikhadonlytorubthisstringwithaglovesmearedwithresinand,accordingtothemannerinwhichherubbedit,heimitatedtoperfectionthevoiceofthelionortheleopard,oreventhebuzzingofthetsetsefly.

           TheideathatErikwasprobablyintheroombesideus,workinghistrick,mademesuddenlyresolvetoenterintoaparleywithhim,forwemustobviouslygiveupallthoughtoftakinghimbysurprise.Andbythistimehemustbequiteawarewhoweretheoccupantsofhistorture-chamber.