Привид Опери

           AndthenIcaughtthepistolfromhim...andthenIdraggedmyselfonmykneestowardwhatIhadseen.

           Ihaddiscovered,nearthePunjablasso,inagrooveinthefloor,ablack-headednailofwhichIknewtheuse.AtlastIhaddiscoveredthespring!Ifeltthenail...IliftedaradiantfacetoM.deChagny...Theblack-headednailyieldedtomypressure...

           Andthen...

           Andthenwesawnotadooropenedinthewall,butacellar-flapreleasedinthefloor.Coolaircameuptousfromtheblackholebelow.Westoopedoverthatsquareofdarknessasthoughoveralimpidwell.Withourchinsinthecoolshade,wedrankitin.Andwebentlowerandloweroverthetrap-door.Whatcouldtherebeinthatcellarwhichopenedbeforeus?Water?Watertodrink?

           Ithrustmyarmintothedarknessandcameuponastoneandanotherstone...astaircase...adarkstaircaseleadingintothecellar.Theviscountwantedtoflinghimselfdownthehole;butI,fearinganewtrickofthemonster’s,stoppedhim,turnedonmydarklanternandwentdownfirst.

           Thestaircasewasawindingoneandleddownintopitchydarkness.Butoh,howdeliciouslycoolwerethedarknessandthestairs?Thelakecouldnotbefaraway.

           Wesoonreachedthebottom.Oureyeswerebeginningtoaccustomthemselvestothedark,todistinguishshapesaroundus...circularshapes...onwhichIturnedthelightofmylantern.

           Barrels!

           WewereinErik’scellar:itwasherethathemustkeephiswineandperhapshisdrinking-water.IknewthatErikwasagreatloverofgoodwine.Ah,therewasplentytodrinkhere!

           M.