Привид Опери
Epilogue
WhentheShah-in-Shahfoundhimselfthepossessorofthisgem,heorderedErik’syelloweyestobeputout.Buthereflectedthat,evenwhenblind,Erikwouldstillbeabletobuildsoremarkableahouseforanothersovereign;andalsothat,aslongasErikwasalive,someonewouldknowthesecretofthewonderfulpalace.Erik’sdeathwasdecidedupon,togetherwiththatofallthelaborerswhohadworkedunderhisorders.TheexecutionofthisabominabledecreedevolveduponthedarogaofMazenderan.Erikhadshownhimsomeslightservicesandprocuredhimmanyaheartylaugh.HesavedErikbyprovidinghimwiththemeansofescape,butnearlypaidwithhisheadforhisgenerousindulgence.
Fortunatelyforthedaroga,acorpse,half-eatenbythebirdsofprey,wasfoundontheshoreoftheCaspianSea,andwastakenforErik’sbody,becausethedaroga’sfriendshaddressedtheremainsinclothingthatbelongedtoErik.Thedarogawasletoffwiththelossoftheimperialfavor,theconfiscationofhispropertyandanorderofperpetualbanishment.AsamemberoftheRoyalHouse,however,hecontinuedtoreceiveamonthlypensionofafewhundredfrancsfromthePersiantreasury;andonthishecametoliveinParis.
AsforErik,hewenttoAsiaMinorandthencetoConstantinople,whereheenteredtheSultan’semployment.Inexplanationoftheserviceswhichhewasabletorenderamonarchhauntedbyperpetualterrors,IneedonlysaythatitwasErikwhoconstructedallthefamoustrap-doorsandsecretchambersandmysteriousstrong-boxeswhichwerefoundatYildiz-KioskafterthelastTurkishrevolution.
