Привид Опери

           Daaeusedtoplaytousinhishoursofmelancholyandoffaith.IfChristine’sAngelhadexisted,hecouldnothaveplayedbetter,thatnight,onthelatemusician’sviolin.Whenthemusicstopped,Iseemedtohearanoisefromtheskullsintheheapofbones;itwasasthoughtheywerechucklingandIcouldnothelpshuddering."

           Q."Diditnotoccurtoyouthatthemusicianmightbehidingbehindthatveryheapofbones?"

           R."Itwastheonethoughtthatdidoccurtome,monsieur,somuchsothatIomittedtofollowMlle.Daae,whenshestoodupandwalkedslowlytothegate.ShewassomuchabsorbedjustthenthatIamnotsurprisedthatshedidnotseeme."

           Q."Thenwhathappenedthatyouwerefoundinthemorninglyinghalf-deadonthestepsofthehighaltar?"

           R."Firstaskullrolledtomyfeet...thenanother...thenanother...ItwasasifIwerethemarkofthatghastlygameofbowls.AndIhadanideathatfalsestepmusthavedestroyedthebalanceofthestructurebehindwhichourmusicianwasconcealed.ThissurmiseseemedtobeconfirmedwhenIsawashadowsuddenlyglidealongthesacristywall.Iranup.Theshadowhadalreadypushedopenthedoorandenteredthechurch.ButIwasquickerthantheshadowandcaughtholdofacornerofitscloak.Atthatmoment,wewerejustinfrontofthehighaltar;andthemoonbeamsfellstraightuponusthroughthestained-glasswindowsoftheapse.AsIdidnotletgoofthecloak,theshadowturnedround;andIsawaterribledeath’shead,whichdartedalookatmefromapairofscorchingeyes