The Phantom of the Opera (Penguin Classics) by Gaston Leroux

Author:Gaston Leroux [Leroux, Gaston]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780141938059
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2009-11-26T00:00:00+00:00

XIV

The Master of the Traps Strikes

Raoul and Christine ran and ran, away from the roof and the burning eyes that only shone in darkest night. They did not stop until they reached the eighth floor on their way back down. There was no performance at the Paris Opera House that evening, so the corridors were deserted.

Suddenly, a bizarre figure stood before them, blocking their path. ‘No, not this way!’ he said, pointing to another corridor, which led to the wings.

Raoul wanted to stop and ask for an explanation.

‘Go on! Go on, quickly!’ commanded the vague figure concealed by a large cloak and a peaked hat.

Christine was already pulling Raoul along, forcing him to run again.

‘But who is he? Who is that man?’ he asked.

‘That was the Persian,’ Christine replied.

‘What’s he doing at the Opera?’

‘Nobody knows. He is always here.’

‘You are making me behave like a coward, Christine,’ said Raoul, visibly upset. ‘For the first time in my life, I am running away.’

‘Could it be,’ suggested Christine, calming down a little, ‘that we have simply fled an imagined shadow?’

‘If it were Erik, I should have pinned him to Apollo’s lyre, just as Breton farmers nail owls to the walls of their houses; and we could have forgotten about him for ever.’

‘Sweet Raoul, you would first have had to climb up to Apollo’s lyre – which would be quite a feat in itself.’

‘Those burning eyes got up there!’

‘You see him everywhere now, just like me! But thinking back, perhaps I simply mistook the golden points of a couple of stars, watching the city through the strings of the lyre, for his burning eyes.’

Christine then went down another floor and Raoul followed her.

‘Since you are resolved to leave, Christine, it would be better to go at once. Why wait until tomorrow? He may have overheard us tonight!’

‘No, no! As I have told you, he is working at his Don Juan triomphant and so is not concerned with us at the moment.’

‘But you have so little faith in what you say that you keep looking behind you!’

‘Come, let’s go to my dressing-room.’

‘I would rather we met outside the Opera.’

‘Never! Not until the very moment we leave. If I were to break my promise, it would bring bad luck. I have given him my word that I would only see you here.’

‘How fortunate for me that he allowed you that! It was very brave of you,’ said Raoul bitterly, ‘to let us play at being engaged!’

‘Why, dear Raoul, he knows all about it! He said: “I trust you, Christine. M. de Chagny is in love with you and will soon be leaving. Before he goes, let him be as unhappy as I am.” ’

‘What does that mean?’

‘I should be the one to ask that question. Are people always unhappy when they’re in love?’

‘Yes, Christine, they are unhappy when they love but are unsure of being loved in return.’

‘Are you speaking for Erik, here?’

‘For Erik and for myself,’ said the young man shaking his head, thoughtful and forlorn.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.