第9章

Listen，Christine，darling！Listen！Itisbehindthedoorofthetorture-chamber！Listen！It’smyselfinthetorture-chamber！AndwhatdoIsay？Isay，`Woetothemthathaveanose，arealnose，andcometolookroundthetorture-chamber！Aha，aha，aha！’

Oh，theventriloquist’sterriblevoice！Itwaseverywhere，everywhere。

Itpassedthroughthelitdeinvisiblewindow，throughthewalls。

Itranaroundus，betweenus。Erikwasthere，speakingtous！

Wemadeamovementasthoughtoflingourselvesuponhim。

But，already，swifter，morefleetingthanthevoiceoftheecho，Erik’svoicehadleapedbackbehindthewall！

Soonweheardnothingmoreatall，forthisiswhathappened：

Erik！Erik！saidChristine’svoice。Youtiremewithyourvoice。

Don’tgoon，Erik！Isn’titveryhothere？

Oh，yes，repliedErik’svoice，theheatisunendurable！

Butwhatdoesthismean？……Thewallisreallygettingquitehot！……Thewallisburning！

I’lltellyou，Christine，dear：itisbecauseoftheforestnextdoor。

Well，whathasthattodowithit？Theforest？

WHY，DIDN’TYOUSEETHATITWASANAFRICANFOREST？

AndthemonsterlaughedsoloudlyandhideouslythatwecouldnolongerdistinguishChristine’ssupplicatingcries！TheVicomtedeChagnyshoutedandbangedagainstthewallslikeamadman。Icouldnotrestrainhim。Butweheardnothingexceptthemonster’slaughter，andthemonsterhimselfcanhaveheardnothingelse。Andthentherewasthesoundofabodyfallingonthefloorandbeingdraggedalongandadoorslammedandthennothing，nothingmorearoundussavethescorchingsilenceofthesouthintheheartofatropicalforest！

ChapterXXIVBarrels！……Barrels！……AnyBarrelstoSell？

THEPERSIAN’SNARRATIVECONTINUED

IhavesaidthattheroominwhichM。leVicomtedeChagnyandI

wereimprisonedwasaregularhexagon，linedentirelywithmirrors。

Plentyoftheseroomshavebeenseensince，mainlyatexhibitions：

theyarecalledpalacesofillusion，orsomesuchname。

ButtheinventionbelongsentirelytoErik，whobuiltthefirstroomofthiskindundermyeyes，atthetimeoftherosyhoursofMazenderan。Adecorativeobject，suchasacolumn，forinstance，wasplacedinoneofthecornersandimmediatelyproducedahallofathousandcolumns。for，thankstothemirrors，therealroomwasmultipliedbysixhexagonalrooms，eachofwhich，initsturn，wasmultipliedindefinitely。Butthelittlesultanasoontiredofthisinfantileillusion，whereuponErikalteredhisinventionintoatorture-chamber。Forthearchitecturalmotiveplacedinonecorner，hesubstitutedanirontree。Thistree，withitspaintedleaves，wasabsolutelytruetolifeandwasmadeofironsoastoresistalltheattacksofthepatientwhowaslockedintothetorture-chamber。Weshallseehowthescenethusobtainedwastwicealteredinstantaneouslyintotwosuccessiveotherscenes，bymeansoftheautomaticrotationofthedrumsorrollersinthecorners。

Theseweredividedintothreesections，fittingintotheanglesofthemirrorsandeachsupportingadecorativeschemethatcameintosightastherollerrevolveduponitsaxis。

Thewallsofthisstrangeroomgavethepatientnothingtolayholdof，because，apartfromthesoliddecorativeobject，theyweresimplyfurnishedwithmirrors，thickenoughtowithstandanyonslaughtofthevictim，whowasflungintothechamberempty-handedandbarefoot。

Therewasnofurniture。Theceilingwascapableofbeinglitup。

Aningenioussystemofelectricheating，whichhassincebeenimitated，allowedthetemperatureofthewallsandroomtobeincreasedatwill。

Iamgivingallthesedetailsofaperfectlynaturalinvention，producing，withafewpaintedbranches，thesupernaturalillusionofanequatorialforestblazingunderthetropicalsun，sothatnoonemaydoubtthepresentbalanceofmybrainorfeelentitledtosaythatIammadorlyingorthatItakehimforafool。[11]——

[11]Itisverynaturalthat，atthetimewhenthePersianwaswriting，heshouldtakesomanyprecautionsagainstanyspiritofincredulityonthepartofthosewhowerelikelytoreadhisnarrative。

Nowadays，whenwehaveallseenthissortofroom，hisprecautionswouldbesuperfluous。

InowreturntothefactswhereIleftthem。Whentheceilinglitupandtheforestbecamevisiblearoundus，theviscount’sstupefactionwasimmense。Thatimpenetrableforest，withitsinnumerabletrunksandbranches，threwhimintoaterriblestateofconsternation。

Hepassedhishandsoverhisforehead，asthoughtodriveawayadream。

hiseyesblinked。and，foramoment，heforgottolisten。

Ihavealreadysaidthatthesightoftheforestdidnotsurprisemeatall。andthereforeIlistenedforthetwoofustowhatwashappeningnextdoor。Lastly，myattentionwasespeciallyattracted，notsomuchtothescene，astothemirrorsthatproducedit。

Thesemirrorswerebrokeninparts。Yes，theyweremarkedandscratched。

theyhadbeenstarred，inspiteoftheirsolidity。andthisprovedtomethatthetorture-chamberinwhichwenowwereHADALREADY

SERVEDAPURPOSE。

Yes，somewretch，whosefeetwerenotbarelikethoseofthevictimsoftherosyhoursofMazenderan，hadcertainlyfallenintothismortalillusionand，madwithrage，hadkickedagainstthosemirrorswhich，nevertheless，continuedtoreflecthisagony。

Andthebranchofthetreeonwhichhehadputanendtohisownsufferingswasarrangedinsuchawaythat，beforedying，hehadseen，forhislastconsolation，athousandmenwrithinginhiscompany。

Yes，JosephBuquethadundoubtedlybeenthroughallthis！

Werewetodieashehaddone？Ididnotthinkso，forIknewthatwehadafewhoursbeforeusandthatIcouldemploythemtobetterpurposethanJosephBuquetwasabletodo。Afterall，IwasthoroughlyacquaintedwithmostofErik’stricks。andnoworneverwasthetimetoturnmyknowledgetoaccount。

Tobeginwith，Igaveupeveryideaofreturningtothepassagethathadbroughtustothataccursedchamber。Ididnottroubleaboutthepossibilityofworkingtheinsidestonethatclosedthepassage。

andthisforthesimplereasonthattodosowasoutofthequestion。

Wehaddroppedfromtoogreataheightintothetorture-chamber。

therewasnofurnituretohelpusreachthatpassage。noteventhebranchoftheirontree，noteveneachother’sshoulderswereofanyavail。

Therewasonlyonepossibleoutlet，thatopeningintotheLouis-PhilipperoominwhichErikandChristineDaaewere。But，thoughthisoutletlookedlikeanordinarydooronChristine’sside，itwasabsolutelyinvisibletous。Wemustthereforetrytoopenitwithoutevenknowingwhereitwas。

WhenIwasquitesurethattherewasnohopeforusfromChristineDaae’sside，whenIhadheardthemonsterdraggingthepoorgirlfromtheLouis-PhilipperoomLESTSHESHOULDINTERFEREWITHOURTORTURES，Iresolvedtosettoworkwithoutdelay。

ButIhadfirsttocalmM。deChagny，whowasalreadywalkingaboutlikeamadman，utteringincoherentcries。ThesnatchesofconversationwhichhehadcaughtbetweenChristineandthemonsterhadcontributednotalittletodrivehimbesidehimself：

addtothattheshockofthemagicforestandthescorchingheatwhichwasbeginningtomaketheprespiration{sic}streamdownhistemplesandyouwillhavenodifficultyinunderstandinghisstateofmind。HeshoutedChristine’sname，brandishedhispistol，knockedhisforeheadagainsttheglassinhisendeavorstorundownthegladesoftheillusiveforest。Inshort，thetorturewasbeginningtoworkitsspelluponabrainunpreparedforit。

Ididmybesttoinducethepoorviscounttolistentoreason。

Imadehimtouchthemirrorsandtheirontreeandthebranchesandexplainedtohim，byopticallaws，alltheluminousimagerybywhichweweresurroundedandofwhichweneednotallowourselvestobethevictims，likeordinary，ignorantpeople。

Weareinaroom，alittleroom。thatiswhatyoumustkeepsayingtoyourself。Andweshallleavetheroomassoonaswehavefoundthedoor。

AndIpromisedhimthat，ifheletmeact，withoutdisturbingmebyshoutingandwalkingupanddown，Iwoulddiscoverthetrickofthedoorinlessthananhour’stime。

Thenhelayflatonthefloor，asonedoesinawood，anddeclaredthathewouldwaituntilIfoundthedooroftheforest，astherewasnothingbettertodo！Andheaddedthat，fromwherehewas，theviewwassplendid！Thetorturewasworking，inspiteofallthatIhadsaid。

Myself，forgettingtheforest，Itackledaglasspanelandbegantofingeritineverydirection，huntingfortheweakpointonwhichtopressinordertoturnthedoorinaccordancewithErik’ssystemofpivots。Thisweakpointmightbeamerespeckontheglass，nolargerthanapea，underwhichthespringlayhidden。

Ihuntedandhunted。Ifeltashighasmyhandscouldreach。

ErikwasaboutthesameheightasmyselfandIthoughtthathewouldnothaveplacedthespringhigherthansuitedhisstature。

Whilegropingoverthesuccessivepanelswiththegreatestcare，Iendeavorednottoloseaminute，forIwasfeelingmoreandmoreovercomewiththeheatandwewereliterallyroastinginthatblazingforest。

Ihadbeenworkinglikethisforhalfanhourandhadfinishedthreepanels，when，asill-luckwouldhaveit，Iturnedroundonhearingamutteredexclamationfromtheviscount。

Iamstifling，hesaid。Allthosemirrorsaresendingoutaninfernalheat！Doyouthinkyouwillfindthatspringsoon？

Ifyouaremuchlongeraboutit，weshallberoastedalive！

Iwasnotsorrytohearhimtalklikethis。HehadnotsaidawordoftheforestandIhopedthatmycompanion’sreasonwouldholdoutsometimelongeragainstthetorture。Butheadded：

WhatconsolesmeisthatthemonsterhasgivenChristineuntilelevento-morrowevening。Ifwecan’tgetoutofhereandgotoherassistance，atleastweshallbedeadbeforeher！

ThenErik’smasscanserveforallofus！

Andhegulpeddownabreathofhotairthatnearlymadehimfaint。

AsIhadnotthesamedesperatereasonsasM。leVicomteforacceptingdeath，Ireturned，aftergivinghimawordofencouragement，tomypanel，butIhadmadethemistakeoftakingafewstepswhilespeakingand，inthetangleoftheillusiveforest，Iwasnolongerabletofindmypanelforcertain！Ihadtobeginalloveragain，atrandom，feeling，fumbling，groping。

Nowthefeverlaidholdofmeinmyturn……forIfoundnothing，absolutelynothing。Inthenextroom，allwassilence。Wewerequitelostintheforest，withoutanoutlet，acompass，aguideoranything。Oh，Iknewwhatawaitedusifnobodycametoouraid……

orifIdidnotfindthespring！But，lookasImight，Ifoundnothingbutbranches，beautifulbranchesthatstoodstraightupbeforeme，orspreadgracefullyovermyhead。Buttheygavenoshade。

Andthiswasnaturalenough，aswewereinanequatorialforest，withthesunrightaboveourheads，anAfricanforest。

M。deChagnyandIhadrepeatedlytakenoffourcoatsandputthemonagain，findingatonetimethattheymadeusfeelstillhotterandatanotherthattheyprotectedusagainsttheheat。Iwasstillmakingamoralresistance，butM。deChagnyseemedtomequitegone。

Hepretendedthathehadbeenwalkinginthatforestforthreedaysandnights，withoutstopping，lookingforChristineDaae！

Fromtimetotime，hethoughthesawherbehindthetrunkofatree，orglidingbetweenthebranches。andhecalledtoherwithwordsofsupplicationthatbroughtthetearstomyeyes。Andthen，atlast：

Oh，howthirstyIam！hecried，indeliriousaccents。

Itoowasthirsty。Mythroatwasonfire。And，yet，squattingonthefloor，Iwentonhunting，hunting，huntingforthespringoftheinvisibledoor……especiallyasitwasdangeroustoremainintheforestaseveningdrewnigh。Alreadytheshadesofnightwerebeginningtosurroundus。Ithadhappenedveryquickly：

nightfallsquicklyintropicalcountries……suddenly，withhardlyanytwilight。

Nownight，intheforestsoftheequator，isalwaysdangerous，particularlywhen，likeourselves，onehasnotthematerialsforafiretokeepoffthebeastsofprey。Ididindeedtryforamomenttobreakoffthebranches，whichIwouldhavelitwithmydarklantern，butIknockedmyselfalsoagainstthemirrorsandremembered，intime，thatwehadonlyimagesofbranchestodowith。

Theheatdidnotgowiththedaylight。onthecontrary，itwasnowstillhotterundertheblueraysofthemoon。Iurgedtheviscounttoholdourweaponsreadytofireandnottostrayfromcamp，whileIwentonlookingformyspring。

Suddenly，weheardalionroaringafewyardsaway。

Oh，whisperedtheviscount，heisquiteclose！……Don’tyouseehim？……There……throughthetrees……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。andI

explainedtoM。deChagnythatErikimitatedtheroarofaliononalongtabourortimbrel，withanass’sskinatoneend。

Overthisskinhetiedastringofcatgut，whichwasfastenedatthemiddletoanothersimilarstringpassingthroughthewholelengthofthetabour。Erikhadonlytorubthisstringwithaglovesmearedwithresinand，accordingtothemannerinwhichherubbedit，heimitatedtoperfectionthevoiceofthelionortheleopard，oreventhebuzzingofthetsetsefly。

TheideathatErikwasprobablyintheroombesideus，workinghistrick，mademesuddenlyresolvetoenterintoaparleywithhim，forwemustobviouslygiveupallthoughtoftakinghimbysurprise。

Andbythistimehemustbequiteawarewhoweretheoccupantsofhistorture-chamber。Icalledhim：Erik！Erik！

IshoutedasloudlyasIcouldacrossthedesert，buttherewasnoanswertomyvoice。Allarounduslaythesilenceandthebareimmensityofthatstonydesert。Whatwastobecomeofusinthemidstofthatawfulsolitude？

Wewerebeginningliterallytodieofheat，hungerandthirst……

ofthirstespecially。Atlast，IsawM。deChagnyraisehimselfonhiselbowandpointtoaspotonthehorizon。Hehaddiscoveredanoasis！

Yes，farinthedistancewasanoasis……anoasiswithlimpidwater，whichreflectedtheirontrees！……Tush，itwasthesceneofthemirage……Irecognizeditatonce……theworstofthethree！……Noonehadbeenabletofightagainstit……noone……IdidmyutmosttokeepmyheadANDNOTTOHOPEFORWATER，becauseIknewthat，ifamanhopedforwater，thewaterthatreflectedtheirontree，andif，afterhopingforwater，hestruckagainstthemirror，thentherewasonlyonethingforhimtodo：

tohanghimselfontheirontree！

SoIcriedtoM。deChagny：

It’sthemirage！……It’sthemirage！……Don’tbelieveinthewater！……It’sanothertrickofthemirrors！……

Thenheflatlytoldmetoshutup，withmytricksofthemirrors，mysprings，myrevolvingdoorsandmypalacesofillusions！

HeangrilydeclaredthatImustbeeitherblindormadtoimaginethatallthatwaterflowingoverthere，amongthosesplendid，numberlesstrees，wasnotrealwater！……Andthedesertwasreal！……Andsowastheforest！……Anditwasnousetryingtotakehimin……hewasanold，experiencedtraveler……hehadbeenallovertheplace！

Andhedraggedhimselfalong，saying：Water！Water！

Andhismouthwasopen，asthoughheweredrinking。

Andmymouthwasopentoo，asthoughIweredrinking。

Forwenotonlysawthewater，butWEHEARDIT！……Wehearditflow，wehearditripple！……Doyouunderstandthatwordripple？……ITISASOUNDWHICHYOUHEARWITHYOURTONGUE！……Youputyourtongueoutofyourmouthtolistentoitbetter！

Lastly——andthiswasthemostpitilesstortureofall——weheardtherainanditwasnotraining！Thiswasaninfernalinvention……Oh，IknewwellenoughhowErikobtainedit！Hefilledwithlittlestonesaverylongandnarrowbox，brokenupinsidewithwoodenandmetalprojections。Thestones，infalling，struckagainsttheseprojectionsandreboundedfromonetoanother。

andtheresultwasaseriesofpatteringsoundsthatexactlyimitatedarainstorm。

Ah，youshouldhaveseenusputtingoutourtonguesanddraggingourselvestowardtheripplingriver-bank！Oureyesandearswerefullofwater，butourtongueswerehardanddryashorn！

Whenwereachedthemirror，M。deChagnylickedit……andI

alsolickedtheglass。

Itwasburninghot！

Thenwerolledonthefloorwithahoarsecryofdespair。

M。deChagnyputtheonepistolthatwasstillloadedtohistemple。

andIstaredatthePunjablassoatthefootoftheirontree。

Iknewwhytheirontreehadreturned，inthisthirdchangeofscene！……

Theirontreewaswaitingforme！……

But，asIstaredatthePunjablasso，IsawathingthatmademestartsoviolentlythatM。deChagnydelayedhisattemptatsuicide。

Itookhisarm。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。deChagnypattedtheroundshapesandkeptonsaying：

Barrels！Barrels！Whatalotofbarrels！……

Indeed，therewasquiteanumberofthem，symmetricallyarrangedintworows，oneoneithersideofus。TheyweresmallbarrelsandIthoughtthatErikmusthaveselectedthemofthatsizetofacilitatetheircarriagetothehouseonthelake。

Weexaminedthemsuccessively，toseeifoneofthemhadnotafunnel，showingthatithadbeentappedatsometimeoranother。

Butallthebarrelswerehermeticallyclosed。

Then，afterhalfliftingonetomakesureitwasfull，wewentonourkneesand，withthebladeofasmallknifewhichIcarried，Ipreparedtostaveinthebung-hole。

Atthatmoment，Iseemedtohear，comingfromveryfar，asortofmonotonouschantwhichIknewwell，fromoftenhearingitinthestreetsofParis：

Barrels！……Barrels！……Anybarrelstosell？

Myhanddesistedfromitswork。M。deChagnyhadalsoheard。

Hesaid：

That’sfunny！Itsoundsasifthebarrelweresinging！

Thesongwasrenewed，fartheraway：

Barrels！……Barrels！……Anybarrelstosell？……

Oh，Iswear，saidtheviscount，thatthetunediesawayinthebarrel！……

Westoodupandwenttolookbehindthebarrel。

It’sinside，saidM。deChagny，it’sinside！

Butweheardnothingthereandweredriventoaccusethebadconditionofoursenses。Andwereturnedtothebung-hole。M。deChagnyputhistwohandstogetherunderneathitand，withalasteffort，Iburstthebung。

What’sthis？criedtheviscount。Thisisn’twater！

Theviscountputhistwofullhandsclosetomylantern……I

stoopedtolook……andatoncethrewawaythelanternwithsuchviolencethatitbrokeandwentout，leavingusinutterdarkness。

WhatIhadseeninM。deChagny’shands……wasgun-powder！

ChapterXXVTheScorpionortheGrasshopper：Which？

THEPERSIAN’SNARRATIVECONCLUDED

Thediscoveryflungusintoastateofalarmthatmadeusforgetallourpastandpresentsufferings。WenowknewallthatthemonstermeanttoconveywhenhesaidtoChristineDaae：

Yesorno！Ifyouranswerisno，everybodywillbedeadANDBURIED！

Yes，buriedundertheruinsoftheParisGrandOperaI

Themonsterhadgivenheruntileleveno’clockintheevening。

Hehadchosenhistimewell。Therewouldbemanypeople，manymembersofthehumanrace，upthere，intheresplendenttheater。

Whatfinerretinuecouldbeexpectedforhisfuneral？Hewouldgodowntothetombescortedbythewhitestshouldersintheworld，deckedwiththerichestjewels。

Eleveno’clockto-morrowevening！

Wewerealltobeblownupinthemiddleoftheperformance……

ifChristineDaaesaidno！

Eleveno’clockto-morrowevening！……

AndwhatelsecouldChristinesaybutno？Wouldshenotprefertoespousedeathitselfratherthanthatlivingcorpse？Shedidnotknowthatonheracceptanceorrefusaldependedtheawfulfateofmanymembersofthehumanrace！

Eleveno’clockto-morrowevening！

Andwedraggedourselvesthroughthedarkness，feelingourwaytothestonesteps，forthelightinthetrap-dooroverheadthatledtotheroomofmirrorswasnowextinguished。andwerepeatedtoourselves：

Eleveno’clockto-morrowevening！

Atlast，Ifoundthestaircase。But，suddenlyIdrewmyselfuponthefirststep，foraterriblethoughthadcometomymind：

Whatisthetime？

Ah，whatwasthetime？……For，afterall，eleveno’clockto-morroweveningmightbenow，mightbethisverymoment！Whocouldtellusthetime？Weseemedtohavebeenimprisonedinthathellfordaysanddays……foryears……sincethebeginningoftheworld。

Perhapsweshouldbeblownupthenandthere！Ah，asound！Acrack！

Didyouhearthat？……There，inthecorner……goodheavens！……

Likeasoundofmachinery！……Again！……Oh，foralight！……

Perhapsit’sthemachinerythatistobloweverythingup！……

Itellyou，acrackingsound：areyoudeaf？

M。deChagnyandIbegantoyelllikemadmen。Fearspurreduson。

Werushedupthetreadsofthestaircase，stumblingaswewent，anythingtoescapethedark，toreturntothemortallightoftheroomofmirrors！

Wefoundthetrap-doorstillopen，butitwasnowasdarkintheroomofmirrorsasinthecellarwhichwehadleft。

Wedraggedourselvesalongthefloorofthetorture-chamber，thefloorthatseparatedusfromthepowder-magazine。Whatwasthetime？

Weshouted，wecalled：M。deChagnytoChristine，ItoErik。

IremindedhimthatIhadsavedhislife。Butnoanswer，savethatofourdespair，ofourmadness：whatwasthetime？Weargued，wetriedtocalculatethetimewhichwehadspentthere，butwewereincapableofreasoning。Ifonlywecouldseethefaceofawatch！……

Minehadstopped，butM。deChagny’swasstillgoing……

HetoldmethathehadwounditupbeforedressingfortheOpera……

Wehadnotamatchuponus……Andyetwemustknow……

M。deChagnybroketheglassofhiswatchandfeltthetwohands……Hequestionedthehandsofthewatchwithhisfinger-tips，goingbythepositionoftheringofthewatch……Judgingbythespacebetweenthehands，hethoughtitmightbejusteleveno’clock！

Butperhapsitwasnottheeleveno’clockofwhichwestoodindread。

Perhapswehadstilltwelvehoursbeforeus！

Suddenly，Iexclaimed：Hush！

Iseemedtohearfootstepsinthenextroom。Someonetappedagainstthewall。ChristineDaae’svoicesaid：

Raoul！Raoul！Wewerenowalltalkingatonce，oneithersideofthewall。Christinesobbed。shewasnotsurethatshewouldfindM。deChagnyalive。Themonsterhadbeenterrible，itseemed，haddonenothingbutrave，waitingforhertogivehimtheyes

whichsherefused。Andyetshehadpromisedhimthatyes，ifhewouldtakehertothetorture-chamber。Buthehadobstinatelydeclined，andhadutteredhideousthreatsagainstallthemembersofthehumanrace！Atlast，afterhoursandhoursofthathell，hehadthatmomentgoneout，leavingheralonetoreflectforthelasttime。

Hoursandhours？Whatisthetimenow？Whatisthetime，Christine？

Itiseleveno’clock！Eleveno’clock，allbutfiveminutes！

Butwhicheleveno’clock？

Theeleveno’clockthatistodecidelifeordeath！……Hetoldmesojustbeforehewent……Heisterrible……Heisquitemad：

hetoreoffhismaskandhisyelloweyesshotflames！……Hedidnothingbutlaugh！……Hesaid，`Igiveyoufiveminutestospareyourblushes！Here，’hesaid，takingakeyfromthelittlebagoflifeanddeath，`hereisthelittlebronzekeythatopensthetwoebonycasketsonthemantelpieceintheLouis-Philipperoom……Inoneofthecaskets，youwillfindascorpion，intheother，agrasshopper，bothverycleverlyimitatedinJapanesebronze：

theywillsayyesornoforyou。Ifyouturnthescorpionround，thatwillmeantome，whenIreturn，thatyouhavesaidyes。

Thegrasshopperwillmeanno。’Andhelaughedlikeadrunkendemon。

Ididnothingbutbegandentreathimtogivemethekeyofthetorture-chamber，promisingtobehiswifeifhegrantedmethatrequest……Buthetoldmethattherewasnofutureneedforthatkeyandthathewasgoingtothrowitintothelake！……

Andheagainlaughedlikeadrunkendemonandleftme。Oh，hislastwordswere，`Thegrasshopper！Becarefulofthegrasshopper！

Agrasshopperdoesnotonlyturn：ithops！Ithops！Andithopsjollyhigh！’

Thefiveminuteshadnearlyelapsedandthescorpionandthegrasshopperwerescratchingatmybrain。Nevertheless，Ihadsufficientluciditylefttounderstandthat，ifthegrasshopperwereturned，itwouldhop……andwithitmanymembersofthehumanrace！

Therewasnodoubtbutthatthegrasshoppercontrolledanelectriccurrentintendedtoblowupthepowder-magazine！

M。deChagny，whoseemedtohaverecoveredallhismoralforcefromhearingChristine’svoice，explainedtoher，inafewhurriedwords，thesituationinwhichweandalltheOperawere。

Hetoldhertoturnthescorpionatonce。

Therewasapause。

Christine，Icried，whereareyou？

Bythescorpion。

Don’ttouchit！

Theideahadcometome——forIknewmyErik——thatthemonsterhadperhapsdeceivedthegirloncemore。Perhapsitwasthescorpionthatwouldbloweverythingup。Afterall，whywasn’thethere？

Thefiveminuteswerelongpast……andhewasnotback……Perhapshehadtakenshelterandwaswaitingfortheexplosion！……Whyhadhenotreturned？……HecouldnotreallyexpectChristineevertoconsenttobecomehisvoluntaryprey！……Whyhadhenotreturned？

Don’ttouchthescorpion！Isaid。

Herehecomes！criedChristine。Ihearhim！Hereheis！

WeheardhisstepsapproachingtheLouis-Philipperoom。HecameuptoChristine，butdidnotspeak。ThenIraisedmyvoice：

Erik！ItisI！Doyouknowme？

Withextraordinarycalmness，heatoncereplied：

Soyouarenotdeadinthere？Well，then，seethatyoukeepquiet。

Itriedtospeak，buthesaidcoldly：

Notaword，daroga，orIshallbloweverythingup。Andheadded，Thehonorrestswithmademoiselle……Mademoisellehasnottouchedthescorpion——howdeliberatelyhespoke！——mademoisellehasnottouchedthegrasshopper——withthatcomposure！——butitisnottoolatetodotherightthing。There，Iopenthecasketswithoutakey，forIamatrap-doorloverandIopenandshutwhatIpleaseandasIplease。Iopenthelittleebonycaskets：

mademoiselle，lookatthelittledearsinside。Aren’ttheypretty？

Ifyouturnthegrasshopper，mademoiselle，weshallallbeblownup。

Thereisenoughgun-powderunderourfeettoblowupawholequarterofParis。Ifyouturnthescorpion，mademoiselle，allthatpowderwillbesoakedanddrowned。Mademoiselle，tocelebrateourwedding，youshallmakeaveryhandsomepresenttoafewhundredParisianswhoareatthismomentapplaudingapoormasterpieceofMeyerbeer’s……youshallmakethemapresentoftheirlives……For，withyourownfairhands，youshallturnthescorpion……

Andmerrily，merrily，wewillbemarried！

Apause。andthen：

If，intwominutes，mademoiselle，youhavenotturnedthescorpion，Ishallturnthegrasshopper……andthegrasshopper，Itellyou，HOPSJOLLYHIGH！

Theterriblesilencebegananew。TheVicomtedeChagny，realizingthattherewasnothinglefttodobutpray，wentdownonhiskneesandprayed。Asforme，mybloodbeatsofiercelythatIhadtotakemyheartinbothhands，lestitshouldburst。

Atlast，weheardErik’svoice：

Thetwominutesarepast……Good-by，mademoiselle……Hop，grasshopper！Erik，criedChristine，doyousweartome，monster，doyousweartomethatthescorpionistheonetoturn？

Yes，tohopatourwedding。

Ah，yousee！Yousaid，tohop！

Atourwedding，ingenuouschild！……Thescorpionopenstheball……Butthatwilldo！……Youwon’thavethescorpion？ThenI

turnthegrasshopper！

Erik！

Enough！

IwascryingoutinconcertwithChristine。M。deChagnywasstillonhisknees，praying。

Erik！Ihaveturnedthescorpion！

Oh，thesecondthroughwhichwepassed！

Waiting！Waitingtofindourselvesinfragments，amidtheroarandtheruins！

Feelingsomethingcrackbeneathourfeet，hearinganappallinghissthroughtheopentrap-door，ahisslikethefirstsoundofarocket！

Itcamesoftly，atfirst，thenlouder，thenveryloud。Butitwasnotthehissoffire。Itwasmorelikethehissofwater。

Andnowitbecameagurglingsound：Guggle！Guggle！

Werushedtothetrap-door。Allourthirst，whichvanishedwhentheterrorcame，nowreturnedwiththelappingofthewater。

Thewaterroseinthecellar，abovethebarrels，thepowder-barrels——Barrels！……Barrels！Anybarrelstosell？——andwewentdowntoitwithparchedthroats。Itrosetoourchins，toourmouths。

Andwedrank。Westoodonthefloorofthecellaranddrank。Andwewentupthestairsagaininthedark，stepbystep，wentupwiththewater。

Thewatercameoutofthecellarwithusandspreadovertheflooroftheroom。If，thiswenton，thewholehouseonthelakewouldbeswamped。The，floorofthetorture-chamberhaditselfbecomearegularlittlelake，inwhichourfeetsplashed。Surelytherewaswaterenoughnow！Erikmustturnoffthetap！

Erik！Erik！Thatiswaterenoughforthegunpowder！Turnoffthetap！Turnoffthescorpion！

ButErikdidnotreply。Weheardnothingbutthewaterrising：

itwashalf-waytoourwaists！

Christine！criedM。deChagny。Christine！Thewaterisuptoourknees！

ButChristinedidnotreply……Weheardnothingbutthewaterrising。

Noone，nooneinthenextroom，noonetoturnthetap，noonetoturnthescorpion！

Wewereallalone，inthedark，withthedarkwaterthatseizedusandclaspedusandfrozeus！

Erik！Erik！

Christine！Christine！

Bythistime，wehadlostourfootholdandwerespinningroundinthewater，carriedawaybyanirresistiblewhirl，forthewaterturnedwithusanddashedusagainstthedarkmirror，whichthrustusbackagain。andourthroats，raisedabovethewhirlpool，roaredaloud。

Werewetodiehere，drownedinthetorture-chamber？Ihadneverseenthat。Erik，atthetimeoftherosyhoursofMazenderan，hadnevershownmethat，throughthelittleinvisiblewindow。

Erik！Erik！Icried。Isavedyourlife！Remember！……Youweresentencedtodeath！Butforme，youwouldbedeadnow！……

Erik！

Wewhirledaround，inthewaterlikesomuchwreckage。

But，suddenly，mystrayinghandsseizedthetrunkoftheirontree！

IcalledM。deChagny，andwebothhungtothebranchoftheirontree。

Andthewaterrosestillhigher。

Oh！Oh！Canyouremember？Howmuchspaceistherebetweenthebranchofthetreeandthedome-shapedceiling？Dotrytoremember！……

Afterall，thewatermaystop，itmustfinditslevel！……There，Ithinkitisstopping！……No，no，oh，horrible！……Swim！

Swimforyourlife！

Ourarmsbecameentangledintheeffortofswimming。wechoked。

wefoughtinthedarkwater。alreadywecouldhardlybreathethedarkairabovethedarkwater，theairwhichescaped，whichwecouldhearescapingthroughsomevent-holeorother。

Oh，letusturnandturnandturnuntilwefindtheairholeandthenglueourmouthstoit！

ButIlostmystrength。Itriedtolayholdofthewalls！

Oh，howthoseglasswallsslippedfromundermygropingfingers！……Wewhirledroundagain！……Webegantosink！……Onelasteffort！……Alastcry：Erik！……Christine！……

Guggle，guggle，guggle！inourears。Guggle！Guggle！Atthebottomofthedarkwater，ourearswent，Guggle！Guggle！

And，beforelosingconsciousnessentirely，Iseemedtohear，betweentwoguggles：

Barrels！Barrels！Anybarrelstosell？

ChapterXXVITheEndoftheGhost’sLoveStoryThepreviouschaptermarkstheconclusionofthewrittennarrativewhichthePersianleftbehindhim。

Notwithstandingthehorrorsofasituationwhichseemeddefinitelytoabandonthemtotheirdeaths，M。deChagnyandhiscompanionweresavedbythesublimedevotionofChristineDaae。AndI

hadtherestofthestoryfromthelipsofthedarogahimself。

WhenIwenttoseehim，hewasstilllivinginhislittleflatintheRuedeRivoli，oppositetheTuileries。Hewasveryill，anditrequiredallmyardorasanhistorianpledgedtothetruthtopersuadehimtolivetheincredibletragedyoveragainformybenefit。

HisfaithfuloldservantDariusshowedmeintohim。ThedarogareceivedmeatawindowoverlookingthegardenoftheTuileries。

Hestillhadhismagnificenteyes，buthispoorfacelookedveryworn。

Hehadshavedthewholeofhishead，whichwasusuallycoveredwithanastrakhancap。hewasdressedinalong，plaincoatandamusedhimselfbyunconsciouslytwistinghisthumbsinsidethesleeves。

buthismindwasquiteclear，andhetoldmehisstorywithperfectlucidity。

Itseemsthat，whenheopenedhiseyes，thedarogafoundhimselflyingonabed。M。deChagnywasonasofa，besidethewardrobe。

Anangelandadevilwerewatchingoverthem。

Afterthedeceptionsandillusionsofthetorture-chamber，theprecisionofthedetailsofthatquietlittlemiddle-classroomseemedtohavebeeninventedfortheexpresspurposeofpuzzlingthemindofthemortalrashenoughtostrayintothatabodeoflivingnightmare。

Thewoodenbedstead，thewaxedmahoganychairs，thechestofdrawers，thosebrasses，thelittlesquareantimacassarscarefullyplacedonthebacksofthechairs，theclockonthemantelpieceandtheharmless-lookingebonycasketsateitherend，lastly，thewhatnotfilledwithshells，withredpin-cushions，withmother-of-pearlboatsandanenormousostrich-egg，thewholediscreetlylightedbyashadedlampstandingonasmallroundtable：thiscollectionofugly，peaceable，reasonablefurniture，ATTHEBOTTOMOFTHEOPERACELLARS，bewilderedtheimaginationmorethanallthelatefantastichappenings。

Andthefigureofthemaskedmanseemedallthemoreformidableinthisold-fashioned，neatandtrimlittleframe。ItbentdownoverthePersianandsaid，inhisear：

Areyoubetter，daroga？……Youarelookingatmyfurniture？……

ItisallthatIhaveleftofmypoorunhappymother。

ChristineDaaedidnotsayaword：shemovedaboutnoiselessly，likeasisterofcharity，whohadtakenavowofsilence。

Shebroughtacupofcordial，orofhottea，hedidnotrememberwhich。

ThemaninthemasktookitfromherhandsandgaveittothePersian。

M。deChagnywasstillsleeping。

Erikpouredadropofrumintothedaroga’scupand，pointingtotheviscount，said：

Hecametohimselflongbeforeweknewifyouwerestillalive，daroga。Heisquitewell。Heisasleep。Wemustnotwakehim。

Eriklefttheroomforamoment，andthePersianraisedhimselfonhiselbow，lookedaroundhimandsawChristineDaaesittingbythefireside。Hespoketoher，calledher，buthewasstillveryweakandfellbackonhispillow。Christinecametohim，laidherhandonhisforeheadandwentawayagain。

AndthePersianrememberedthat，asshewent，shedidnotgiveaglanceatM。deChagny，who，itistrue，wassleepingpeacefully。

andshesatdownagaininherchairbythechimney-corner，silentasasisterofcharitywhohadtakenavowofsilence。

Erikreturnedwithsomelittlebottleswhichheplacedonthemantelpiece。And，againinawhisper，soasnottowakeM。deChagny，hesaidtothePersian，aftersittingdownandfeelinghispulse：

Youarenowsaved，bothofyou。AndsoonIshalltakeyouuptothesurfaceoftheearth，TOPLEASEMYWIFE。

Thereuponherose，withoutanyfurtherexplanation，anddisappearedoncemore。

ThePersiannowlookedatChristine’squietprofileunderthelamp。

Shewasreadingatinybook，withgiltedges，likeareligiousbook。

ThereareeditionsofTHEIMITATIONthatlooklikethat。ThePersianstillhadinhisearsthenaturaltoneinwhichtheotherhadsaid，topleasemywife。Verygently，hecalledheragain。butChristinewaswrappedupinherbookanddidnothearhim。

Erikreturned，mixedthedarogaadraftandadvisedhimnottospeaktohiswifeagainnortoanyone，BECAUSEITMIGHTBEVERYDANGEROUS

TOEVERYBODY’SHEALTH。

Eventually，thePersianfellasleep，likeM。deChagny，anddidnotwakeuntilhewasinhisownroom，nursedbyhisfaithfulDarius，whotoldhimthat，onthenightbefore，hewasfoundproppedagainstthedoorofhisflat，wherehehadbeenbroughtbyastranger，whorangthebellbeforegoingaway。

Assoonasthedarogarecoveredhisstrengthandhiswits，hesenttoCountPhilippe’shousetoinquireaftertheviscount’shealth。

TheanswerwasthattheyoungmanhadnotbeenseenandthatCountPhilippewasdead。HisbodywasfoundonthebankoftheOperalake，ontheRue-Scribeside。ThePersianrememberedtherequiemmasswhichhehadheardfrombehindthewallofthetorture-chamber，andhadnodoubtconcerningthecrimeandthecriminal。

KnowingErikashedid，heeasilyreconstructedthetragedy。

ThinkingthathisbrotherhadrunawaywithChristineDaae，PhilippehaddashedinpursuitofhimalongtheBrusselsRoad，whereheknewthateverythingwaspreparedfortheelopement。

Failingtofindthepair，hehurriedbacktotheOpera，rememberedRaoul’sstrangeconfidenceabouthisfantasticrivalandlearnedthattheviscounthadmadeeveryefforttoenterthecellarsofthetheaterandthathehaddisappeared，leavinghishatintheprimadonna’sdressing-roombesideanemptypistol-case。Andthecount，whonolongerentertainedanydoubtofhisbrother’smadness，inhisturndartedintothatinfernalundergroundmaze。Thiswasenough，inthePersian’seyes，toexplainthediscoveryoftheComtedeChagny’scorpseontheshoreofthelake，wherethesiren，Erik’ssiren，keptwatch。

ThePersiandidnothesitate。Hedeterminedtoinformthepolice。

Nowthecasewasinthehandsofanexamining-magistratecalledFaure，anincredulous，commonplace，superficialsortofperson，(IwriteasIthink)，withamindutterlyunpreparedtoreceiveaconfidenceofthiskind。M。Fauretookdownthedaroga’sdepositionsandproceededtotreathimasamadman。

Despairingofeverobtainingahearing，thePersiansatdowntowrite。

Asthepolicedidnotwanthisevidence，perhapsthepresswouldbegladofit。andhehadjustwrittenthelastlineofthenarrativeIhavequotedintheprecedingchapters，whenDariusannouncedthevisitofastrangerwhorefusedhisname，whowouldnotshowhisfaceanddeclaredsimplythathedidnotintendtoleavetheplaceuntilhehadspokentothedaroga。

ThePersianatoncefeltwhohissingularvisitorwasandorderedhimtobeshownin。Thedarogawasright。Itwastheghost，itwasErik！

Helookedextremelyweakandleanedagainstthewall，asthoughhewereafraidoffalling。Takingoffhishat，herevealedaforeheadwhiteaswax。Therestofthehorriblefacewashiddenbythemask。

ThePersianrosetohisfeetasErikentered。

MurdererofCountPhilippe，whathaveyoudonewithhisbrotherandChristineDaae？

Erikstaggeredunderthisdirectattack，keptsilentforamoment，draggedhimselftoachairandheavedadeepsigh。Then，speakinginshortphrasesandgaspingforbreathbetweenthewords：

Daroga，don’ttalktome……aboutCountPhilippe……Hewasdead……

bythetime……Ileftmyhouse……hewasdead……when……

thesirensang……Itwasan……accident……asad……averysad……accident。Hefellveryawkwardly……butsimplyandnaturally……

intothelake！……

Youlie！shoutedthePersian。

Erikbowedhisheadandsaid：

Ihavenotcomehere……totalkaboutCountPhilippe……

buttotellyouthat……Iamgoing……todie……

WhereareRaouldeChagnyandChristineDaae？

Iamgoingtodie。

RaouldeChagnyandChristineDaae？

Oflove……daroga……Iamdying……oflove……Thatishowitis……

lovedherso！……AndIloveherstill……daroga……andIamdyingofloveforher，I……Itellyou！……Ifyouknewhowbeautifulshewas……

whensheletmekissher……alive……Itwasthefirst……time，daroga，thefirst……timeIeverkissedawoman……Yes，alive……Ikissedheralive……andshelookedasbeautifulasifshehadbeendead！

ThePersianshookErikbythearm：

Willyoutellmeifsheisaliveordead。

Whydoyoushakemelikethat？askedErik，makinganefforttospeakmoreconnectedly。ItellyouthatIamgoingtodie……Yes，Ikissedheralive……

Andnowsheisdead？

ItellyouIkissedherjustlikethat，onherforehead……

andshedidnotdrawbackherforeheadfrommylips！……Oh，sheisagoodgirl！……Astoherbeingdead，Idon’tthinkso。

butithasnothingtodowithme……No，no，sheisnotdead！

Andnooneshalltouchahairofherhead！Sheisagood，honestgirl，andshesavedyourlife，daroga，atamomentwhenI

wouldnothavegiventwopenceforyourPersianskin。Asamatteroffact，nobodybotheredaboutyou。Whywereyoutherewiththatlittlechap？Youwouldhavediedaswellashe！Myword，howsheentreatedmeforherlittlechap！ButItoldherthat，asshehadturnedthescorpion，shehad，throughthatveryfact，andofherownfreewill，becomeengagedtomeandthatshedidnotneedtohavetwomenengagedtoher，whichwastrueenough。

Asforyou，youdidnotexist，youhadceasedtoexist，Itellyou，andyouweregoingtodiewiththeother！……Only，markme，daroga，whenyouwereyellinglikethedevil，becauseofthewater，Christinecametomewithherbeautifulblueeyeswideopen，andsworetome，asshehopedtobesaved，thatsheconsentedtobeMYLIVING

WIFE！……Untilthen，inthedepthsofhereyes，daroga，Ihadalwaysseenmydeadwife。itwasthefirsttimeIsawMYLIVING

WIFEthere。Shewassincere，asshehopedtobesaved。Shewouldnotkillherself。Itwasabargain……Halfaminutelater，allthewaterwasbackinthelake。andIhadahardjobwithyou，daroga，for，uponmyhonor，Ithoughtyouweredonefor！……

However！……Thereyouwere！……ItwasunderstoodthatIwastotakeyoubothuptothesurfaceoftheearth。When，atlast，IclearedtheLouis-Philipperoomofyou，Icamebackalone……

WhathaveyoudonewiththeVicomtedeChagny？askedthePersian，interruptinghim。

Ah，yousee，daroga，Icouldn’tcarryHIMuplikethat，atonce……Hewasahostage……ButIcouldnotkeephiminthehouseonthelake，either，becauseofChristine。soIlockedhimupcomfortably，Ichainedhimupnicely——awhiffoftheMazenderanscenthadlefthimaslimpasarag——intheCommunists’dungeon，whichisinthemostdesertedandremotepartoftheOpera，belowthefifthcellar，wherenooneevercomes，andwherenooneeverhearsyou。

ThenIcamebacktoChristine，shewaswaitingforme。

Erikhererosesolemnly。Thenhecontinued，but，ashespoke，hewasovercomebyallhisformeremotionandbegantotremblelikealeaf：

Yes，shewaswaitingforme……waitingformeerectandalive，areal，livingbride……asshehopedtobesaved……And，whenI……cameforward，moretimidthan……alittlechild，shedidnotrunaway……no，no……shestayed……shewaitedforme……Ievenbelieve……daroga……thatsheputoutherforehead……alittle……oh，notmuch……justalittle……

likealivingbride……And……and……I……kissedher！……

I！……I！……I！……Andshedidnotdie！……Oh，howgooditis，daroga，tokisssomebodyontheforehead！……Youcan’ttell！……

ButI！I！……Mymother，daroga，mypoor，unhappymotherwouldnever……letmekissher……Sheusedtorunaway……andthrowmemymask！……Noranyotherwoman……ever，ever！……Ah，youcanunderstand，myhappinesswassogreat，Icried。AndIfellatherfeet，crying……andIkissedherfeet……herlittlefeet……crying。You’recrying，too，daroga……andshecriedalso……theangelcried！……EriksobbedaloudandthePersianhimselfcouldnotretainhistearsinthepresenceofthatmaskedman，who，withhisshouldersshakingandhishandsclutchedathischest，wasmoaningwithpainandlovebyturns。

Yes，daroga……Ifelthertearsflowonmyforehead……onmine，mine！……Theyweresoft……theyweresweet！……Theytrickledundermymask……theymingledwithmytearsinmyeyes……yes……theyflowedbetweenmylips……Listen，daroga，listentowhatIdid……Itoreoffmymasksoasnottoloseoneofhertears……andshedidnotrunaway！……Andshedidnotdie！……

Sheremainedalive，weepingoverme，withme。Wecriedtogether！

Ihavetastedallthehappinesstheworldcanoffer！

AndErikfellintoachair，chokingforbreath：

Ah，Iamnotgoingtodieyet……presentlyIshall……butletmecry！……Listen，daroga……listentothis……WhileIwasatherfeet……Iheardhersay，`Poor，unhappyErik！’……ANDSHETOOKMYHAND！……Ihadbecomenomore，youknow，thanapoordogreadytodieforher……Imeanit，daroga！……

Iheldinmyhandaring，aplaingoldringwhichIhadgivenher……whichshehadlost……andwhichIhadfoundagain……

awedding-ring，youknow……Islippeditintoherlittlehandandsaid，`There！……Takeit！……Takeitforyou……andhim！……Itshallbemywedding-presentapresentfromyourpoor，unhappyErik……Iknowyoulovetheboy……don’tcryanymore！……Sheaskedme，inaverysoftvoice，whatImeant……

ThenImadeherunderstandthat，whereshewasconcerned，Iwasonlyapoordog，readytodieforher……butthatshecouldmarrytheyoungmanwhenshepleased，becauseshehadcriedwithmeandmingledhertearswithmine！……

Erik’semotionwassogreatthathehadtotellthePersiannottolookathim，forhewaschokingandmusttakeoffhismask。

Thedarogawenttothewindowandopenedit。Hisheartwasfullofpity，buthetookcaretokeephiseyesfixedonthetreesintheTuileriesgardens，lestheshouldseethemonster’sface。

Iwentandreleasedtheyoungman，Erikcontinued，andtoldhimtocomewithmetoChristine……TheykissedbeforemeintheLouis-Philipperoom……Christinehadmyring……

ImadeChristinesweartocomeback，onenight，whenIwasdead，crossingthelakefromtheRue-Scribeside，andburymeinthegreatestsecrecywiththegoldring，whichshewastowearuntilthatmoment……Itoldherwhereshewouldfindmybodyandwhattodowithit……ThenChristinekissedme，forthefirsttime，herself，here，ontheforehead——don’tlook，daroga！——here，ontheforehead……onmyforehead，mine——don’tlook，daroga！——andtheywentofftogether……Christinehadstoppedcrying……Ialonecried……Daroga，daroga，ifChristinekeepsherpromise，shewillcomebacksoon！……

ThePersianaskedhimnoquestions。HewasquitereassuredastothefateofRaoulChagnyandChristineDaae。noonecouldhavedoubtedthewordoftheweepingErikthatnight。

Themonsterresumedhismaskandcollectedhisstrengthtoleavethedaroga。Hetoldhimthat，whenhefelthisendtobeverynearathand，hewouldsendhim，ingratitudeforthekindnesswhichthePersianhadonceshownhim，thatwhichhehelddearestintheworld：allChristineDaae’spapers，whichshehadwrittenforRaoul’sbenefitandleftwithErik，togetherwithafewobjectsbelongingtoher，suchasapairofgloves，ashoe-buckleandtwopocket-handkerchiefs。InreplytothePersian’squestions，Eriktoldhimthatthetwoyoungpeople，atsoonastheyfoundthemselvesfree，hadresolvedtogoandlookforapriestinsomelonelyspotwheretheycouldhidetheirhappinessandthat，withthisobjectinview，theyhadstartedfromthenorthernrailwaystationoftheworld。Lastly，ErikreliedonthePersian，assoonashereceivedthepromisedrelicsandpapers，toinformtheyoungcoupleofhisdeathandtoadvertiseitintheEPOQUE。

Thatwasall。ThePersiansawEriktothedoorofhisflat，andDariushelpedhimdowntothestreet。Acabwaswaitingforhim。

Eriksteppedin。andthePersian，whohadgonebacktothewindow，heardhimsaytothedriver：

GototheOpera。

Andthecabdroveoffintothenight。

ThePersianhadseenthepoor，unfortunateErikforthelasttime。

Threeweekslater，theEpoquepublishedthisadvertisement：

Erikisdead。

Epilogue。

Ihavenowtoldthesingular，butveraciousstoryoftheOperaghost。

AsIdeclaredonthefirstpageofthiswork，itisnolongerpossibletodenythatErikreallylived。Thereareto-daysomanyproofsofhisexistencewithinthereachofeverybodythatwecanfollowErik’sactionslogicallythroughthewholetragedyoftheChagnys。

Thereisnoneedtorepeatherehowgreatlythecaseexcitedthecapital。

Thekidnappingoftheartist，thedeathoftheComtedeChagnyundersuchexceptionalconditions，thedisappearanceofhisbrother，thedruggingofthegas-manattheOperaandofhistwoassistants：

whattragedies，whatpassions，whatcrimeshadsurroundedtheidyllofRaoulandthesweetandcharmingChristine！……Whathadbecomeofthatwonderful，mysteriousartistofwhomtheworldwasnever，nevertohearagain？……Shewasrepresentedasthevictimofarivalrybetweenthetwobrothers。andnobodysuspectedwhathadreallyhappened，nobodyunderstoodthat，asRaoulandChristinehadbothdisappeared，bothhadwithdrawnfarfromtheworldtoenjoyahappinesswhichtheywouldnothavecaredtomakepublicaftertheinexplicabledeathofCountPhilippe……Theytookthetrainonedayfromthenorthernrailwaystationoftheworld……Possibly，Itooshalltakethetrainatthatstation，oneday，andgoandseekaroundthylakes，ONorway，OsilentScandinavia，fortheperhapsstilllivingtracesofRaoulandChristineandalsoofMammaValerius，whodisappearedatthesametime！……Possibly，someday，IshallhearthelonelyechoesoftheNorthrepeatthesingingofherwhoknewtheAngelofMusic！……

LongafterthecasewaspigeonholedbytheunintelligentcareofM。leJuged’InstructionFaure，thenewspapersmadeefforts，atintervals，tofathomthemystery。Oneeveningpaperalone，whichknewallthegossipofthetheaters，said：

WerecognizethetouchoftheOperaghost。

Andeventhatwaswrittenbywayofirony。

ThePersianaloneknewthewholetruthandheldthemainproofs，whichcametohimwiththepiousrelicspromisedbytheghost。Itfelltomylottocompletethoseproofswiththeaidofthedarogahimself。

Daybyday，Ikepthiminformedoftheprogressofmyinquiries。

andhedirectedthem。HehadnotbeentotheOperaforyearsandyears，buthehadpreservedthemostaccuraterecollectionofthebuilding，andtherewasnobetterguidethanhepossibletohelpmediscoveritsmostsecretrecesses。Healsotoldmewheretogatherfurtherinformation，whomtoask。andhesentmetocallonM。Poligny，atamomentwhenthepoormanwasnearlydrawinghislastbreath。

Ihadnoideathathewassoveryill，andIshallneverforgettheeffectwhichmyquestionsabouttheghostproduceduponhim。

HelookedatmeasifIwerethedevilandansweredonlyinafewincoherentsentences，whichshowed，however——andthatwasthemainthing——

theextentoftheperturbationwhichO。G。，inhistime，hadbroughtintothatalreadyveryrestlesslife(forM。Polignywaswhatpeoplecallamanofpleasure)。

WhenIcameandtoldthePersianofthepoorresultofmyvisittoM。Poligny，thedarogagaveafaintsmileandsaid：

PolignyneverknewhowfarthatextraordinaryblackguardofanErikhumbuggedhim——ThePersian，bytheway，spokeofEriksometimesasademigodandsometimesasthelowestofthelow——PolignywassuperstitiousandErikknewit。ErikknewmostthingsaboutthepublicandprivateaffairsoftheOpera。WhenM。Polignyheardamysteriousvoicetellhim，inBoxFive，ofthemannerinwhichheusedtospendhistimeandabusehispartner’sconfidence，hedidnotwaittohearanymore。ThinkingatfirstthatitwasavoicefromHeaven，hebelievedhimselfdamned。andthen，whenthevoicebegantoaskformoney，hesawthathewasbeingvictimizedbyashrewdblackmailertowhomDebiennehimselfhadfallenaprey。

Bothofthem，alreadytiredofmanagementforvariousreasons，wentawaywithouttryingtoinvestigatefurtherintothepersonalityofthatcuriousO。G。，whohadforcedsuchasingularmemorandum-bookuponthem。Theybequeathedthewholemysterytotheirsuccessorsandheavedasighofreliefwhentheywereridofabusinessthathadpuzzledthemwithoutamusingthemintheleast。

Ithenspokeofthetwosuccessorsandexpressedmysurprisethat，inhisMemoirsofaManager，M。MoncharminshoulddescribetheOperaghost’sbehavioratsuchlengthinthefirstpartofthebookandhardlymentionitatallinthesecond。Inreplytothis，thePersian，whoknewtheMEMOIRSasthoroughlyasifhehadwrittenthemhimself，observedthatIshouldfindtheexplanationofthewholebusinessifIwouldjustrecollectthefewlineswhichMoncharmindevotestotheghostinthesecondpartaforesaid。Iquotetheselines，whichareparticularlyinterestingbecausetheydescribetheverysimplemannerinWhichthefamousincidentofthetwenty-thousandfrancswasclosed：

AsforO。G。，someofwhosecurioustricksIhaverelatedinthefirstpartofmyMemoirs，Iwillonlysaythatheredeemedbyonespontaneousfineactionalltheworrywhichhehadcausedmydearfriendandpartnerand，Iamboundtosay，myself。Hefelt，nodoubt，thattherearelimitstoajoke，especiallywhenitissoexpensiveandwhenthecommissaryofpolicehasbeeninformed，for，atthemomentwhenwehadmadeanappointmentinourofficewithM。Mifroidtotellhimthewholestory，afewdaysafterthedisappearanceofChristineDaae，wefound，onRichard’stable，alargeenvelope，inscribed，inredink，WITHO。G。’SCOMPLIMENTS。Itcontainedthelargesumofmoneywhichhehadsucceededinplayfullyextracting，forthetimebeing，fromthetreasury。Richardwasatonceoftheopinionthatwemustbecontentwiththatanddropthebusiness。IagreedwithRichard。

All’swellthatendswell。Whatdoyousay，O。G。？

Ofcourse，Moncharmin，especiallyafterthemoneyhadbeenrestored，continuedtobelievethathehad，forashortwhile，beenthebuttofRichard’ssenseofhumor，whereasRichard，onhisside，wasconvincedthatMoncharminhadamusedhimselfbyinventingthewholeoftheaffairoftheOperaghost，inordertorevengehimselfforafewjokes。

IaskedthePersiantotellmebywhattricktheghosthadtakentwenty-thousandfrancsfromRichard’spocketinspiteofthesafety-pin。Herepliedthathehadnotgoneintothislittledetail，butthat，ifImyselfcaredtomakeaninvestigationonthespot，Ishouldcertainlyfindthesolutiontotheriddleinthemanagers’

officebyrememberingthatErikhadnotbeennicknamedthetrap-doorloverfornothing。IpromisedthePersiantodosoassoonasI

hadtime，andImayaswelltellthereaderatoncethattheresultsofmyinvestigationwereperfectlysatisfactory。andIhardlybelievedthatIshouldeverdiscoversomanyundeniableproofsoftheauthenticityofthefeatsascribedtotheghost。

ThePersian’smanuscript，ChristineDaae’spapers，thestatementsmadetomebythepeoplewhousedtoworkunderMM。RichardandMoncharmin，bylittleMegherself(theworthyMadameGiry，Iamsorrytosay，isnomore)

andbySorelli，whoisnowlivinginretirementatLouveciennes：

allthedocumentsrelatingtotheexistenceoftheghost，whichI

proposetodepositinthearchivesoftheOpera，havebeencheckedandconfirmedbyanumberofimportantdiscoveriesofwhichIamjustlyproud。Ihavenotbeenabletofindthehouseonthelake，Erikhavingblockedupallthesecretentrances。[12]Ontheotherhand，IhavediscoveredthesecretpassageoftheCommunists，theplankingofwhichisfallingtopiecesinparts，andalsothetrap-doorthroughwhichRaoulandthePersianpenetratedintothecellarsoftheopera-house。IntheCommunists’dungeon，Inoticednumbersofinitialstracedonthewallsbytheunfortunatepeopleconfinedinit。

andamongthesewereanRandaC。R。C。：RaouldeChagny。

Thelettersaretheretothisday——

[12]Evenso，Iamconvincedthatitwouldbeeasytoreachitbydrainingthelake，asIhaverepeatedlyrequestedtheMinistryofFineArtstodo。IwasspeakingaboutittoM。Dujardin-Beaumetz，theunder-secretaryforfinearts，onlyforty-eighthoursbeforethepublicationofthisbook。WhoknowsbutthatthescoreofDON

JUANTRIUMPHANTmightyetbediscoveredinthehouseonthelake？

thevoicecontainedinitseemedrathertocomefromtheoppositeside，for，aswehaveseen，theghostwasanexpertventriloquist。

Thecolumnwaselaboratelycarvedanddecoratedwiththesculptor’schisel。andIdonotdespairofonedaydiscoveringtheornamentthatcouldberaisedorloweredatwill，soastoadmitoftheghost’smysteriouscorrespondencewithMme。Giryandofhisgenerosity。

IfthereaderwillvisittheOperaonemorningandaskleavetostrollwherehepleases，withoutbeingaccompaniedbyastupidguide，lethimgotoBoxFiveandknockwithhisfistorstickontheenormouscolumnthatseparatesthisfromthestage-box。Hewillfindthatthecolumnsoundshollow。Afterthat，donotbeastonishedbythesuggestionthatitwasoccupiedbythevoiceoftheghost：thereisroominsidethecolumnfortwomen。

Ifyouaresurprisedthat，whenthevariousincidentsoccurred，nooneturnedroundtolookatthecolumn，youmustrememberthatitpresentedtheappearanceofsolidmarble，andthat——

However，allthesediscoveriesarenothing，tomymind，comparedwiththatwhichIwasabletomake，inthepresenceoftheacting-manager，inthemanagers’office，withinacoupleofinchesfromthedesk-chair，andwhichconsistedofatrap-door，thewidthofaboardintheflooringandthelengthofaman’sfore-armandnolonger。atrap-doorthatfallsbacklikethelidofabox。atrap-doorthroughwhichIcanseeahandcomeanddexterouslyfumbleatthepocketofaswallow-tailcoat。

Thatisthewaytheforty-thousandfrancswent！……Andthatalsoisthewaybywhich，throughsometrickorother，theywerereturned。

SpeakingaboutthistothePersian，Isaid：

Sowemaytakeit，astheforty-thousandfrancswerereturned，thatErikwassimplyamusinghimselfwiththatmemorandum-bookofhis？

Don’tyoubelieveit！hereplied。Erikwantedmoney。Thinkinghimselfwithoutthepaleofhumanity，hewasrestrainedbynoscruplesandheemployedhisextraordinarygiftsofdexterityandimagination，whichhehadreceivedbywayofcompensationforhisextraordinaryuglinesss，topreyuponhisfellow-men。Hisreasonforrestoringtheforty-thousandfrancs，ofhisownaccord，wasthathenolongerwantedit。HehadrelinquishedhismarriagewithChristineDaae。

Hehadrelinquishedeverythingabovethesurfaceoftheearth。

AccordingtothePersian’saccount，ErikwasborninasmalltownnotfarfromRouen。Hewasthesonofamaster-mason。Heranawayatanearlyagefromhisfather’shouse，wherehisuglinesswasasubjectofhorrorandterrortohisparents。Foratime，hefrequentedthefairs，whereashowmanexhibitedhimasthelivingcorpse。

HeseemstohavecrossedthewholeofEurope，fromfairtofair，andtohavecompletedhisstrangeeducationasanartistandmagicianattheveryfountain-headofartandmagic，amongtheGipsies。

AperiodofErik’sliferemainedquiteobscure。HewasseenatthefairofNijni-Novgorod，wherehedisplayedhimselfinallhishideousglory。

Healreadysangasnobodyonthisearthhadeversungbefore。hepractisedventriloquismandgavedisplaysoflegerdemainsoextraordinarythatthecaravansreturningtoAsiatalkedaboutitduringthewholelengthoftheirjourney。Inthisway，hisreputationpenetratedthewallsofthepalaceatMazenderan，wherethelittlesultana，thefavoriteoftheShah-in-Shah，wasboringherselftodeath。

Adealerinfurs，returningtoSamarkandfromNijni-Novgorod，toldofthemarvelswhichhehadseenperformedinErik’stent。

ThetraderwassummonedtothepalaceandthedarogaofMazenderanwastoldtoquestionhim。NextthedarogawasinstructedtogoandfindErik。HebroughthimtoPersia，whereforsomemonthsErik’swillwaslaw。Hewasguiltyofnotafewhorrors，forheseemednottoknowthedifferencebetweengoodandevil。Hetookpartcalmlyinanumberofpoliticalassassinations。andheturnedhisdiabolicalinventivepowersagainsttheEmirofAfghanistan，whowasatwarwiththePersianempire。TheShahtookalikingtohim。

ThiswasthetimeoftherosyhoursofMazenderan，ofwhichthedaroga’snarrativehasgivenusaglimpse。Erikhadveryoriginalideasonthesubjectofarchitectureandthoughtoutapalacemuchasaconjurorcontrivesatrick-casket。TheShahorderedhimtoconstructanedificeofthiskind。Erikdidso。andthebuildingappearstohavebeensoingeniousthatHisMajestywasabletomoveaboutinitunseenandtodisappearwithoutapossibilityofthetrick’sbeingdiscovered。

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。Healsoinventedthoseautomata，dressedliketheSultanandresemblingtheSultaninallrespects，[13]whichmadepeoplebelievethattheCommanderoftheFaithfulwasawakeatoneplace，when，inreality，hewasasleepelsewhere——

[13]SeetheinterviewofthespecialcorrespondentoftheMATIN，withMohammed-AliBey，onthedayaftertheentryoftheSalonikatroopsintoConstantinople。

Ofcourse，hehadtoleavetheSultan’sserviceforthesamereasonsthatmadehimflyfromPersia：heknewtoomuch。Then，tiredofhisadventurous，formidableandmonstrouslife，helongedtobesomeonelikeeverybodyelse。Andhebecameacontractor，likeanyordinarycontractor，buildingordinaryhouseswithordinarybricks。

HetenderedforpartofthefoundationsintheOpera。

Hisestimatewasaccepted。Whenhefoundhimselfinthecellarsoftheenormousplayhouse，hisartistic，fantastic，wizardnatureresumedtheupperhand。Besides，washenotasuglyasever？

Hedreamedofcreatingforhisownuseadwellingunknowntotherestoftheearth，wherehecouldhidefrommen’seyesforalltime。

Thereaderknowsandguessestherest。Itisallinkeepingwiththisincredibleandyetveraciousstory。Poor，unhappyErik！

Shallwepityhim？Shallwecursehim？Heaskedonlytobesomeone，

likeeverybodyelse。Buthewastoougly！AndhehadtohidehisgeniusORUSEITTOPLAYTRICKSWITH，when，withanordinaryface，hewouldhavebeenoneofthemostdistinguishedofmankind！Hehadaheartthatcouldhaveheldtheempireoftheworld。and，intheend，hehadtocontenthimselfwithacellar。Ah，yes，wemustneedspitytheOperaghost。

Ihaveprayedoverhismortalremains，thatGodmightshowhimmercynotwithstandinghiscrimes。Yes，Iamsure，quitesurethatIprayedbesidehisbody，theotherday，whentheytookitfromthespotwheretheywereburyingthephonographicrecords。

Itwashisskeleton。Ididnotrecognizeitbytheuglinessofthehead，forallmenareuglywhentheyhavebeendeadaslongasthat，butbytheplaingoldringwhichheworeandwhichChristineDaaehadcertainlyslippedonhisfinger，whenshecametoburyhiminaccordancewithherpromise。

Theskeletonwaslyingnearthelittlewell，intheplacewheretheAngelofMusicfirstheldChristineDaaefaintinginhistremblingarms，onthenightwhenhecarriedherdowntothecellarsoftheopera-house。

And，now，whatdotheymeantodowiththatskeleton？Surelytheywillnotburyitinthecommongrave！……IsaythattheplaceoftheskeletonoftheOperaghostisinthearchivesoftheNationalAcademyofMusic。Itisnoordinaryskeleton。

THEEND

TheParisOperaHouseTHESCENEOFGASTONLEROUX’SNOVEL，THEPHANTOMOFTHEOPERA

ThatMr。Lerouxhasused，forthesceneofhisstory，theParisOperaHouseasitreallyisandhasnotcreatedabuildingoutofhisimagination，isshownbythisinterestingdescriptionofittakenfromanarticlewhichappearedinScribner’sMagazinein1879，ashorttimeafterthebuildingwascompleted：

ThenewOperaHouse，commencedundertheEmpireandfinishedundertheRepublic，isthemostcompletebuildingofthekindintheworldandinmanyrespectsthemostbeautiful。NoEuropeancapitalpossessesanoperahousesocomprehensiveinplanandexecution，andnonecanboastanedificeequallyvastandsplendid。

ThesiteoftheOperaHousewaschosenin1861。Itwasdeterminedtolaythefoundationexceptionallydeepandstrong。Itwaswellknownthatwaterwouldbemetwith，butitwasimpossibletoforeseeatwhatdepthorinwhatquantityitwouldbefound。

Exceptionaldepthalsowasnecessary，asthestagearrangementsweretobesuchastoadmitascenefiftyfeethightobeloweredonitsframe。Itwasthereforenecessarytolayafoundationinasoilsoakedwithwaterwhichshouldbesufficientlysolidtosustainaweightof22，pounds，andatthesametimetobeperfectlydry，asthecellarswereintendedforthestorageofsceneryandproperties。Whiletheworkwasinprogress，theexcavationwaskeptfreefromwaterbymeansofeightpumps，workedbysteampower，andinoperation，withoutinterruption，dayandnight，fromMarchsecondtoOctoberthirteenth。Thefloorofthecellarwascoveredwithalayerofconcrete，thenwithtwocoatsofcement，anotherlayerofconcreteandacoatofbitumen。

Thewallincludesanouterwallbuiltasacoffer-dam，abrickwall，acoatofcement，andawallproper，alittleoverayardthick。

Afterallthiswasdonethewholewasfilledwithwater，inorderthatthefluid，bypenetratingintothemostminuteinterstices，mightdepositasedimentwhichwouldclosethemmoresurelyandperfectlythanitwouldbepossibletodobyhand。Twelveyearselapsedbeforethecompletionofthebuilding，andduringthattimeitwasdemonstratedthattheprecautionstakensecuredabsoluteimpermeabilityandsolidity。

Theeventsof1870interruptedworkjustasitwasabouttobeprosecutedmostvigorously，andthenewOperaHousewasputtonewandunexpecteduses。Duringthesiege，itwasconvertedintoavastmilitarystorehouseandfilledwithaheterogeneousmassofgoods。AfterthesiegethebuildingfellintothehandsoftheCommuneandtheroofwasturnedintoaballoonstation。

Thedamagedone，however，wasslight。

ThefinestoneemployedintheconstructionwasbroughtfromquarriesinSweden，Scotland，Italy，Algeria，Finland，Spain，BelgiumandFrance。Whileworkontheexteriorwasinprogress，thebuildingwascoveredinbyawoodenshell，renderedtransparentbythousandsofsmallpanesofglass。In1867aswarmofmen，suppliedwithhammersandaxes，strippedthehouseofitshabit，andshowedinallitssplendorthegreatstructure。Nopicturecandojusticetotherichcolorsoftheedificeortotheharmonioustoneresultingfromtheskilfuluseofmanydiversematerials。

Theeffectofthefrontageiscompletedbythecupolaoftheauditorium，toppedwithacapofbronzesparinglyadornedwithgilding。

Fartheron，onalevelwiththetowersofNotre-Dame，isthegableendoftheroofofthestage，a`Pegasus’，byM。Lequesne，risingateitherendoftheroof，andabronzegroupbyM。Millet，representing`Apolloliftinghisgoldenlyre’，commandingtheapex。

Apollo，itmayherebementioned，isusefulaswellasornamental，forhislyreistippedwithametalpointwhichdoesdutyasalightning-rod，andconductsthefluidtothebodyanddownthenetherlimbsofthegod。

Thespectator，havingclimbedtenstepsandleftbehindhimagateway，reachesavestibuleinwhicharestatuesofLully，Rameau，Gluck，andHandel。TenstepsofgreenSwedishmarbleleadtoasecondvestibuleforticket-sellers。Visitorswhoenterbythepavilionreservedforcarriagespassthroughahallwaywhereticketofficesaresituated。

Thelargernumberoftheaudience，beforeenteringtheauditorium，traversealargecircularvestibulelocatedexactlybeneathit。

TheceilingofthisportionofthebuildingisupheldbysixteenflutedcolumnsofJurastone，withwhitemarblecapitals，formingaportico。

Hereservantsaretoawaittheirmasters，andspectatorsmayremainuntiltheircarriagesaresummoned。Thethirdentrance，whichisquitedistinctfromtheothers，isreservedfortheExecutive。

ThesectionofthebuildingsetasidefortheuseoftheEmperorNapoleonwastohaveincludedanantechamberforthebodyguards。

asalonfortheaides-de-camp。alargesalonandasmalleronefortheEmpress。hatandcloakrooms，etc。Moreover，thereweretobeincloseproximitytotheentrance，stablesforthreecoaches，fortheoutriders’horses，andforthetwenty-onehorsemenactingasanescort。astationforasquadofinfantryofthirty-onemenandtencent-gardes，andastableforthehorsesofthelatter。

and，besides，asalonforfifteenortwentydomestics。Thusarrangementshadtobemadetoaccommodateinthispartofthebuildingaboutonehundredpersons，fiftyhorses，andhalf-a-dozencarriages。

ThefalloftheEmpiresuggestedsomechanges，butampleprovisionstillexistsforemergencies。

Itsnovelconception，perfectfitness，andraresplendorofmaterial，makethegrandstairwayunquestionablyoneofthemostremarkablefeaturesofthebuilding。Itpresentstothespectator，whohasjustpassedthroughthesubscribers’pavilion，agorgeouspicture。

Fromthispointhebeholdstheceilingformedbythecentrallanding。

thisandthecolumnssustainingit，builtofEchaillonstone，arehoneycombedwitharabesquesandheavywithornaments。

thestepsareofwhitemarble，andantiqueredmarblebalustersrestongreenmarblesocketsandsupportabalustradeofonyx。

Totherightandtotheleftofthislandingarestairwaystothefloor，onaplanewiththefirstrowofboxes。OnthisfloorstandthirtymonolithcolumnsofSarrancolinmarble，withwhitemarblebasesandcapitals。Pilastersofpeach-blossomandvioletstoneareagainstthecorrespondingwalls。Morethanfiftyblockshadtobeextractedfromthequarrytofindthirtyperfectmonoliths。

ThefoyerdeladansehasparticularinterestforthehabituesoftheOpera。Itisaplaceofreuniontowhichsubscriberstothreeperformancesaweekareadmittedbetweentheactsinaccordancewithausageestablishedin1870。Threeimmenselooking-glassescoverthebackwalloftheFOYER，andachandelierwithonehundredandsevenburnerssuppliesitwithlight。Thepaintingsincludetwentyovalmedallions，inwhichareportrayedthetwentydanseusesofmostcelebritysincetheoperahasexistedinFrance，andfourpanelsbyM。Boulanger，typifying`TheWarDance’，`TheRusticDance’，`TheDanceofLove’and`TheBacchicDance。’

Whiletheladiesoftheballetreceivetheiradmirersinthisfoyer，theycanpractisetheirsteps。Velvet-cushionedbarshavetothisendbeensecuredatconvenientpoints，andthefloorhasbeengiventhesameslopeasthatofthestage，sothatthelaborexpendedmaybethoroughlyprofitabletotheperformance。Thesingers’foyer，onthesamefloor，isamuchlesslivelyresortthanthefoyerdeladanse，asvocalistsrarelyleavetheirdressing-roomsbeforetheyaresummonedtothestage。ThirtypanelswithportraitsoftheartistsofreputeintheannalsoftheOperaadornthisfoyer。

Someestimate……maybearrivedatbysittingbeforetheconciergeanhourorsobeforetherepresentationcommences。Firstappearthestagecarpenters，whoarealwaysseventy，andsometimes，whenL’Africaine，forexample，withitsshipscene，istheopera，onehundredandtenstrong。Thencomestageupholsterers，whosesoledutyistolaycarpets，hangcurtains，etc……gas-men，andasquadoffiremen。Claqueurs，call-boys，property-men，dressers，coiffeurs，supernumeraries，andartists，follow。Thesupernumerariesnumberaboutonehundred。somearehiredbytheyear，butthe`masses’aregenerallyrecruitedatthelastminuteandaregenerallyworking-menwhoseektoaddtotheirmeagreearnings。

Thereareaboutahundredchoristers，andabouteightymusicians。

Nextwebeholdequeries，whosehorsesarehoistedonthestagebymeansofanelevator。electricianswhomanagethelight-producingbatteries。

hydraulicienstotakechargeofthewater-worksinballetslikeLaSource。

artificerswhopreparetheconflagrationinLeProfeta。floristswhomakereadyMargarita’sgarden，andahostofminoremployees。

Thispersonnelisprovidedforasfollows：Eightydressing-roomsarereservedfortheartists，eachincludingasmallantechamber，thedressing-roomproper，andalittlecloset。Besidestheseapartments，theOperahasadressing-roomforsixtymale，andanotherforfiftyfemalechoristers。athirdforthirty-fourmaledancers。

fourdressing-roomsfortwentyfemaledancersofdifferentgrades。

adressing-roomforonehundredandninetysupernumeraries，etc。

Afewfigurestakenfromthearticlewillsuggesttheenormouscapacityandtheperfectconvenienceofthehouse。Thereare2，531doorsand7，593keys。14furnacesandgratesheatthehouse。

thegaspipesifconnectedwouldformapipealmost16mileslong。

9reservoirs，andtwotankshold22，222gallonsofwateranddistributetheircontentsthrough22，8292-5feetofpiping。

538personshaveplacesassignedwhereintochangetheirattire。

Themusicianshaveafoyerwith100closetsfortheirinstruments。

TheauthorremarksofhisvisittotheOperaHousethatitwasalmostasbewilderingasitwasagreeable。Giantstairwaysandcolossalhalls，hugefrescoesandenormousmirrors，goldandmarble，satinandvelvet，mettheeyeateveryturn。

InarecentletterMr。AndreCastaigne，whoseremarkablepicturesillustratethetext，speaksofariverorlakeundertheOperaHouseandmentionsthefactthattherearenowalsothreemetropolitanrailwaytunnels，oneontopoftheother。