The Persian did not hesitate. He determined to inform the police. Now

the case was in the hands of an examining-magistrate called Faure, an

incredulous, commonplace, superficial sort of person, (I write as I

think), with a mind utterly unprepared to receive a confidence of this

kind. M. Faure took down the daroga's depositions and proceeded to

treat him as a madman.

Despairing of ever obtaining a hearing, the Persian sat down to write.

As the police did not want his evidence, perhaps the press would be

glad of it; and he had just written the last line of the narrative I

have quoted in the preceding chapters, when Darius announced the visit

of a stranger who refused his name, who would not show his face and

declared simply that he did not intend to leave the place until he had

spoken to the daroga.

The Persian at once felt who his singular visitor was and ordered him

to be shown in. The daroga was right. It was the ghost, it was Erik!

He looked extremely weak and leaned against the wall, as though he were

afraid of falling. Taking off his hat, he revealed a forehead white as

wax. The rest of the horrible face was hidden by the mask.

The Persian rose to his feet as Erik entered.

"Murderer of Count Philippe, what have you done with his brother and

Christine Daae?"

Erik staggered under this direct attack, kept silent for a moment,

dragged himself to a chair and heaved a deep sigh. Then, speaking in

short phrases and gasping for breath between the words: "Daroga, don't talk to me ... about Count Philippe ... He was dead ...

by the time ... I left my house ... he was dead ... when ... the siren

sang ... It was an ... accident ... a sad ... a very sad ... accident.

He fell very awkwardly ... but simply and naturally ... into the lake!

..."

"You lie!" shouted the Persian.

Erik bowed his head and said: "I have not come here ... to talk about Count Philippe ... but to tell

you that ... I am going ... to die..."

"Where are Raoul de Chagny and Christine Daae?"

"I am going to die."

"Raoul de Chagny and Christine Daae?"

"Of love ... daroga ... I am dying ... of love ... That is how it is

... loved her so! ... And I love her still ... daroga ... and I am

dying of love for her, I ... I tell you! ... If you knew how beautiful

she was ... when she let me kiss her ... alive ... It was the first

... time, daroga, the first ... time I ever kissed a woman ... Yes,

alive ... I kissed her alive ... and she looked as beautiful as if she

had been dead!"




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