Q. "Did it not occur to you that the musician might be hiding behind
that very heap of bones?"
R. "It was the one thought that did occur to me, monsieur, so much so
that I omitted to follow Mlle. Daae, when she stood up and walked
slowly to the gate. She was so much absorbed just then that I am not
surprised that she did not see me."
Q. "Then what happened that you were found in the morning lying
half-dead on the steps of the high altar?"
R. "First a skull rolled to my feet ... then another ... then another
... It was as if I were the mark of that ghastly game of bowls. And I
had an idea that false step must have destroyed the balance of the
structure behind which our musician was concealed. This surmise seemed
to be confirmed when I saw a shadow suddenly glide along the sacristy
wall. I ran up. The shadow had already pushed open the door and
entered the church. But I was quicker than the shadow and caught hold
of a corner of its cloak. At that moment, we were just in front of the
high altar; and the moonbeams fell straight upon us through the
stained-glass windows of the apse. As I did not let go of the cloak,
the shadow turned round; and I saw a terrible death's head, which
darted a look at me from a pair of scorching eyes. I felt as if I were
face to face with Satan; and, in the presence of this unearthly
apparition, my heart gave way, my courage failed me ... and I remember
nothing more until I recovered consciousness at the Setting Sun."