"
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.
Pages:
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104