Page 46 - Phantom of the Opera

one whole wall was a great mirror. He could see Christine in the that you will make no attempt to find out, and that you will
mirror, but not himself, as he was behind her. never come to my dressing room unless I send for you."
The singer continued. Christine continued walking toward "Then promise to send for me sometimes, Christine."
the mirror. Raoul reached out to the "two" Christines — the real "I promise."
one and the one in the mirror. But he was suddenly thrown "When?"
back when an icy wind swept over his face. He saw not two, but "Tomorrow."
four, eight, twenty Christines spinning around him, laughing at "Then I swear to do as you ask." He kissed her hands and went
him and escaping so quickly that he could not touch one of away, cursing Erik and promising himself to be patient.
them.
He rushed up to the mirror. He struck at the walls. Nobody!
And the voice continued singing," Our lives are joined for ever and a Chapter 6 Tragedy
day!"
Raoul sat down and let his head fall into his hands. When he The next day, when Raoul saw Christine at the Opera, she was
raised it, tears ran down his cheeks — tears common to all the still wearing the plain gold ring. She was gentle and kind to him,
lovers on earth. "Who is this Erik?" he asked. and she talked to him about the plans which he was forming, of
his future, of his career.
•
He told her that the date of his journey to the North Pole had
The next day, when Raoul went to visit Madame Valerius, to his been put forward and that he would leave France in three or
great surprise he found Christine sitting next to the old woman, four weeks. She wanted him to look forward to this journey,
who was sleeping. He noticed a plain gold ring on Christine's but without her love to take with him he found little joy in
finger. When he asked her about it, she answered that it was a these plans.
present. Raoul, his heart breaking, asked to whom she had Then, Christine had an idea, an idea that filled her with great
promised herself. But Christine refused to give any information. happiness. "We will have these three or four weeks to pretend ..
.
Then, Raoul told her what he had seen and heard the to pretend that we have plans to marry when you return. This is
previous night. When he told her that he knew the Angel of a happiness that can harm no one!"
Music was called Erik, she turned as white as a sheet.
Raoul liked the idea. He took her hand and said, "Mademoiselle,
"Oh, unhappy man! Do you want to be killed?" she asked.
I have the honor to ask you to marry me."
Raoul answered, "Maybe" with so much desperate love that
"Oh, Raoul, how happy we will be! We will play at this all day
Christine could not hold back her tears. She took his hands in
long!"
hers and said, "Raoul, you must never try to understand the
Every afternoon for the next week, they met in the singer's
mystery of the man's voice."
dressing room and amused themselves by dining on three cookies
"Is the mystery so terrible?"
and two glasses of wine. They made promises to each other, as
"There is no more awful mystery on this earth. Swear to me
children do when they play. But then, at the end of that first
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