Soon the moans that accompanied this sort of love's litany increased
and increased. I have never heard anything more despairing; and M. de
Chagny and I recognized that this terrible lamentation came from Erik
himself. Christine seemed to be standing dumb with horror, without the
strength to cry out, while the monster was on his knees before her.
Three times over, Erik fiercely bewailed his fate: "You don't love me! You don't love me! You don't love me!"
And then, more gently: "Why do you cry? You know it gives me pain to see you cry!"
A silence.
Each silence gave us fresh hope. We said to ourselves: "Perhaps he has left Christine behind the wall."
And we thought only of the possibility of warning Christine Daae of our
presence, unknown to the monster. We were unable to leave the
torture-chamber now, unless Christine opened the door to us; and it was
only on this condition that we could hope to help her, for we did not
even know where the door might be.
Suddenly, the silence in the next room was disturbed by the ringing of
an electric bell. There was a bound on the other side of the wall and
Erik's voice of thunder: "Somebody ringing! Walk in, please!"
A sinister chuckle.
"Who has come bothering now? Wait for me here ... I AM GOING TO TELL
THE SIREN TO OPEN THE DOOR."
Steps moved away, a door closed. I had no time to think of the fresh
horror that was preparing; I forgot that the monster was only going out
perhaps to perpetrate a fresh crime; I understood but one thing:
Christine was alone behind the wall!
The Vicomte de Chagny was already calling to her: "Christine! Christine!"
As we could hear what was said in the next room, there was no reason
why my companion should not be heard in his turn. Nevertheless, the
viscount had to repeat his cry time after time.
At last, a faint voice reached us.
"I am dreaming!" it said.
"Christine, Christine, it is I, Raoul!"
A silence.
"But answer me, Christine! ... In Heaven's name, if you are alone,
answer me!"
Then Christine's voice whispered Raoul's name.
"Yes! Yes! It is I! It is not a dream! ... Christine, trust me! ...
We are here to save you ... but be prudent! When you hear the monster,
warn us!"
Then Christine gave way to fear. She trembled lest Erik should
discover where Raoul was hidden; she told us in a few hurried words
that Erik had gone quite mad with love and that he had decided TO KILL
EVERYBODY AND HIMSELF WITH EVERYBODY if she did not consent to become
his wife. He had given her till eleven o'clock the next evening for
reflection. It was the last respite. She must choose, as he said,
between the wedding mass and the requiem.