"it's some one much worse than that!" replied the persian, without giving any further explanation.[5]
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[5] like the persian, i can give no further explanation touching the apparition of this shade.whereas, in this historic narrative, everything else will be normally explained, however abnormal the course of events may seem, i can not give the reader expressly to understand what the persian meant by the words, "it is some one much worse than that!" the reader must try to guess for himself, for i promised m.pedro gailhard, the former manager of the opera, to keep his secret regarding the extremely interesting and useful personality of the wandering, cloaked shade which, while condemning itself to live in the cellars of the opera, rendered such immense services to those who, on gala evenings, for instance, venture to stray away from the stage.i am speaking of state services; and, upon my word of honor, i can say no more.
"it's not...he?"
"he?...if he does not come behind us, we shall always see his yellow eyes! that is more or less our safeguard to-night.but he may come from behind, stealing up; and we are dead men if we do not keep our hands as though about to fire, at the level of our eyes, in front!"the persian had hardly finished speaking, when a fantastic face came in sight...a whole fiery face, not only two yellow eyes!
yes, a head of fire came toward them, at a man's height, but with no body attached to it.the face shed fire, looked in the darkness like a flame shaped as a man's face.
"oh," said the persian, between his teeth."i have never seen this before!...pampin was not mad, after all: he had seen it!...
what can that flame be? it is not he, but he may have sent it!
...take care!...take care! your hand at the level of your eyes, in heaven's name, at the level of your eyes!...know most of his tricks...
but not this one....come, let us run....it is safer.
hand at the level of your eyes!"
and they fled down the long passage that opened before them.
after a few seconds, that seemed to them like long minutes, they stopped.