CHAPTER 2
She looked up at her attacker, unable to see anything but a silhouette. His voice sent chills running down her spine: who was this man? What did he want? She was terrified of what he could do to her. He asked if she understood, and she nodded. Slowly he lifted his hand from her mouth. She didn't breathe. He said:
"I only wish one thing of you: tell me, where -- " He broke off, was silent for a moment, then continued: "Where is your friend, Miss Daae?"
She was confused: why would he want to know where Christine was? What on earth--? She said nothing, frightened beyond words.
"Speak child! Tell me where!" She flinched as he raised his voice. "Tell me only this and I will leave you, at once. I must know!" In that moment she realized who this person was: it was Christine's angel, or demon. It was he! Her thoughts flew wildly; could she tell him? She knew what he asked, but she could not betray Christine. But, he might kill her if she didn't respond. She stalled, saying:
"Of whom do you speak? I know no one by that name." She hoped, perhaps he hadn't seen her clearly, maybe he would think…
"Do not lie to me, Mademoiselle Giry. I knew your mother well, and have known you all your life. You cannot deceive me. Do you take me for a fool? Be not one yourself! Tell me what I ask, at once! Or tragedy may befall you -- or your kin."
Her mother! She could not allow him to harm her mother. Or Christine. She had no chance of fooling him, and she feared if she delayed he would kill her. He spoke again, but this time his voice was much softer:
"I see my dear, that you fear for your friend's sake: I swear to you, if you will tell me, nothing shall happen to your friend. I wish only to know her location, that I may not have the misfortune of happening to see her again. My use of your knowledge is to protect myself from the chance of ever mistakenly happening upon her. You needn't fear for her safety, nor yours or your mothers, if you will only tell me what I wish to know."
Something in his voice calmed her, made her believe him. She spoke, hardly knowing that she did. "She is in Rouen, Monsieur. I know nothing else."
She saw the shape nod, then back away from her. "Wait! Don't go. I have something --" She got up from her bed and ran to her trunk, opening it and reaching inside. She removed an item and walked near him, hand outstretched. He took it from her, then with a swoosh of his cape, was gone; she knew not how.
He returned to his house in a frenzy of mixed emotions; he was delighted, panicked, mistrustful of himself. Meg had told the truth; of this he was certain. If he'd had any doubt, it was belied by her giving him back his mask. He had that back; again he felt he could hide his face from the world. And now he knew where She was. He had told Miss Giry that he only wanted to know that he might avoid her, but he knew not whether this was true. He rather hoped it was, but he knew in his heart that it was not.
"Oh, why! Why did I find out! Why did I ever ask!" He hurled the mask across the room and ran to and up the stairs, up all the way to the attic, which was the only place he could sleep. He threw himself on his bed, hiding his face with his cloak (for to hide his face was his want).