Chapter Seventeen
Erik returned to his apartment above the office. He turned on a small lamp and, tossing his jacket onto a chair, went to stand before a mirror.
He kept his eyes closed.
Go to her...go to her...you need her more now than you ever did in Paris...
Slowly, he reached up...amazed that he could keep his hand steady...and peeled away the kid leather mask.
And what of that man with her? Her friend? Her lover? Her husband?
Still, he did not open his eyes.
Would she scream at the sight of you? Or would she weep for you? What would be worse...her fear or her pity?
He reached up again, ran his fingers over his face. It was still damp and stinging from the tears.
What would it be like...how would it feel if she touched you know? Or would she shrink back in disgust?
He forced himself to open his eyes, to look at his reflection.
No! No...Christine must not see this.
He carefully replaced the mask and, putting on his jacket, went down to his office. He found Sam there.
"I'm going out for a while, Sam. Close up as usual."
Sam looked at his friend intently. If Erik knew that Christine had been there, he gave no sign of it. His voice and eyes were calm.
"Erik, there was a lady here tonight," he said cautiously.
"I know, Sam. I heard her."
There was a long pause. Outside, they heard the sound of a drunken man singing.
"What did you say to her?"
Sam shook his head. He'd given Erik his word and, as much as it hurt to lie to Christine, he could not break that promise.
"Sam, she must never know."
In the small hotel room across the square from La Belle Reve, Christine looked out at the now dark nighclub. Only a small light burned in the bar and her eys traveled to the upper windows.
Is he there now...is he so close to me now...after all these months?
"Christine, come to bed. It's very late. You must be exhausted," Raoul said, buttoning the top of his blue cotton pajamas.
Christine shook her head. She had not yet changed out of her silk dress or even removed her gloves.
"Raoul, I'm not sleepy. I want to go for a walk."
"Don't be ridiculous, dearest. It's not safe out there, especially at night!"
She paused at the door and smiled back at her husband.
"Raoul, don't worry. I won't stray past the hotel courtyard. I will be safe enough there."
But she did not go to the tiny, palm-filled courtyard behind the hotel. Instead, she hurried across the square towards La Belle Reve.