Chapter 4
After cleaning up the house a little, Max left for the Opera. Today, she was going to tell the Persian about the stone in the third-cellar, and then she was hoping to follow Christine to the house on the lake. The easiest part would be following Christine, for Max always walked as silently as possible, and the Persian was also very hard to find. Picking up her skirt enough to run, she hurried across the road, and started to the Opera House, looking for broughams along the way.
She heaved a great sigh when she saw the large hill that she would have to climb before being able to see the Opera. Sighing again, she started her way up the hill. Walking is always so boring. I need to find something to keep me entertained while going to the Opera. I need someone to talk to, like when William was here. She thought. Thinking of William, she nearly forgot to watch for people heading in the opposite direction.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" She cried as she bumped into a couple.
After a couple steps away from them, she heard the women say "How rude!" and the man grunt in agreement.
"I'm not the one who is rude, Madame." Max said under her breath.
When she was about ten feet away from the top of the hill, Max found a fault in her plan. Even if she managed to sneak with Christine, Erik was sure to find Max, and she would very likely be killed. The sooner I die the better! Max thought gravely, thinking only of being united with William once more. When the roof of the Opera House came into view, Max heaved a great sigh of both relief and pain. This building could very well be the place of my death. She thought. She stopped and stood where she was for a moment, before turning back and looking over the streets below. She remembered all that she had experienced here, both good and bad times, and sighed, knowing that she might never return. Turning back to the Opera House, she took a deep breath, and pressed forward.
First, I will find the Persian. He would like to know about the moving stone. If I cannot find Mademoiselle Daae, I will go to the moving stone and see if I cannot enter Erik's house through it. If Mlle. Daae is there, I will simply have to spy on her until she leaves for the house on the lake. If she leaves tonight, I will follow her, and forget all fears of death. Max planned while she walked up the steps to the spectacular building in which she would stay until she found Erik's house. When she entered, she whistled a little tune, and stopped where she stood. When she heard the faint replying whistle, she followed where its sound came from, and ended up in a dark hallway. She whistled again.
"I'm here, Madame." The Persian's soft voice came from a few feet in front of Max.
"I bring a secret about Erik." She whispered. After waiting for a reply, and receiving none, Max continued, "In the third cellar, between the set piece and the scene from 'Roi de Lahore', there is a spring, which moves a stone, leading to a secret tunnel. I haven't traveled farther than the entrance of the tunnel, so I can't tell you for sure where it leads." She realized that she was shivering, from what she could not be sure.
"Thank you for telling me this." The Persian said in dismissal. Max turned and left to the main entrance, and from there, she would find her way to Mlle. Daae's room again.