Out of Context

Ten Post Milestone

The Phantom of the Opera
Gaston Leroux

Servants appeared, carrying lights; Count Phillippe, terribly anxious:

“What is it?”

“I think I have been dreaming,” replied the young man. “I fired at two stars that kept me from sleeping.”

“You’re raving! Are you ill? For God’s sake, tell me, Raoul: what happened?”

And the count seized hold of the revolver.

“No, no, I’m not raving…Besides, we shall soon see…”

He got out of bed, put on a dressing-gown and slippers, took a light from the hands of a servant and, opening the window, stepped out on the balcony.

The count saw that the window had been pierced by a bullet at a man’s height. Raoul was leaning over the balcony with his candle: “Aha!” he said. “Blood!…Blood!…Here, there, more blood!…That’s a good thing! A ghost who bleeds is less dangerous!” he grinned.