“Are we very far from the lake, sir?” asked Raoul. “When shall we get there?⁠ ⁠… Take me to the lake, oh, take me to the lake!⁠ ⁠… When we are at the lake, we will call out!⁠ ⁠… Christine will hear us!⁠ ⁠… And he will hear us, too!⁠ ⁠… And, as you know him, we shall talk to him!”

“Baby!” said the Persian. “We shall never enter the house on the lake by the lake!⁠ ⁠… I myself have never landed on the other bank⁠ ⁠… the bank on which the house stands.⁠ ⁠… You have to cross the lake first⁠ ⁠… and it is well guarded!⁠ ⁠… I fear that more than one of those men⁠—old scene-shifters, old door-shutters⁠—who have never been seen again were simply tempted to cross the lake.⁠ ⁠… It is terrible.⁠ ⁠… I myself would have been nearly killed there⁠ ⁠… if the monster had not recognized me in time!⁠ ⁠… One piece of advice, sir; never go near the lake.⁠ ⁠… And, above all, shut your ears if you hear the voice singing under the water, the siren’s voice!”