Erik’s emotion was so great that he had to tell the Persian not to look at him, for he was choking and must take off his mask. The daroga went to the window and opened it. His heart was full of pity, but he took care to keep his eyes fixed on the trees in the Tuileries gardens, lest he should see the monster’s face.

“I went and released the young man,” Erik continued, “and told him to come with me to Christine.⁠ ⁠… They kissed before me in the Louis-Philippe room.⁠ ⁠… Christine had my ring.⁠ ⁠… I made Christine swear to come back, one night, when I was dead, crossing the lake from the Rue-Scribe side, and bury me in the greatest secrecy with the gold ring, which she was to wear until that moment.⁠ ⁠… I told her where she would find my body and what to do with it.⁠ ⁠… Then Christine kissed me, for the first time, herself, here, on the forehead⁠—don’t look, daroga!⁠—here, on the forehead⁠ ⁠… on my forehead, mine⁠—don’t look, daroga!⁠—and they went off together.⁠ ⁠… Christine had stopped crying.⁠ ⁠… I alone cried.⁠ ⁠… Daroga, daroga, if Christine keeps her promise, she will come back soon!⁠ ⁠…”