58 pages 1 hour read

Gaston Leroux

The Phantom of the Opera

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1910

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Chapters 13-17Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 13 Summary: “A Master-Stroke of the Trap-Door Lover”

Christine and Raoul run through the Opera to Christine's dressing room. Raoul wants Christine to leave with him immediately, but she refuses to run without singing for Erik a final time. Erik plans for Christine to take an underground passage to meet him at the lake after her performance, at which time she'll flee with Raoul. Christine notices her gold ring is missing. Cursing her bad luck, she sends Raoul away.

That night, Raoul lays awake thinking of his hatred for Erik. He sees two blazing eyes—like Erik's—at the foot of his bed. He shoots at the eyes with his gun, hoping to injure the ghost. When Philippe and the servants enter at the sound, they find that Raoul only shot a cat. Philippe thinks his brother has gone mad. In the morning, despite his brother's protests, Raoul prepares to run away with Christine.

In the evening at the Opera, Christine sings the leading role with her superhuman voice. In an instant, the lights of the Opera go out, and when they come back on, Christine is gone. The house becomes riotous with questions and shock, as no one knows where she went.