This is one of those pictures I like to do as what you would call an "improvement check". I suppose I would say that I think I improved a fairly good amount from when I drew the original. If you would like to see the original of this picture, [link]
is the following link.

The scene represents from the original Phantom of the Opera Novel by Leroux, the following excerpt:


Erik sobbed aloud and the Persian himself could not retain his own tears in the presence of that masked man, who, with his shoulders shaking and his hands clutched at his chest, was moaning with pain and love by turns.

"Yes...Daroga...I felt her tears flow on my forehead...on mine, mine...They were soft...They were sweet! They trickled under my mask...they mingled with my tears in my eyes...they flowed between my lips...Listen, Daroga, listen to what I did...I tore off my mask so as to not lose one of her tears..and she did not run away! ...And she did not die!...She remained alive, weeping over me, with me. We cried together! I have tasted all the happiness the world can offer!"

And Erik fell into a chair, choking for breath:

"Ah, I am not going to die yet...presently I shall...but let me cry! ...Listen, Daroga...listen to this...While I was at her feet...I heard her say, 'Poor, unhappy Erik!'...and *she took my hand!*...I had become no more, you know, than a poor dog ready to die for her..."