IX At The Masked Ball

           Theenvelopewascoveredwithmudandunstamped.Itborethewords"TobehandedtoM.leVicomteRaouldeChagny,"withtheaddressinpencil.Itmusthavebeenflungoutinthehopethatapasser-bywouldpickupthenoteanddeliverit,whichwaswhathappened.ThenotehadbeenpickeduponthepavementofthePlacedel’Opera.

           Raoulreaditoveragainwithfeveredeyes.Nomorewasneededtorevivehishope.ThesomberpicturewhichhehadforamomentimaginedofaChristineforgettingherdutytoherselfmadewayforhisoriginalconceptionofanunfortunate,innocentchild,thevictimofimprudenceandexaggeratedsensibility.Towhatextent,atthistime,wasshereallyavictim?Whoseprisonerwasshe?Intowhatwhirlpoolhadshebeendragged?Heaskedhimselfthesequestionswithacruelanguish;buteventhispainseemedendurablebesidethefrenzyintowhichhewasthrownatthethoughtofalyinganddeceitfulChristine.Whathadhappened?Whatinfluencehadsheundergone?Whatmonsterhadcarriedheroffandbywhatmeans?...

           Bywhatmeansindeedbutthatofmusic?HeknewChristine’sstory.Afterherfather’sdeath,sheacquiredadistasteofeverythinginlife,includingherart.ShewentthroughtheCONSERVATOIRElikeapoorsoullesssinging-machine.And,suddenly,sheawokeasthoughthroughtheinterventionofagod.TheAngelofMusicappeareduponthescene!ShesangMargaritainFAUSTandtriumphed!...

           TheAngelofMusic!...ForthreemonthstheAngelofMusichadbeengivingChristinelessons...Ah,hewasapunctualsinging-master!...AndnowhewastakingherfordrivesintheBois!..