Призрак Оперы

           "

           "Whatprivatebox?"

           "Theghost’sbox!"

           "Hastheghostabox?Oh,dotellus,dotellus!"

           "Notsoloud!"saidMeg."It’sBoxFive,youknow,theboxonthegrandtier,nexttothestage-box,ontheleft."

           "Oh,nonsense!"

           "Itellyouitis.Motherhaschargeofit.Butyouswearyouwon’tsayaword?"

           "Ofcourse,ofcourse."

           "Well,that’stheghost’sbox.Noonehashaditforoveramonth,excepttheghost,andordershavebeengivenatthebox-officethatitmustneverbesold."

           "Anddoestheghostreallycomethere?"

           "Yes."

           "Thensomebodydoescome?"

           "Why,no!Theghostcomes,butthereisnobodythere."

           Thelittleballet-girlsexchangedglances.Iftheghostcametothebox,hemustbeseen,becauseheworeadress-coatandadeath’shead.ThiswaswhattheytriedtomakeMegunderstand,butshereplied:

           "That’sjustit!Theghostisnotseen.Andhehasnodress-coatandnohead!Allthattalkabouthisdeath’sheadandhisheadoffireisnonsense!There’snothinginit.Youonlyhearhimwhenheisinthebox.Motherhasneverseenhim,butshehasheardhim.Motherknows,becauseshegiveshimhisprogram."

           Sorelliinterfered.

           "Giry,child,you’regettingatus!"

           ThereuponlittleGirybegantocry.

           "Ioughttohaveheldmytongue—ifmotherevercametoknow!ButIwasquiteright,JosephBuquethadnobusinesstotalkofthingsthatdon’tconcernhim—itwillbringhimbadluck—motherwassayingsolastnight——"

           Therewasasoundofhurriedandheavyfootstepsinthepassageandabreathlessvoicecried:

           "Cecile!Cecile!Areyouthere?"

           "It’smother’svoice,"saidJammes.