XIV The Singular Attitude Of A Safety-pin

           Behindthecurtain,therewasanindescribablecrowd.Artists,scene-shifters,dancers,supers,choristers,subscriberswereallaskingquestions,shoutingandhustlingoneanother.

           "Whatbecameofher?"

           "She’srunaway."

           "WiththeVicomtedeChagny,ofcourse!"

           "No,withthecount!"

           "Ah,here’sCarlotta!Carlottadidthetrick!"

           "No,itwastheghost!"Andafewlaughed,especiallyasacarefulexaminationofthetrap-doorsandboardshadputtheideaofanaccidentoutofthequestion.

           Amidthisnoisythrong,threemenstoodtalkinginalowvoiceandwithdespairinggestures.TheywereGabriel,thechorus-master;Mercier,theacting-manager;andRemy,thesecretary.Theyretiredtoacornerofthelobbybywhichthestagecommunicateswiththewidepassageleadingtothefoyeroftheballet.Heretheystoodandarguedbehindsomeenormous"properties."

           "Iknockedatthedoor,"saidRemy."Theydidnotanswer.Perhapstheyarenotintheoffice.Inanycase,it’simpossibletofindout,fortheytookthekeyswiththem."

           "They"wereobviouslythemanagers,whohadgivenorders,duringthelastentr’acte,thattheywerenottobedisturbedonanypretextwhatever.Theywerenotintoanybody.

           "Allthesame,"exclaimedGabriel,"asingerisn’trunawaywith,fromthemiddleofthestage,everyday!"

           "Didyoushoutthattothem?"askedMercier,impatiently.

           "I’llgobackagain,"saidRemy,anddisappearedatarun.

           Thereuponthestage-managerarrived.

           "Well,M.Mercier,areyoucoming?Whatareyoutwodoinghere?You’rewanted,Mr.Acting-Manager.