Призрак Оперы
XIV The Singular Attitude Of A Safety-pin
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"Irefusetoknowortodoanythingbeforethecommissaryarrives,"declaredMercier."IhavesentforMifroid.Weshallseewhenhecomes!"
"AndItellyouthatyououghttogodowntotheorganatonce."
"Notbeforethecommissarycomes."
"I’vebeendowntotheorganmyselfalready."
"Ah!Andwhatdidyousee?"
"Well,Isawnobody!Doyouhear—nobody!"
"Whatdoyouwantmetododowntherefor{sic}?"
"You’reright!"saidthestage-manager,franticallypushinghishandsthroughhisrebellioushair."You’reright!Buttheremightbesomeoneattheorganwhocouldtellushowthestagecametobesuddenlydarkened.NowMauclairisnowheretobefound.Doyouunderstandthat?"
Mauclairwasthegas-man,whodispenseddayandnightatwillonthestageoftheOpera.
"Mauclairisnottobefound!"repeatedMercier,takenaback."Well,whatabouthisassistants?"
"There’snoMauclairandnoassistants!Nooneatthelights,Itellyou!Youcanimagine,"roaredthestage-manager,"thatthatlittlegirlmusthavebeencarriedoffbysomebodyelse:shedidn’trunawaybyherself!Itwasacalculatedstrokeandwehavetofindoutaboutit...Andwhatarethemanagersdoingallthistime?...IgaveordersthatnoonewastogodowntothelightsandIpostedafiremaninfrontofthegas-man’sboxbesidetheorgan.Wasn’tthatright?"
"Yes,yes,quiteright,quiteright.Andnowlet’swaitforthecommissary."
Thestage-managerwalkedaway,shrugginghisshoulders,fuming,mutteringinsultsatthosemilksopswhoremainedquietlysquattinginacornerwhilethewholetheaterwastopsyturvy{sic}.
