Призрак Оперы
XV Christine! Christine!
Ihaveneverbeenthere!"
"AndtheRueScribe,madame,theRueScribe?HaveyouneverbeentotheRueScribe?"
Thewomanlaughed,screamedwithlaughter!Raouldartedaway,roaringwithanger,ranup-stairs,fourstairsatatime,down-stairs,rushedthroughthewholeofthebusinesssideoftheopera-house,foundhimselfoncemoreinthelightofthestage.
Hestopped,withhisheartthumpinginhischest:supposeChristineDaaehadbeenfound?Hesawagroupofmenandasked:
"Ibegyourpardon,gentlemen.CouldyoutellmewhereChristineDaaeis?"
Andsomebodylaughed.
Atthesamemomentthestagebuzzedwithanewsoundand,amidacrowdofmeninevening-dress,alltalkingandgesticulatingtogether,appearedamanwhoseemedverycalmanddisplayedapleasantface,allpinkandchubby-cheeked,crownedwithcurlyhairandlitupbyapairofwonderfullysereneblueeyes.Mercier,theacting-manager,calledtheVicomtedeChagny’sattentiontohimandsaid:
"Thisisthegentlemantowhomyoushouldputyourquestion,monsieur.LetmeintroduceMifroid,thecommissaryofpolice."
"Ah,M.leVicomtedeChagny!Delightedtomeetyou,monsieur,"saidthecommissary."Wouldyoumindcomingwithme?...Andnowwherearethemanagers?...Wherearethemanagers?"
Mercierdidnotanswer,andRemy,thesecretary,volunteeredtheinformationthatthemanagerswerelockedupintheirofficeandthattheyknewnothingasyetofwhathadhappened.
"Youdon’tmeantosayso!Letusgouptotheoffice!"
AndM.Mifroid,followedbyanever-increasingcrowd,turnedtowardthebusinesssideofthebuilding
