Призрак Оперы

           Wemustnotforgetthatthemanagershadanideaatthebackoftheirminds,allthetime,thatthisstrangeincidentmightbeanunpleasantpracticaljokeonthepartoftheirpredecessorsandthatitwouldnotdotodivulgeitprematurely.Ontheotherhand,MoncharminwassometimestroubledwithasuspicionofRichardhimself,whooccasionallytookfancifulwhimsintohishead.Andsotheywerecontenttoawaitevents,whilekeepinganeyeonMotherGiry.Richardwouldnothaveherspokento.

           "Ifsheisaconfederate,"hesaid,"thenotesaregonelongago.But,inmyopinion,sheismerelyanidiot."

           "She’snottheonlyidiotinthisbusiness,"saidMoncharminpensively.

           "Well,whocouldhavethoughtit?"moanedRichard."Butdon’tbeafraid...nexttime,Ishallhavetakenmyprecautions."

           ThenexttimefellonthesamedaythatbeheldthedisappearanceofChristineDaae.Inthemorning,anotefromtheghostremindedthemthatthemoneywasdue.Itread:

           Dojustasyoudidlasttime.Itwentverywell.PutthetwentythousandintheenvelopeandhandittoourexcellentMme.Giry.

           Andthenotewasaccompaniedbytheusualenvelope.Theyhadonlytoinsertthenotes.

           ThiswasdoneabouthalfanhourbeforethecurtainroseonthefirstactofFaust.RichardshowedtheenvelopetoMoncharmin.Thenhecountedthetwentythousand-francnotesinfrontofhimandputthenotesintotheenvelope,butwithoutclosingit.

           "Andnow,"hesaid,"let’shaveMotherGiryin."

           Theoldwomanwassentfor.Sheenteredwithasweepingcourtesy.