Призрак Оперы

           Shestillworeherblacktaffetadress,thecolorofwhichwasrapidlyturningtorustandlilac,tosaynothingofthedingybonnet.Sheseemedinagoodtemper.Sheatoncesaid:

           "Goodevening,gentlemen!It’sfortheenvelope,Isuppose?"

           "Yes,Mme.Giry,"saidRichard,mostamiably."Fortheenvelope...andsomethingelsebesides."

           "Atyourservice,M.Richard,atyourservice.Andwhatisthesomethingelse,please?"

           "Firstofall,Mme.Giry,Ihavealittlequestiontoputtoyou."

           "Byallmeans,M.Richard:Mme.Giryisheretoansweryou."

           "Areyoustillongoodtermswiththeghost?"

           "Couldn’tbebetter,sir;couldn’tbebetter."

           "Ah,wearedelighted...Lookhere,Mme.Giry,"saidRichard,inthetoneofmakinganimportantconfidence."Wemayjustaswelltellyou,amongourselves...you’renofool!"

           "Why,sir,"exclaimedthebox-keeper,stoppingthepleasantnoddingoftheblackfeathersinherdingybonnet,"Iassureyounoonehaseverdoubtedthat!"

           "Wearequiteagreedandweshallsoonunderstandoneanother.Thestoryoftheghostisallhumbug,isn’tit?...Well,stillbetweenourselves,...ithaslastedlongenough."

           Mme.GirylookedatthemanagersasthoughtheyweretalkingChinese.ShewalkeduptoRichard’stableandasked,ratheranxiously:

           "Whatdoyoumean?Idon’tunderstand."

           "Oh,you,understandquitewell.Inanycase,you’vegottounderstand...And,firstofall,tellushisname."

           "Whosename?"

           "Thenameofthemanwhoseaccompliceyouare,Mme.Giry!"

           "Iamtheghost’saccomplice?I?...Hisaccompliceinwhat,pray?"

           "Youdoallhewants.