Призрак Оперы

           "

           "Oh!He’snotverytroublesome,youknow."

           "Anddoeshestilltipyou?"

           "Imustn’tcomplain."

           "Howmuchdoeshegiveyouforbringinghimthatenvelope?"

           "Tenfrancs."

           "Youpoorthing!That’snotmuch,isit?

           "Why?"

           "I’lltellyouthatpresently,Mme.Giry.Justnowweshouldliketoknowforwhatextraordinaryreasonyouhavegivenyourselfbodyandsoul,tothisghost...Mme.Giry’sfriendshipanddevotionarenottobeboughtforfivefrancsortenfrancs."

           "That’strueenough...AndIcantellyouthereason,sir.There’snodisgraceaboutit...onthecontrary."

           "We’requitesureofthat,Mme.Giry!"

           "Well,it’slikethis...onlytheghostdoesn’tlikemetotalkabouthisbusiness."

           "Indeed?"sneeredRichard.

           "Butthisisamatterthatconcernsmyselfalone...Well,itwasinBoxFiveoneevening,Ifoundaletteraddressedtomyself,asortofnotewritteninredink.Ineedn’treadthelettertoyousir;Iknowitbyheart,andIshallneverforgetitifIlivetobeahundred!"

           AndMme.Giry,drawingherselfup,recitedtheletterwithtouchingeloquence:

           MADAM:

           1825.Mlle.Menetrier,leaderoftheballet,becameMarquisedeCussy.

           1832.Mlle.MarieTaglioni,adancer,becameComtesseGilbertdesVoisins.

           1846.LaSota,adancer,marriedabrotheroftheKingofSpain.

           1847.LolaMontes,adancer,becamethemorganaticwifeofKingLouisofBavariaandwascreatedCountessofLandsfeld.

           1848.Mlle.Maria,adancer,becameBaronned’Herneville.

           1870.TheresaHessier,adancer,marriedDomFernando,brothertotheKingofPortugal.