Призрак Оперы
XVI Mme. Giry's Revelations
RichardandMoncharminlistenedtotheoldwoman,who,assheproceededwiththeenumerationofthesegloriousnuptials,swelledout,tookcourageand,atlast,inavoiceburstingwithpride,flungoutthelastsentenceofthepropheticletter:
1885.MegGiry,Empress!
Exhaustedbythissupremeeffort,thebox-keeperfellintoachair,saying:
"Gentlemen,theletterwassigned,’OperaGhost.’Ihadheardmuchoftheghost,butonlyhalfbelievedinhim.FromthedaywhenhedeclaredthatmylittleMeg,thefleshofmyflesh,thefruitofmywomb,wouldbeempress,Ibelievedinhimaltogether."
AndreallyitwasnotnecessarytomakealongstudyofMme.Giry’sexcitedfeaturestounderstandwhatcouldbegotoutofthatfineintellectwiththetwowords"ghost"and"empress."
Butwhopulledthestringsofthatextraordinarypuppet?Thatwasthequestion.
"Youhaveneverseenhim;hespeakstoyouandyoubelieveallhesays?"askedMoncharmin.
"Yes.Tobeginwith,IoweittohimthatmylittleMegwaspromotedtobetheleaderofarow.Isaidtotheghost,’Ifsheistobeempressin1885,thereisnotimetolose;shemustbecomealeaderatonce.’Hesaid,’Lookuponitasdone.’AndhehadonlyawordtosaytoM.Polignyandthethingwasdone."
"SoyouseethatM.Polignysawhim!"
"No,notanymorethanIdid;butheheardhim.Theghostsaidawordinhisear,youknow,ontheeveningwhenheleftBoxFive,lookingsodreadfullypale."
Moncharminheavedasigh."Whatabusiness!"hegroaned.
"Ah!"saidMme.Giry."IalwaysthoughtthereweresecretsbetweentheghostandM.Poligny.
