XVIII The Commissary, The Viscount And The Persian

           Thefirstwordsofthecommissaryofpolice,onenteringthemanagers’office,weretoaskafterthemissingprimadonna.

           "IsChristineDaaehere?"

           "ChristineDaaehere?"echoedRichard."No.Why?"

           AsforMoncharmin,hehadnotthestrengthlefttoutteraword.

           Richardrepeated,forthecommissaryandthecompactcrowdwhichhadfollowedhimintotheofficeobservedanimpressivesilence.

           "WhydoyouaskifChristineDaaeishere,M.LECOMMISSAIRE?"

           "Becauseshehastobefound,"declaredthecommissaryofpolicesolemnly.

           "Whatdoyoumean,shehastobefound?Hasshedisappeared?"

           "Inthemiddleoftheperformance!"

           "Inthemiddleoftheperformance?Thisisextraordinary!"

           "Isn’tit?Andwhatisquiteasextraordinaryisthatyoushouldfirstlearnitfromme!"

           "Yes,"saidRichard,takinghisheadinhishandsandmuttering."Whatisthisnewbusiness?Oh,it’senoughtomakeamansendinhisresignation!"

           Andhepulledafewhairsoutofhismustachewithoutevenknowingwhathewasdoing.

           "Soshe...soshedisappearedinthemiddleoftheperformance?"herepeated.

           "Yes,shewascarriedoffinthePrisonAct,atthemomentwhenshewasinvokingtheaidoftheangels;butIdoubtifshewascarriedoffbyanangel."

           "AndIamsurethatshewas!"

           Everybodylookedround.Ayoungman,paleandtremblingwithexcitement,repeated:

           "Iamsureofit!"

           "Sureofwhat?"askedMifroid.

           "ThatChristineDaaewascarriedoffbyanangel,M.LECOMMISSAIREandIcantellyouhisname."

           "Aha,M.