Призрак Оперы
XVIII The Commissary, The Viscount And The Persian
"
Moncharminunderstoodwhathemeant,for,withadistractedgesture,hesaid:
"Oh,telleverythingandhavedonewithit!"
AsforMifroid,helookedatthemanagersandatRaoulbyturnsandwonderedwhetherhehadstrayedintoalunaticasylum.Hepassedhishandthroughhishair.
"Aghost,"hesaid,"who,onthesameevening,carriesoffanopera-singerandstealstwenty-thousandfrancsisaghostwhomusthavehishandsveryfull!Ifyoudon’tmind,wewilltakethequestionsinorder.Thesingerfirst,thetwenty-thousandfrancsafter.Come,M.deChagny,letustrytotalkseriously.YoubelievethatMlle.ChristineDaaehasbeencarriedoffbyanindividualcalledErik.Doyouknowthisperson?Haveyouseenhim?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Inachurchyard."
M.Mifroidgaveastart,begantoscrutinizeRaoulagainandsaid:
"Ofcourse!...That’swhereghostsusuallyhangout!...Andwhatwereyoudoinginthatchurchyard?"
"Monsieur,"saidRaoul,"Icanquiteunderstandhowabsurdmyrepliesmustseemtoyou.ButIbegyoutobelievethatIaminfullpossessionofmyfaculties.Thesafetyofthepersondearesttomeintheworldisatstake.Ishouldliketoconvinceyouinafewwords,fortimeispressingandeveryminuteisvaluable.Unfortunately,ifIdonottellyouthestrangeststorythateverwasfromthebeginning,youwillnotbelieveme.IwilltellyouallIknowabouttheOperaghost,M.Commissary.Alas,Idonotknowmuch!..."
"Nevermind,goon,goon!"exclaimedRichardandMoncharmin,suddenlygreatlyinterested.
