Призрак Оперы

           "Isay,"hesaidtothestage-manager,"Ican’topenthisdoor:isitalwayssodifficult?"

           Thestage-managerforceditopenwithhisshoulder.Hesawthat,atthesametime,hewaspushingahumanbodyandhecouldnotkeepbackanexclamation,forherecognizedthebodyatonce:

           "Mauclair!Poordevil!Heisdead!"

           ButMr.CommissaryMifroid,whomnothingsurprised,wasstoopingoverthatbigbody.

           "No,"hesaid,"heisdead-drunk,whichisnotquitethesamething."

           "It’sthefirsttime,ifso,"saidthestage-manager

           "Thensomeonehasgivenhimanarcotic.Thatisquitepossible."

           Mifroidwentdownafewstepsandsaid:

           "Look!"

           Bythelightofalittleredlantern,atthefootofthestairs,theysawtwootherbodies.Thestage-managerrecognizedMauclair’sassistants.Mifroidwentdownandlistenedtotheirbreathing.

           "Theyaresoundasleep,"hesaid."Verycuriousbusiness!Somepersonunknownmusthaveinterferedwiththegas-manandhisstaff...andthatpersonunknownwasobviouslyworkingonbehalfofthekidnapper...Butwhatafunnyideatokidnapaperformeronthestage!...Sendforthedoctorofthetheater,please."AndMifroidrepeated,"Curious,decidedlycuriousbusiness!"

           Thenheturnedtothelittleroom,addressingthepeoplewhomRaoulandthePersianwereunabletoseefromwheretheylay.

           "Whatdoyousaytoallthis,gentlemen?Youaretheonlyoneswhohavenotgivenyourviews.Andyetyoumusthaveanopinionofsomesort.