Призрак Оперы
III The Mysterious Reason
Webegantolaughagain,feelingsurethattheywereindulginginsomejokethatwasintendedtocrownourlittleentertainment.Then,attheirrequest,webecame’serious,’resolvingtohumorthemandtoenterintothespiritofthegame.Theytoldusthattheyneverwouldhavespokentousoftheghost,iftheyhadnotreceivedformalordersfromtheghosthimselftoaskustobepleasanttohimandtograntanyrequestthathemightmake.However,intheirreliefatleavingadomainwherethattyrannicalshadeheldsway,theyhadhesitateduntilthelastmomenttotellusthiscuriousstory,whichourskepticalmindswerecertainlynotpreparedtoentertain.ButtheannouncementofthedeathofJosephBuquethadservedthemasabrutalreminderthat,whenevertheyhaddisregardedtheghost’swishes,somefantasticordisastrouseventhadbroughtthemtoasenseoftheirdependence.
"Duringtheseunexpectedutterancesmadeinatoneofthemostsecretandimportantconfidence,IlookedatRichard.Richard,inhisstudentdays,hadacquiredagreatreputationforpracticaljoking,andheseemedtorelishthedishwhichwasbeingserveduptohiminhisturn.Hedidnotmissamorselofit,thoughtheseasoningwasalittlegruesomebecauseofthedeathofBuquet.Henoddedhisheadsadly,whiletheothersspoke,andhisfeaturesassumedtheairofamanwhobitterlyregrettedhavingtakenovertheOpera,nowthatheknewthattherewasaghostmixedupinthebusiness.Icouldthinkofnothingbetterthantogivehimaservileimitationofthisattitudeofdespair.
