Призрак Оперы
III The Mysterious Reason
Polignypointedwithahesitatingfingertothislastclause,whichwecertainlydidnotexpect.
"’Isthisall?Doeshenotwantanythingelse?’askedRichard,withthegreatestcoolness.
"’Yes,hedoes,’repliedPoligny.
"Andheturnedoverthepagesofthememorandum-bookuntilhecametotheclausespecifyingthedaysonwhichcertainprivateboxesweretobereservedforthefreeuseofthepresidentoftherepublic,theministersandsoon.Attheendofthisclause,alinehadbeenadded,alsoinredink:
"’BoxFiveonthegrandtiershallbeplacedatthedisposaloftheOperaghostforeveryperformance.’
"Whenwesawthis,therewasnothingelseforustodobuttorisefromourchairs,shakeourtwopredecessorswarmlybythehandandcongratulatethemonthinkingofthischarminglittlejoke,whichprovedthattheoldFrenchsenseofhumorwasneverlikelytobecomeextinct.RichardaddedthathenowunderstoodwhyMM.DebienneandPolignywereretiringfromthemanagementoftheNationalAcademyofMusic.Businesswasimpossiblewithsounreasonableaghost.
"’Certainly,twohundredandfortythousandfrancsarenotbepickedupfortheasking,’saidM.Poligny,withoutmovingamuscleofhisface.’AndhaveyouconsideredwhatthelossoverBoxFivemeanttous?Wedidnotsellitonce;andnotonlythat,butwehadtoreturnthesubscription:why,it’sawful!Wereallycan’tworktokeepghosts!Weprefertogoaway!’
"’Yes,’echoedM.Debienne,’weprefertogoaway.Letusgo.’"
"Andhestoodup
