Призрак Оперы

           Iwasatfirstinclinedtobesuspicious;butwhenthePersianhadtoldme,withchild-likecandor,allthatheknewabouttheghostandhadhandedmetheproofsoftheghost’sexistence—includingthestrangecorrespondenceofChristineDaae—todoasIpleasedwith,Iwasnolongerabletodoubt.No,theghostwasnotamyth!

           Ihave,Iknow,beentoldthatthiscorrespondencemayhavebeenforgedfromfirsttolastbyamanwhoseimaginationhadcertainlybeenfedonthemostseductivetales;butfortunatelyIdiscoveredsomeofChristine’swritingoutsidethefamousbundleoflettersand,onacomparisonbetweenthetwo,allmydoubtswereremoved.IalsowentintothepasthistoryofthePersianandfoundthathewasanuprightman,incapableofinventingastorythatmighthavedefeatedtheendsofjustice.

           This,moreover,wastheopinionofthemoreseriouspeoplewho,atonetimeorother,weremixedupintheChagnycase,whowerefriendsoftheChagnyfamily,towhomIshowedallmydocumentsandsetforthallmyinferences.Inthisconnection,IshouldliketoprintafewlineswhichIreceivedfromGeneralD——:

           SIR:

           Icannoturgeyoutoostronglytopublishtheresultsofyourinquiry.Irememberperfectlythat,afewweeksbeforethedisappearanceofthatgreatsinger,ChristineDaae,andthetragedywhichthrewthewholeoftheFaubourgSaint-Germainintomourning,therewasagreatdealoftalk,inthefoyeroftheballet,onthesubjectofthe"ghost;"andIbelievethatitonlyceasedtobediscussedinconsequenceofthelateraffairthatexcitedusallsogreatly.