IV Box Five

           ArmandMoncharminwrotesuchvoluminousMemoirsduringthefairlylongperiodofhisco-managementthatwemaywellaskifheeverfoundtimetoattendtotheaffairsoftheOperaotherwisethanbytellingwhatwentonthere.M.Moncharmindidnotknowanoteofmusic,buthecalledtheministerofeducationandfineartsbyhisChristianname,haddabbledalittleinsocietyjournalismandenjoyedaconsiderableprivateincome.Lastly,hewasacharmingfellowandshowedthathewasnotlackinginintelligence,for,assoonashemadeuphismindtobeasleepingpartnerintheOpera,heselectedthebestpossibleactivemanagerandwentstraighttoFirminRichard.

           FirminRichardwasaverydistinguishedcomposer,whohadpublishedanumberofsuccessfulpiecesofallkindsandwholikednearlyeveryformofmusicandeverysortofmusician.Clearly,therefore,itwasthedutyofeverysortofmusiciantolikeM.FirminRichard.Theonlythingstobesaidagainsthimwerethathewasrathermasterfulinhiswaysandendowedwithaveryhastytemper.

           ThefirstfewdayswhichthepartnersspentattheOperaweregivenovertothedelightoffindingthemselvestheheadofsomagnificentanenterprise;andtheyhadforgottenallaboutthatcurious,fantasticstoryoftheghost,whenanincidentoccurredthatprovedtothemthatthejoke—ifjokeitwere—wasnotover.M.FirminRichardreachedhisofficethatmorningateleveno’clock.Hissecretary,M.Remy,showedhimhalfadozenletterswhichhehadnotopenedbecausetheyweremarked"private.