Призрак Оперы

           "Haven’tIareputationforknowingallaboutmusic?AndIdon’tknowonekeyfromanother."

           "Don’tbeafraid:youneverhadthatreputation,"Richarddeclared.

           Thereuponheorderedtheartiststobeshownin,who,forthelasttwohours,hadbeenwalkingupanddownoutsidethedoorbehindwhichfameandfortune—ordismissal—awaitedthem.

           Thewholedaywasspentindiscussing,negotiating,signingorcancellingcontracts;andthetwooverworkedmanagerswenttobedearly,withoutsomuchascastingaglanceatBoxFivetoseewhetherM.DebienneandM.Polignywereenjoyingtheperformance.

           Nextmorning,themanagersreceivedacardofthanksfromtheghost:

           DEAR,MR.MANAGER:

           Thanks.Charmingevening.Daaeexquisite.Choruseswantwakingup.Carlottaasplendidcommonplaceinstrument.Willwriteyousoonforthe240,000francs,or233,424fr.70c.,tobecorrect.Mm.DebienneandPolignyhavesentmethe6,575fr.30c.representingthefirsttendaysofmyallowanceforthecurrentyear;theirprivilegesfinishedontheeveningofthetenthinst.

           Kindregards.O.G.

           Ontheotherhand,therewasaletterfromMm.DebienneandPoligny:

           GENTLEMEN:

           Wearemuchobligedforyourkindthoughtofus,butyouwilleasilyunderstandthattheprospectofagainhearingFaust,pleasantthoughitistoex-managersoftheOpera,cannotmakeusforgetthatwehavenorighttooccupyBoxFiveonthegrandtier,whichistheexclusivepropertyofHIMofwhomwespoketoyouwhenwewentthroughthememorandum-bookwithyouforthelasttime.SeeClause98,finalparagraph.

           Accept,gentlemen,etc.