Призрак Оперы

           Theinspectorbegantosplutterandreferredtothereport.

           "Well,butwhatwerethosepeoplelaughingat?"askedMoncharmin.

           "Theymusthavebeendining,sir,andseemedmoreinclinedtolarkaboutthantolistentogoodmusic.Themomenttheyenteredthebox,theycameoutagainandcalledthebox-keeper,whoaskedthemwhattheywanted.Theysaid,’Lookinthebox:there’snoonethere,isthere?’’No,’saidthewoman.’Well,’saidthey,’whenwewentin,weheardavoicesayingTHATTHEBOXWASTAKEN!’"

           M.MoncharmincouldnothelpsmilingashelookedatM.Richard;butM.Richarddidnotsmile.Hehimselfhaddonetoomuchinthatwayinhistimenottorecognize,intheinspector’sstory,allthemarksofoneofthosepracticaljokeswhichbeginbyamusingandendbyenragingthevictims.Theinspector,tocurryfavorwithM.Moncharmin,whowassmiling,thoughtitbesttogiveasmiletoo.Amostunfortunatesmile!M.Richardglaredathissubordinate,whothenceforthmadeithisbusinesstodisplayafaceofutterconsternation.

           "However,whenthepeoplearrived,"roaredRichard,"therewasnooneinthebox,wasthere?"

           "Notasoul,sir,notasoul!Norintheboxontheright,norintheboxontheleft:notasoul,sir,Iswear!Thebox-keepertolditmeoftenenough,whichprovesthatitwasallajoke."

           "Oh,youagree,doyou?"saidRichard."Youagree!It’sajoke!Andyouthinkitfunny,nodoubt?"

           "Ithinkitinverybadtaste,sir."

           "Andwhatdidthebox-keepersay?"

           "Oh,shejustsaidthatitwastheOperaghost.That’sallshesaid!"

           Andtheinspectorgrinned.