Призрак Оперы
IV Box Five
Moncharmininterferedandconductedtheinterrogatory,whenceitappearedthatMme.Girythoughtitquitenaturalthatavoiceshouldbeheardtosaythataboxwastaken,whentherewasnobodyinthebox.Shewasunabletoexplainthisphenomenon,whichwasnotnewtoher,exceptbytheinterventionoftheghost.Nobodycouldseetheghostinhisbox,buteverybodycouldhearhim.Shehadoftenheardhim;andtheycouldbelieveher,forshealwaysspokethetruth.TheycouldaskM.DebienneandM.Poligny,andanybodywhoknewher;andalsoM.IsidoreSaack,whohadhadalegbrokenbytheghost!
"Indeed!"saidMoncharmin,interruptingher."DidtheghostbreakpoorIsidoreSaack’sleg?"
Mme.Giryopenedhereyeswithastonishmentatsuchignorance.However,sheconsentedtoenlightenthosetwopoorinnocents.ThethinghadhappenedinM.DebienneandM.Poligny’stime,alsoinBoxFiveandalsoduringaperformanceofFAUST.Mme.Girycoughed,clearedherthroat—itsoundedasthoughshewerepreparingtosingthewholeofGounod’sscore—andbegan:
"Itwaslikethis,sir.Thatnight,M.Manieraandhislady,thejewelersintheRueMogador,weresittinginthefrontofthebox,withtheirgreatfriend,M.IsidoreSaack,sittingbehindMme.Maniera.Mephistopheleswassinging"—Mme.Giryhereburstintosongherself—"’Catarina,whileyouplayatsleeping,’andthenM.Manieraheardavoiceinhisrightear(hiswifewasonhisleft)saying,’Ha,ha!Julie’snotplayingatsleeping!’HiswifehappenedtobecalledJulie.So.M.Manieraturnstotherighttoseewhowastalkingtohimlikethat.
