V The Enchanted Violin

           ChristineDaae,owingtointriguestowhichIwillreturnlater,didnotimmediatelycontinuehertriumphattheOpera.Afterthefamousgalanight,shesangonceattheDuchessdeZurich’s;butthiswasthelastoccasiononwhichshewasheardinprivate.Sherefused,withoutplausibleexcuse,toappearatacharityconcerttowhichshehadpromisedherassistance.Sheactedthroughoutasthoughshewerenolongerthemistressofherowndestinyandasthoughshefearedafreshtriumph.

           SheknewthattheComtedeChagny,topleasehisbrother,haddonehisbestonherbehalfwithM.Richard;andshewrotetothankhimandalsotoaskhimtoceasespeakinginherfavor.Herreasonforthiscuriousattitudewasneverknown.Somepretendedthatitwasduetooverweeningpride;othersspokeofherheavenlymodesty.Butpeopleonthestagearenotsomodestasallthat;andIthinkthatIshallnotbefarfromthetruthifIascribeheractionsimplytofear.Yes,IbelievethatChristineDaaewasfrightenedbywhathadhappenedtoher.IhavealetterofChristine’s(itformspartofthePersian’scollection),relatingtothisperiod,whichsuggestsafeelingofabsolutedismay:

           "Idon’tknowmyselfwhenIsing,"writesthepoorchild.

           Sheshowedherselfnowhere;andtheVicomtedeChagnytriedinvaintomeether.Hewrotetoher,askingtocalluponher,butdespairedofreceivingareplywhen,onemorning,shesenthimthefollowingnote:

           MONSIEUR:

           Ihavenotforgottenthelittleboywhowentintotheseatorescuemyscarf.