Призрак Оперы
Prologue
Butwewillreturntothecorpseandwhatoughttobedonewithit.Forthepresent,ImustconcludethisverynecessaryintroductionbythankingM.Mifroid(whowasthecommissaryofpolicecalledinforthefirstinvestigationsafterthedisappearanceofChristineDaae),M.Remy,thelatesecretary,M.Mercier,thelateacting-manager,M.Gabriel,thelatechorus-master,andmoreparticularlyMme.laBaronnedeCastelot-Barbezac,whowasoncethe"littleMeg"ofthestory(andwhoisnotashamedofit),themostcharmingstarofouradmirablecorpsdeballet,theeldestdaughteroftheworthyMme.Giry,nowdeceased,whohadchargeoftheghost’sprivatebox.Allthesewereofthegreatestassistancetome;and,thankstothem,Ishallbeabletoreproducethosehoursofsheerloveandterror,intheirsmallestdetails,beforethereader’seyes.
AndIshouldbeungratefulindeedifIomitted,whilestandingonthethresholdofthisdreadfulandveraciousstory,tothankthepresentmanagementtheOpera,whichhassokindlyassistedmeinallmyinquiries,andM.Messagerinparticular,togetherwithM.Gabion,theacting-manager,andthatmostamiableofmen,thearchitectintrustedwiththepreservationofthebuilding,whodidnothesitatetolendmetheworksofCharlesGarnier,althoughhewasalmostsurethatIwouldneverreturnthemtohim.Lastly,Imustpayapublictributetothegenerosityofmyfriendandformercollaborator,M.J.LeCroze,whoallowedmetodipintohissplendidtheatricallibraryandtoborrowtheraresteditionsofbooksbywhichhesetgreatstore.
GASTONLEROUX.
