VII Faust And What Followed

           OntheSaturdaymorning,onreachingtheiroffice,thejointmanagersfoundaletterfromO.G.wordedintheseterms:

           MYDEARMANAGERS:

           Soitistobewarbetweenus?

           Ifyoustillcareforpeace,hereismyultimatum.Itconsistsofthefourfollowingconditions:

           1.Youmustgivemebackmyprivatebox;andIwishittobeatmyfreedisposalfromhenceforward.

           2.ThepartofMargaritashallbesungthiseveningbyChristineDaae.NevermindaboutCarlotta;shewillbeill.

           3.IabsolutelyinsistuponthegoodandloyalservicesofMme.Giry,mybox-keeper,whomyouwillreinstateinherfunctionsforthwith.

           4.LetmeknowbyaletterhandedtoMme.Giry,whowillseethatitreachesme,thatyouaccept,asyourpredecessorsdid,theconditionsinmymemorandum-bookrelatingtomymonthlyallowance.Iwillinformyoulaterhowyouaretopayittome.

           Ifyourefuse,youwillgiveFAUSTto-nightinahousewithacurseuponit.

           Takemyadviceandbewarnedintime.O.G.

           "Lookhere,I’mgettingsickofhim,sickofhim!"shoutedRichard,bringinghisfistsdownonhisoffice-table.

           Justthen,Mercier,theacting-manager,entered.

           "Lachenelwouldliketoseeoneofyougentlemen,"hesaid."Hesaysthathisbusinessisurgentandheseemsquiteupset."

           "Who’sLachenel?"askedRichard.

           "He’syourstud-groom."

           "Whatdoyoumean?Mystud-groom?"

           "Yes,sir,"explainedMercier,"thereareseveralgroomsattheOperaandM.Lachenelisattheheadofthem."

           "Andwhatdoesthisgroomdo?"

           "Hehasthechiefmanagementofthestable."

           "Whatstable?"

           "Why,yours,sir,thestableoftheOpera.