Призрак Оперы
VII Faust And What Followed
Lachenelgavehimselfagreatsmackonthebootwithhiswhip.
"HasCesarbeenstolen?"criedtheacting-manager."Cesar,thewhitehorseintheProfeta?"
"TherearenottwoCesars,"saidthestud-groomdryly."IwastenyearsatFranconi’sandIhaveseenplentyofhorsesinmytime.Well,therearenottwoCesars.Andhe’sbeenstolen."
"How?"
"Idon’tknow.Nobodyknows.That’swhyIhavecometoaskyoutosackthewholestable."
"Whatdoyourstablemensay?"
"Allsortsofnonsense.Someofthemaccusethesupers.Otherspretendthatit’stheacting-manager’sdoorkeeper..."
"Mydoorkeeper?I’llanswerforhimasIwouldformyself!"protestedMercier.
"But,afterall,M.Lachenel,"criedRichard,"youmusthavesomeidea."
"Yes,Ihave,"M.Lacheneldeclared."IhaveanideaandI’lltellyouwhatitis.There’snodoubtaboutitinmymind."Hewalkeduptothetwomanagersandwhispered."It’stheghostwhodidthetrick!"
Richardgaveajump.
"What,youtoo!Youtoo!"
"Howdoyoumean,Itoo?Isn’titnatural,afterwhatIsaw?"
"Whatdidyousee?"
"Isaw,asclearlyasInowseeyou,ablackshadowridingawhitehorsethatwasaslikeCesarastwopeas!"
"Anddidyourunafterthem?"
"IdidandIshouted,buttheyweretoofastformeanddisappearedinthedarknessoftheundergroundgallery."
M.Richardrose."Thatwilldo,M.Lachenel.Youcango...WewilllodgeacomplaintagainstTHEGHOST."
"Andsackmystable?"
"Oh,ofcourse!Goodmorning."
M.Lachenelbowedandwithdrew.Richardfoamedatthemouth.
"Settlethatidiot’saccountatonce,please.
