Призрак Оперы
VII Faust And What Followed
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"Heisafriendofthegovernmentrepresentative’s!"Mercierventuredtosay.
"AndhetakeshisvermouthatTortoni’swithLagrene,SchollandPertuiset,thelion-hunter,"addedMoncharmin."Weshallhavethewholepressagainstus!He’lltellthestoryoftheghost;andeverybodywillbelaughingatourexpense!Wemayaswellbedeadasridiculous!"
"Allright,saynomoreaboutit."
Atthatmomentthedooropened.ItmusthavebeendesertedbyitsusualCerberus,forMme.Giryenteredwithoutceremony,holdingaletterinherhand,andsaidhurriedly:
"Ibegyourpardon,excuseme,gentlemen,butIhadaletterthismorningfromtheOperaghost.Hetoldmetocometoyou,thatyouhadsomethingto..."
Shedidnotcompletethesentence.ShesawFirminRichard’sface;anditwasaterriblesight.Heseemedreadytoburst.Hesaidnothing,hecouldnotspeak.Butsuddenlyheacted.First,hisleftarmseizeduponthequaintpersonofMme.Giryandmadeherdescribesounexpectedasemicirclethatsheutteredadespairingcry.Next,hisrightfootimprinteditssoleontheblacktaffetaofaskirtwhichcertainlyhadneverbeforeundergoneasimilaroutrageinasimilarplace.ThethinghappenedsoquicklythatMme.Giry,wheninthepassage,wasstillquitebewilderedandseemednottounderstand.But,suddenly,sheunderstood;andtheOperarangwithherindignantyells,herviolentprotestsandthreats.
Aboutthesametime,Carlotta,whohadasmallhouseofherownintheRueduFaubourgSt.Honore,rangforhermaid,whobroughtherletterstoherbed.
