Призрак Оперы
VII Faust And What Followed
Ifyouarewise,youwillseethatitismadnesstotrytosingto-night.
Carlottasneered,shruggedherhandsomeshouldersandsangtwoorthreenotestoreassureherself.
Herfriendswerefaithfultotheirpromise.TheywereallattheOperathatnight,butlookedroundinvainforthefierceconspiratorswhomtheywereinstructedtosuppress.TheonlyunusualthingwasthepresenceofM.RichardandM.MoncharmininBoxFive.Carlotta’sfriendsthoughtthat,perhaps,themanagershadwind,ontheirside,oftheproposeddisturbanceandthattheyhaddeterminedtobeinthehouse,soastostopitthenandthere;butthiswasunjustifiablesupposition,asthereaderknows.M.RichardandM.Moncharminwerethinkingofnothingbuttheirghost.
"Vain!InvaindoIcall,throughmyvigilweary,OncreationanditsLord!Neverreplywillbreakthesilencedreary!Nosign!Nosingleword!"
Thefamousbaritone,CarolusFonta,hadhardlyfinishedDoctorFaust’sfirstappealtothepowersofdarkness,whenM.FirminRichard,whowassittingintheghost’sownchair,thefrontchairontheright,leanedovertohispartnerandaskedhimchaffingly:
"Well,hastheghostwhisperedawordinyourearyet?"
"Wait,don’tbeinsuchahurry,"repliedM.ArmandMoncharmin,inthesamegaytone."Theperformancehasonlybegunandyouknowthattheghostdoesnotusuallycomeuntilthemiddleofthefirstact."
Thefirstactpassedwithoutincident,whichdidnotsurpriseCarlotta’sfriends,becauseMargaritadoesnotsinginthisact.Asforthemanagers,theylookedateachother,whenthecurtainfell.
