Призрак Оперы
VII Faust And What Followed
"That’sone!"saidMoncharmin.
"Yes,theghostislate,"saidFirminRichard.
"It’snotabadhouse,"saidMoncharmin,"for’ahousewithacurseonit.’"
M.Richardsmiledandpointedtoafat,rathervulgarwoman,dressedinblack,sittinginastallinthemiddleoftheauditoriumwithamaninabroadclothfrock-coatoneithersideofher.
"Whoonearthare’those?’"askedMoncharmin.
"’Those,’mydearfellow,aremyconcierge,herhusbandandherbrother."
"Didyougivethemtheirtickets?"
"Idid...MyconciergehadneverbeentotheOpera—thisis,thefirsttime—and,assheisnowgoingtocomeeverynight,Iwantedhertohaveagoodseat,beforespendinghertimeshowingotherpeopletotheirs."
MoncharminaskedwhathemeantandRichardansweredthathehadpersuadedhisconcierge,inwhomhehadthegreatestconfidence,tocomeandtakeMme.Giry’splace.Yes,hewouldliketoseeif,withthatwomaninsteadoftheoldlunatic,BoxFivewouldcontinuetoastonishthenatives?
"Bytheway,"saidMoncharmin,"youknowthatMotherGiryisgoingtolodgeacomplaintagainstyou."
"Withwhom?Theghost?"
Theghost!Moncharminhadalmostforgottenhim.However,thatmysteriouspersondidnothingtobringhimselftothememoryofthemanagers;andtheywerejustsayingsotoeachotherforthesecondtime,whenthedooroftheboxsuddenlyopenedtoadmitthestartledstage-manager.
"What’sthematter?"theybothasked,amazedatseeinghimthereatsuchatime.
"Itseemsthere’saplotgotupbyChristineDaae’sfriendsagainstCarlotta.Carlotta’sfurious."
"Whatonearth...
