Призрак Оперы
VII Faust And What Followed
?"saidRichard,knittinghisbrows.
ButthecurtainroseonthekermesssceneandRichardmadeasigntothestage-managertogoaway.Whenthetwowerealoneagain,MoncharminleanedovertoRichard:
"ThenDaaehasfriends?"heasked.
"Yes,shehas."
"Whom?"
Richardglancedacrossataboxonthegrandtiercontainingnoonebuttwomen.
"TheComtedeChagny?"
"Yes,hespoketomeinherfavorwithsuchwarmththat,ifIhadnotknownhimtobeSorelli’sfriend..."
"Really?Really?"saidMoncharmin."Andwhoisthatpaleyoungmanbesidehim?"
"That’shisbrother,theviscount."
"Heoughttobeinhisbed.Helooksill."
Thestagerangwithgaysong:
"Redorwhiteliquor,
Coarseorfine!
Whatcanitmatter,
Sowehavewine?"
Students,citizens,soldiers,girlsandmatronswhirledlight-heartedlybeforetheinnwiththefigureofBacchusforasign.Siebelmadeherentrance.ChristineDaaelookedcharminginherboy’sclothes;andCarlotta’spartisansexpectedtohearhergreetedwithanovationwhichwouldhaveenlightenedthemastotheintentionsofherfriends.Butnothinghappened.
Ontheotherhand,whenMargaritacrossedthestageandsangtheonlytwolinesallottedherinthissecondact:
"No,mylord,notaladyamI,noryetabeauty,
Anddonotneedanarmtohelpmeonmyway,"
Carlottawasreceivedwithenthusiasticapplause.Itwassounexpectedandsouncalledforthatthosewhoknewnothingabouttherumorslookedatoneanotherandaskedwhatwashappening.Andthisactalsowasfinishedwithoutincident.
Theneverybodysaid:"Ofcourse,itwillbeduringthenextact.
