Призрак Оперы
VII Faust And What Followed
"
Some,whoseemedtobebetterinformedthantherest,declaredthatthe"row"wouldbeginwiththeballadoftheKINGOFTHULEandrushedtothesubscribers’entrancetowarnCarlotta.Themanagerslefttheboxduringtheentr’actetofindoutmoreaboutthecabalofwhichthestage-managerhadspoken;buttheysoonreturnedtotheirseats,shruggingtheirshouldersandtreatingthewholeaffairassilly.
Thefirstthingtheysaw,onenteringthebox,wasaboxofEnglishsweetsonthelittleshelfoftheledge.Whohadputitthere?Theyaskedthebox-keepers,butnoneofthemknew.Thentheywentbacktotheshelfand,nexttotheboxofsweets,foundanoperaglass.Theylookedateachother.Theyhadnoinclinationtolaugh.AllthatMme.Giryhadtoldthemreturnedtotheirmemory...andthen...andthen...theyseemedtofeelacurioussortofdraftaroundthem...Theysatdowninsilence.
ThescenerepresentedMargarita’sgarden:
"Gentleflow’rsinthedew,
Bemessagefromme..."
Asshesangthesefirsttwolines,withherbunchofrosesandlilacsinherhand,Christine,raisingherhead,sawtheVicomtedeChagnyinhisbox;and,fromthatmoment,hervoiceseemedlesssure,lesscrystal-clearthanusual.Somethingseemedtodeadenanddullhersinging...
"Whataqueergirlsheis!"saidoneofCarlotta’sfriendsinthestalls,almostaloud."Theotherdayshewasdivine;andto-nightshe’ssimplybleating.Shehasnoexperience,notraining."
"Gentleflow’rs,lieyethere
Andtellherfromme..."
Theviscountputhisheadunderhishandsandwept.
