VIII The Mysterious Brougham

           Thattragiceveningwasbadforeverybody.Carlottafellill.AsforChristineDaae,shedisappearedaftertheperformance.AfortnightelapsedduringwhichshewasseenneitherattheOperanoroutside.

           Raoul,ofcourse,wasthefirsttobeastonishedattheprimadonna’sabsence.HewrotetoheratMme.Valerius’flatandreceivednoreply.Hisgriefincreasedandheendedbybeingseriouslyalarmedatneverseeinghernameontheprogram.FAUSTwasplayedwithouther.

           Oneafternoonhewenttothemanagers’officetoaskthereasonofChristine’sdisappearance.Hefoundthembothlookingextremelyworried.Theirownfriendsdidnotrecognizethem:theyhadlostalltheirgaietyandspirits.Theywereseencrossingthestagewithhangingheads,care-wornbrows,palecheeks,asthoughpursuedbysomeabominablethoughtorapreytosomepersistentsportoffate.

           Thefallofthechandelierhadinvolvedtheminnolittleresponsibility;butitwasdifficulttomakethemspeakaboutit.Theinquesthadendedinaverdictofaccidentaldeath,causedbythewearandtearofthechainsbywhichthechandelierwashungfromtheceiling;butitwasthedutyofboththeoldandthenewmanagerstohavediscoveredthiswearandtearandtohaveremedieditintime.AndIfeelboundtosaythatMM.RichardandMoncharminatthistimeappearedsochanged,soabsent-minded,somysterious,soincomprehensiblethatmanyofthesubscribersthoughtthatsomeeventevenmorehorriblethanthefallofthechandeliermusthaveaffectedtheirstateofmind.