Привид Опери
XIII A Master-stroke Of The Trap-door Lover
TheFaubourgwasmagnificentlyrepresented;andtheparagraphinthatmorning’sEPOQUEhadalreadyproduceditseffect,foralleyeswereturnedtotheboxinwhichCountPhilippesatalone,apparentlyinaveryindifferentandcarelessframeofmind.Thefeminineelementinthebrilliantaudienceseemedcuriouslypuzzled;andtheviscount’sabsencegaverisetoanyamountofwhisperingbehindthefans.ChristineDaaemetwitharathercoldreception.Thatspecialaudiencecouldnotforgiveherforaimingsohigh.
Thesingernoticedthisunfavorableattitudeofaportionofthehouseandwasconfusedbyit.
TheregularfrequentersoftheOpera,whopretendedtoknowthetruthabouttheviscount’slove-story,exchangedsignificantsmilesatcertainpassagesinMargarita’spart;andtheymadeashowofturningandlookingatPhilippedeChagny’sboxwhenChristinesang:
"IwishIcouldbutknowwhowashe
Thataddressedme,
Ifhewasnoble,or,atleast,whathisnameis."
Thecountsatwithhischinonhishandandseemedtopaynoattentiontothesemanifestations.Hekepthiseyesfixedonthestage;buthisthoughtsappearedtobefaraway.
Christinelostherself-assurancemoreandmore.Shetrembled.Shefeltonthevergeofabreakdown...CarolusFontawonderedifshewasill,ifshecouldkeepthestageuntiltheendoftheGardenAct.Inthefrontofthehouse,peoplerememberedthecatastrophethathadbefallenCarlottaattheendofthatactandthehistoric"co-ack"whichhadmomentarilyinterruptedhercareerinParis.
