Привид Опери

           Asamatteroffact,pettedashewasbyhistwosistersandhisoldaunt,hehadretainedfromthispurelyfeminineeducationmannersthatwerealmostcandidandstampedwithacharmthatnothinghadyetbeenabletosully.Hewasalittleovertwenty-oneyearsofageandlookedeighteen.Hehadasmall,fairmustache,beautifulblueeyesandacomplexionlikeagirl’s.

           PhilippespoiledRaoul.Tobeginwith,hewasveryproudofhimandpleasedtoforeseeagloriouscareerforhisjuniorinthenavyinwhichoneoftheirancestors,thefamousChagnydeLaRoche,hadheldtherankofadmiral.Hetookadvantageoftheyoungman’sleaveofabsencetoshowhimParis,withallitsluxuriousandartisticdelights.Thecountconsideredthat,atRaoul’sage,itisnotgoodtobetoogood.Philippehimselfhadacharacterthatwasverywell-balancedinworkandpleasurealike;hisdemeanorwasalwaysfaultless;andhewasincapableofsettinghisbrotherabadexample.Hetookhimwithhimwhereverhewent.Heevenintroducedhimtothefoyeroftheballet.Iknowthatthecountwassaidtobe"onterms"withSorelli.Butitcouldhardlybereckonedasacrimeforthisnobleman,abachelor,withplentyofleisure,especiallysincehissistersweresettled,tocomeandspendanhourortwoafterdinnerinthecompanyofadancer,who,thoughnotsovery,verywitty,hadthefinesteyesthateverwereseen!And,besides,thereareplaceswhereatrueParisian,whenhehastherankoftheComtedeChagny,isboundtoshowhimself;andatthattimethefoyeroftheballetattheOperawasoneofthoseplaces.