Привид Опери
III The Mysterious Reason
NonewilleverbeatrueParisianwhohasnotlearnedtowearamaskofgaietyoverhissorrowsandoneofsadness,boredomorindifferenceoverhisinwardjoy.Youknowthatoneofyourfriendsisintrouble;donottrytoconsolehim:hewilltellyouthatheisalreadycomforted;but,shouldhehavemetwithgoodfortune,becarefulhowyoucongratulatehim:hethinksitsonaturalthatheissurprisedthatyoushouldspeakofit.InParis,ourlivesareonemaskedball;andthefoyeroftheballetisthelastplaceinwhichtwomenso"knowing"asM.DebienneandM.Polignywouldhavemadethemistakeofbetrayingtheirgrief,howevergenuineitmightbe.AndtheywerealreadysmilingrathertoobroadlyuponSorelli,whohadbeguntoreciteherspeech,whenanexclamationfromthatlittlemadcapofaJammesbrokethesmileofthemanagerssobrutallythattheexpressionofdistressanddismaythatlaybeneathitbecameapparenttoalleyes:
"TheOperaghost!"
Jammesyelledthesewordsinatoneofunspeakableterror;andherfingerpointed,amongthecrowdofdandies,toafacesopallid,solugubriousandsougly,withtwosuchdeepblackcavitiesunderthestraddlingeyebrows,thatthedeath’sheadinquestionimmediatelyscoredahugesuccess.
"TheOperaghost!TheOperaghost!"EverybodylaughedandpushedhisneighborandwantedtooffertheOperaghostadrink,buthewasgone.Hehadslippedthroughthecrowd;andtheothersvainlyhuntedforhim,whiletwooldgentlementriedtocalmlittleJammesandwhilelittleGirystoodscreaminglikeapeacock.
