Привид Опери
IV Box Five
Buthesoonfoundthathehadmadeamistakeingrinning,forthewordshadnosoonerlefthismouththanM.Richard,fromgloomy,becamefurious.
"Sendforthebox-keeper!"heshouted."Sendforher!Thisminute!Thisminute!Andbringherintomehere!Andturnallthosepeopleout!"
Theinspectortriedtoprotest,butRichardclosedhismouthwithanangryordertoholdhistongue.Then,whenthewretchedman’slipsseemedshutforever,themanagercommandedhimtoopenthemoncemore.
"Whoisthis’Operaghost?’"hesnarled.
Buttheinspectorwasbythistimeincapableofspeakingaword.Hemanagedtoconvey,byadespairinggesture,thatheknewnothingaboutit,orratherthathedidnotwishtoknow.
"Haveyoueverseenhim,haveyouseentheOperaghost?"
Theinspector,bymeansofavigorousshakeofthehead,deniedeverhavingseentheghostinquestion.
"Verywell!"saidM.Richardcoldly.
Theinspector’seyesstartedoutofhishead,asthoughtoaskwhythemanagerhadutteredthatominous"Verywell!"
"BecauseI’mgoingtosettletheaccountofanyonewhohasnotseenhim!"explainedthemanager."Asheseemstobeeverywhere,Ican’thavepeopletellingmethattheyseehimnowhere.IlikepeopletoworkformewhenIemploythem!"
Havingsaidthis,M.Richardpaidnoattentiontotheinspectoranddiscussedvariousmattersofbusinesswithhisacting-manager,whohadenteredtheroommeanwhile.Theinspectorthoughthecouldgoandwasgently—oh,sogently!—sidlingtowardthedoor,whenM.Richardnailedthemantothefloorwithathundering:
"Staywhereyouare!"
M.
