The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux 2

8/2/2019 The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux 2

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ThePhantomoftheOpera

by

GastonLeroux

Authorof"TheMysteryoftheYellowRoom"and"ThePerfumeoftheLadyinBlack"

Contents

Chapter

PROLOGUEIISITAGHOST?IITHENEWMARGARITAIIITHEMYSTERIOUSREASONIVBOXFIVE

VTHEENCHANTEDVIOLINVIAVISITTOBOXFIVEVIIFAUSTANDWHATFOLLOWEDVIIITHEMYSTERIOUSBROUGHAMIXATTHEMASKEDBALLXFORGETTHENAMEOFTHEMAN'SVOICEXIABOVETHETRAP-DOORSXIIAPOLLO'SLYREXIIIAMASTER-STROKEOFTHETRAP-DOORLOVERXIVTHESINGULARATTITUDEOFASAFETY-PINXVCHRISTINE!CHRISTINE!XVIMME.GIRY'SREVELATIONSXVIITHESAFETY-PINAGAIN

XVIIITHECOMMISSARY,THEVISCOUNTANDTHEPERSIANXIXTHEVISCOUNTANDTHEPERSIANXXINTHECELLARSOFTHEOPERAXXIINTERESTINGVICISSITUDESXXIIINTHETORTURECHAMBERXXIIITHETORTURESBEGINXXIVBARRELS!BARRELS!XXVTHESCORPIONORTHEGRASSHOPPER:WHICHXXVITHEENDOFTHEGHOST'SLOVESTORYEPILOGUE

{plusa"bonuschapter"called"THEPARISOPERAHOUSE"}

ThePhantomoftheOpera

Prologue


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INWHICHTHEAUTHOROFTHISSINGULARWORKINFORMSTHEREADERHOWHEACQUIREDTHECERTAINTYTHATTHEOPERAGHOSTREALLYEXISTED

TheOperaghostreallyexisted.Hewasnot,aswaslongbelieved,acreatureoftheimaginationoftheartists,thesuperstitionofthemanagers,oraproductoftheabsurdandimpressionablebrainsoftheyoungladiesoftheballet,theirmothers,thebox-keepers,thecloak-roomattendantsortheconcierge.Yes,heexistedinfleshandblood,althoughheassumedthecompleteappearanceofarealphantom;thatistosay,ofaspectralshade.

WhenIbegantoransackthearchivesoftheNationalAcademyofMusicIwasatoncestruckbythesurprisingcoincidencesbetweenthephenomenaascribedtothe"ghost"andthemostextraordinaryandfantastictragedythateverexcitedtheParisupperclasses;andIsoonconceivedtheideathatthistragedymightreasonablybeexplainedbythephenomenainquestion.Theeventsdonotdatemorethanthirtyyearsback;anditwouldnotbedifficulttofindatthepresentday,inthefoyeroftheballet,oldmenofthehighestrespectability,menuponwhosewordonecouldabsolutelyrely,whowouldrememberasthoughtheyhappenedyesterdaythemysteriousanddramaticconditionsthatattendedthekidnappingofChristineDaae,thedisappearanceoftheVicomtedeChagnyandthedeathofhiselderbrother,CountPhilippe,whosebodywasfoundonthebankofthelakethatexistsinthelowercellarsof

theOperaontheRue-Scribeside.ButnoneofthosewitnesseshaduntilthatdaythoughtthattherewasanyreasonforconnectingthemoreorlesslegendaryfigureoftheOperaghostwiththatterriblestory.

Thetruthwasslowtoentermymind,puzzledbyaninquirythatateverymomentwascomplicatedbyeventswhich,atfirstsight,mightbelookeduponassuperhuman;andmorethanonceIwaswithinanaceofabandoningataskinwhichIwasexhaustingmyselfinthehopelesspursuitofavainimage.Atlast,Ireceivedtheproofthatmypresentimentshadnotdeceivedme,andIwasrewardedforallmyeffortsonthedaywhenIacquiredthecertaintythattheOperaghostwasmorethanamereshade.

Onthatday,IhadspentlonghoursoverTHEMEMOIRSOFAMANAGER,thelightandfrivolousworkofthetoo-skepticalMoncharmin,who,duringhistermattheOpera,understoodnothingofthemysteriousbehavioroftheghostandwhowasmakingallthefunofitthathecouldattheverymomentwhenhebecamethefirstvictimofthecuriousfinancialoperationthatwentoninsidethe"magicenvelope."

Ihadjustleftthelibraryindespair,whenImetthedelightfulacting-managerofourNationalAcademy,whostoodchattingonalandingwithalivelyandwell-groomedlittleoldman,towhomheintroducedmegaily.Theacting-managerknewallaboutmyinvestigationsandhoweagerlyandunsuccessfullyIhadbeentryingtodiscoverthe

whereaboutsoftheexaminingmagistrateinthefamousChagnycase,M.Faure.Nobodyknewwhathadbecomeofhim,aliveordead;andherehewasbackfromCanada,wherehehadspentfifteenyears,andthefirstthinghehaddone,onhisreturntoParis,wastocometothesecretarialofficesattheOperaandaskforafreeseat.ThelittleoldmanwasM.Faurehimself.

WespentagoodpartoftheeveningtogetherandhetoldmethewholeChagnycaseashehadunderstooditatthetime.Hewasboundtoconcludeinfavorofthemadnessoftheviscountandtheaccidental


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deathoftheelderbrother,forlackofevidencetothecontrary;buthewasneverthelesspersuadedthataterribletragedyhadtakenplacebetweenthetwobrothersinconnectionwithChristineDaae.HecouldnottellmewhatbecameofChristineortheviscount.WhenImentionedtheghost,heonlylaughed.He,too,hadbeentoldofthecuriousmanifestationsthatseemedtopointtotheexistenceofanabnormalbeing,residinginoneofthemostmysteriouscornersoftheOpera,andheknewthestoryoftheenvelope;buthehadneverseenanythinginitworthyofhisattentionasmagistrateinchargeoftheChagnycase,anditwasasmuchashehaddonetolistentotheevidenceofawitnesswhoappearedofhisownaccordanddeclaredthathehadoftenmettheghost.ThiswitnesswasnoneotherthanthemanwhomallPariscalledthe"Persian"andwhowaswell-knowntoeverysubscribertotheOpera.Themagistratetookhimforavisionary.

IwasimmenselyinterestedbythisstoryofthePersian.Iwanted,iftherewerestilltime,tofindthisvaluableandeccentricwitness.MyluckbegantoimproveandIdiscoveredhiminhislittleflatintheRuedeRivoli,wherehehadlivedeversinceandwherehediedfivemonthsaftermyvisit.Iwasatfirstinclinedtobesuspicious;butwhenthePersianhadtoldme,withchild-likecandor,allthatheknewabouttheghostandhadhandedmetheproofsoftheghost'sexistence--includingthestrangecorrespondenceofChristineDaae--todoasIpleasedwith,Iwasnolongerabletodoubt.No,theghostwas

notamyth!

Ihave,Iknow,beentoldthatthiscorrespondencemayhavebeenforgedfromfirsttolastbyamanwhoseimaginationhadcertainlybeenfedonthemostseductivetales;butfortunatelyIdiscoveredsomeofChristine'swritingoutsidethefamousbundleoflettersand,onacomparisonbetweenthetwo,allmydoubtswereremoved.IalsowentintothepasthistoryofthePersianandfoundthathewasanuprightman,incapableofinventingastorythatmighthavedefeatedtheendsofjustice.

This,moreover,wastheopinionofthemoreseriouspeoplewho,atonetimeorother,weremixedupintheChagnycase,whowerefriendsof

theChagnyfamily,towhomIshowedallmydocumentsandsetforthallmyinferences.Inthisconnection,IshouldliketoprintafewlineswhichIreceivedfromGeneralD----:

SIR:

Icannoturgeyoutoostronglytopublishtheresultsofyourinquiry.Irememberperfectlythat,afewweeksbeforethedisappearanceofthatgreatsinger,ChristineDaae,andthetragedywhichthrewthewholeoftheFaubourgSaint-Germainintomourning,therewasagreatdealoftalk,inthefoyeroftheballet,onthesubjectofthe"ghost;"andIbelievethatitonlyceasedtobediscussedinconsequenceofthelateraffairthatexcitedusallsogreatly.But,ifitbepossible--as,

afterhearingyou,Ibelieve--toexplainthetragedythroughtheghost,thenIbegyousir,totalktousabouttheghostagain.

Mysteriousthoughtheghostmayatfirstappear,hewillalwaysbemoreeasilyexplainedthanthedismalstoryinwhichmalevolentpeoplehavetriedtopicturetwobrotherskillingeachotherwhohadworshipedeachotheralltheirlives.

Believeme,etc.


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Lastly,withmybundleofpapersinhand,Ioncemorewentovertheghost'svastdomain,thehugebuildingwhichhehadmadehiskingdom.Allthatmyeyessaw,allthatmymindperceived,corroboratedthePersian'sdocumentsprecisely;andawonderfuldiscoverycrownedmylaborsinaverydefinitefashion.Itwillberememberedthat,later,whendigginginthesubstructureoftheOpera,beforeburyingthephonographicrecordsoftheartist'svoice,theworkmenlaidbareacorpse.Well,IwasatonceabletoprovethatthiscorpsewasthatoftheOperaghost.Imadetheacting-managerputthisprooftothetestwithhisownhand;anditisnowamatterofsupremeindifferencetomeifthepaperspretendthatthebodywasthatofavictimoftheCommune.

Thewretcheswhoweremassacred,undertheCommune,inthecellarsoftheOpera,werenotburiedonthisside;Iwilltellwheretheirskeletonscanbefoundinaspotnotveryfarfromthatimmensecryptwhichwasstockedduringthesiegewithallsortsofprovisions.IcameuponthistrackjustwhenIwaslookingfortheremainsoftheOperaghost,whichIshouldneverhavediscoveredbutfortheunheard-ofchancedescribedabove.

Butwewillreturntothecorpseandwhatoughttobedonewithit.Forthepresent,ImustconcludethisverynecessaryintroductionbythankingM.Mifroid(whowasthecommissaryofpolicecalledinforthefirstinvestigationsafterthedisappearanceofChristineDaae),M.

Remy,thelatesecretary,M.Mercier,thelateacting-manager,M.Gabriel,thelatechorus-master,andmoreparticularlyMme.laBaronnedeCastelot-Barbezac,whowasoncethe"littleMeg"ofthestory(andwhoisnotashamedofit),themostcharmingstarofouradmirablecorpsdeballet,theeldestdaughteroftheworthyMme.Giry,nowdeceased,whohadchargeoftheghost'sprivatebox.Allthesewereofthegreatestassistancetome;and,thankstothem,Ishallbeabletoreproducethosehoursofsheerloveandterror,intheirsmallestdetails,beforethereader'seyes.

AndIshouldbeungratefulindeedifIomitted,whilestandingonthethresholdofthisdreadfulandveraciousstory,tothankthepresentmanagementtheOpera,whichhassokindlyassistedmeinallmy

inquiries,andM.Messagerinparticular,togetherwithM.Gabion,theacting-manager,andthatmostamiableofmen,thearchitectintrustedwiththepreservationofthebuilding,whodidnothesitatetolendmetheworksofCharlesGarnier,althoughhewasalmostsurethatIwouldneverreturnthemtohim.Lastly,Imustpayapublictributetothegenerosityofmyfriendandformercollaborator,M.J.LeCroze,whoallowedmetodipintohissplendidtheatricallibraryandtoborrowtheraresteditionsofbooksbywhichhesetgreatstore.

GASTONLEROUX.

ChapterIIsittheGhost?

ItwastheeveningonwhichMM.DebienneandPoligny,themanagersoftheOpera,weregivingalastgalaperformancetomarktheirretirement.Suddenlythedressing-roomofLaSorelli,oneoftheprincipaldancers,wasinvadedbyhalf-a-dozenyoungladiesoftheballet,whohadcomeupfromthestageafter"dancing"Polyeucte.Theyrushedinamidgreatconfusion,somegivingventtoforcedandunnaturallaughter,otherstocriesofterror.Sorelli,whowishedto


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bealoneforamomentto"runthrough"thespeechwhichshewastomaketotheresigningmanagers,lookedaroundangrilyatthemadandtumultuouscrowd.ItwaslittleJammes--thegirlwiththetip-tiltednose,theforget-me-noteyes,therose-redcheeksandthelily-whiteneckandshoulders--whogavetheexplanationinatremblingvoice:

"It'stheghost!"Andshelockedthedoor.

Sorelli'sdressing-roomwasfittedupwithofficial,commonplaceelegance.Apier-glass,asofa,adressing-tableandacupboardortwoprovidedthenecessaryfurniture.Onthewallshungafewengravings,relicsofthemother,whohadknownthegloriesoftheoldOperaintheRuelePeletier;portraitsofVestris,Gardel,Dupont,Bigottini.Buttheroomseemedapalacetothebratsofthecorpsdeballet,whowerelodgedincommondressing-roomswheretheyspenttheirtimesinging,quarreling,smackingthedressersandhair-dressersandbuyingoneanotherglassesofcassis,beer,orevenrhum,untilthecall-boy'sbellrang.

Sorelliwasverysuperstitious.SheshudderedwhensheheardlittleJammesspeakoftheghost,calledhera"sillylittlefool"andthen,asshewasthefirsttobelieveinghostsingeneral,andtheOperaghostinparticular,atonceaskedfordetails:

"Haveyouseenhim?"

"AsplainlyasIseeyounow!"saidlittleJammes,whoselegsweregivingwaybeneathher,andshedroppedwithamoanintoachair.

ThereuponlittleGiry--thegirlwitheyesblackassloes,hairblackasink,aswarthycomplexionandapoorlittleskinstretchedoverpoorlittlebones--littleGiryadded:

"Ifthat'stheghost,he'sveryugly!"

"Oh,yes!"criedthechorusofballet-girls.

Andtheyallbegantotalktogether.Theghosthadappearedtothemintheshapeofagentlemanindress-clothes,whohadsuddenlystoodbeforetheminthepassage,withouttheirknowingwherehecamefrom.Heseemedtohavecomestraightthroughthewall.

"Pooh!"saidoneofthem,whohadmoreorlesskeptherhead."Youseetheghosteverywhere!"

Anditwastrue.Forseveralmonths,therehadbeennothingdiscussedattheOperabutthisghostindress-clotheswhostalkedaboutthebuilding,fromtoptobottom,likeashadow,whospoketonobody,towhomnobodydaredspeakandwhovanishedassoonashewasseen,nooneknowinghoworwhere.Asbecamearealghost,hemadenonoisein

walking.Peoplebeganbylaughingandmakingfunofthisspecterdressedlikeamanoffashionoranundertaker;buttheghostlegendsoonswelledtoenormousproportionsamongthecorpsdeballet.Allthegirlspretendedtohavemetthissupernaturalbeingmoreorlessoften.Andthosewholaughedtheloudestwerenotthemostatease.Whenhedidnotshowhimself,hebetrayedhispresenceorhispassingbyaccident,comicorserious,forwhichthegeneralsuperstitionheldhimresponsible.Hadanyonemetwithafall,orsufferedapracticaljokeatthehandsofoneoftheothergirls,orlostapowderpuff,itwasatoncethefaultoftheghost,oftheOperaghost.


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Afterall,whohadseenhim?Youmeetsomanymenindress-clothesattheOperawhoarenotghosts.Butthisdress-suithadapeculiarityofitsown.Itcoveredaskeleton.Atleast,sotheballet-girlssaid.And,ofcourse,ithadadeath'shead.

Wasallthisserious?ThetruthisthattheideaoftheskeletoncamefromthedescriptionoftheghostgivenbyJosephBuquet,thechiefscene-shifter,whohadreallyseentheghost.Hehadrunupagainsttheghostonthelittlestaircase,bythefootlights,whichleadsto"thecellars."Hehadseenhimforasecond--fortheghosthadfled--andtoanyonewhocaredtolistentohimhesaid:

"Heisextraordinarilythinandhisdress-coathangsonaskeletonframe.Hiseyesaresodeepthatyoucanhardlyseethefixedpupils.Youjustseetwobigblackholes,asinadeadman'sskull.Hisskin,whichisstretchedacrosshisboneslikeadrumhead,isnotwhite,butanastyyellow.Hisnoseissolittleworthtalkingaboutthatyoucan'tseeitside-face;andTHEABSENCEofthatnoseisahorriblethingTOLOOKAT.Allthehairhehasisthreeorfourlongdarklocksonhisforeheadandbehindhisears."

Thischiefscene-shifterwasaserious,sober,steadyman,veryslowatimaginingthings.Hiswordswerereceivedwithinterestandamazement;

andsoontherewereotherpeopletosaythattheytoohadmetamanindress-clotheswithadeath'sheadonhisshoulders.SensiblemenwhohadwindofthestorybeganbysayingthatJosephBuquethadbeenthevictimofajokeplayedbyoneofhisassistants.Andthen,oneaftertheother,therecameaseriesofincidentssocuriousandsoinexplicablethattheveryshrewdestpeoplebegantofeeluneasy.

Forinstance,afiremanisabravefellow!Hefearsnothing,leastofallfire!Well,thefiremaninquestion,whohadgonetomakearoundofinspectioninthecellarsandwho,itseems,hadventuredalittlefartherthanusual,suddenlyreappearedonthestage,pale,scared,trembling,withhiseyesstartingoutofhishead,andpracticallyfaintedinthearmsoftheproudmotheroflittleJammes.[1]Andwhy?

Becausehehadseencomingtowardhim,ATTHELEVELOFHISHEAD,BUTWITHOUTABODYATTACHEDTOIT,AHEADOFFIRE!And,asIsaid,afiremanisnotafraidoffire.

Thefireman'snamewasPampin.

Thecorpsdeballetwasflungintoconsternation.Atfirstsight,thisfieryheadinnowaycorrespondedwithJosephBuquet'sdescriptionoftheghost.Buttheyoungladiessoonpersuadedthemselvesthattheghosthadseveralheads,whichhechangedaboutashepleased.And,ofcourse,theyatonceimaginedthattheywereinthegreatestdanger.Onceafiremandidnothesitatetofaint,leadersandfront-rowandback-rowgirlsalikehadplentyofexcusesforthefrightthatmade

themquickentheirpacewhenpassingsomedarkcornerorill-lightedcorridor.Sorelliherself,onthedayaftertheadventureofthefireman,placedahorseshoeonthetableinfrontofthestage-door-keeper'sbox,whicheveryonewhoenteredtheOperaotherwisethanasaspectatormusttouchbeforesettingfootonthefirsttreadofthestaircase.Thishorse-shoewasnotinventedbyme--anymorethananyotherpartofthisstory,alas!--andmaystillbeseenonthetableinthepassageoutsidethestage-door-keeper'sbox,whenyouentertheOperathroughthecourtknownastheCourdel'Administration.


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Toreturntotheeveninginquestion.

"It'stheghost!"littleJammeshadcried.

Anagonizingsilencenowreignedinthedressing-room.Nothingwasheardbutthehardbreathingofthegirls.Atlast,Jammes,flingingherselfuponthefarthestcornerofthewall,witheverymarkofrealterroronherface,whispered:

"Listen!"

Everybodyseemedtoheararustlingoutsidethedoor.Therewasnosoundoffootsteps.Itwaslikelightsilkslidingoverthepanel.Thenitstopped.

Sorellitriedtoshowmorepluckthantheothers.Shewentuptothedoorand,inaquaveringvoice,asked:

"Who'sthere?"

Butnobodyanswered.Thenfeelingalleyesuponher,watchingherlastmovement,shemadeanefforttoshowcourage,andsaidveryloudly:

"Isthereanyonebehindthedoor?"

"Oh,yes,yes!Ofcoursethereis!"criedthatlittledriedplumofaMegGiry,heroicallyholdingSorellibackbyhergauzeskirt."Whateveryoudo,don'topenthedoor!Oh,Lord,don'topenthedoor!"

ButSorelli,armedwithadaggerthatneverlefther,turnedthekeyanddrewbackthedoor,whiletheballet-girlsretreatedtotheinnerdressing-roomandMegGirysighed:

"Mother!Mother!"

Sorellilookedintothepassagebravely.Itwasempty;agas-flame,in

itsglassprison,castaredandsuspiciouslightintothesurroundingdarkness,withoutsucceedingindispellingit.Andthedancerslammedthedooragain,withadeepsigh.

"No,"shesaid,"thereisnoonethere."

"Still,wesawhim!"Jammesdeclared,returningwithtimidlittlestepstoherplacebesideSorelli."Hemustbesomewhereprowlingabout.Ishan'tgobacktodress.Wehadbetterallgodowntothefoyertogether,atonce,forthe'speech,'andwewillcomeupagaintogether."

Andthechildreverentlytouchedthelittlecoralfinger-ringwhichshe

woreasacharmagainstbadluck,whileSorelli,stealthily,withthetipofherpinkrightthumb-nail,madeaSt.Andrew'scrossonthewoodenringwhichadornedthefourthfingerofherlefthand.Shesaidtothelittleballet-girls:

"Come,children,pullyourselvestogether!Idaresaynoonehaseverseentheghost."

"Yes,yes,wesawhim--wesawhimjustnow!"criedthegirls."Hehadhisdeath'sheadandhisdress-coat,justaswhenheappearedtoJoseph


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Buquet!"

"AndGabrielsawhimtoo!"saidJammes."Onlyyesterday!Yesterdayafternoon--inbroadday-light----"

"Gabriel,thechorus-master?"

"Why,yes,didn'tyouknow?"

"Andhewaswearinghisdress-clothes,inbroaddaylight?"

"Who?Gabriel?"

"Why,no,theghost!"

"Certainly!Gabrieltoldmesohimself.That'swhatheknewhimby.Gabrielwasinthestage-manager'soffice.SuddenlythedooropenedandthePersianentered.YouknowthePersianhastheevileye----"

"Oh,yes!"answeredthelittleballet-girlsinchorus,wardingoffill-luckbypointingtheirforefingerandlittlefingerattheabsentPersian,whiletheirsecondandthirdfingerswerebentonthepalmandhelddownbythethumb.

"AndyouknowhowsuperstitiousGabrielis,"continuedJammes."However,heisalwayspolite.WhenhemeetsthePersian,hejustputshishandinhispocketandtoucheshiskeys.Well,themomentthePersianappearedinthedoorway,Gabrielgaveonejumpfromhischairtothelockofthecupboard,soastotouchiron!Indoingso,hetoreawholeskirtofhisovercoatonanail.Hurryingtogetoutoftheroom,hebangedhisforeheadagainstahat-pegandgavehimselfahugebump;then,suddenlysteppingback,heskinnedhisarmonthescreen,nearthepiano;hetriedtoleanonthepiano,butthelidfellonhishandsandcrushedhisfingers;herushedoutoftheofficelikeamadman,slippedonthestaircaseandcamedownthewholeofthefirstflightonhisback.Iwasjustpassingwithmother.Wepickedhimup.Hewascoveredwithbruisesandhisfacewasalloverblood.Wewere

frightenedoutofourlives,but,allatonce,hebegantothankProvidencethathehadgotoffsocheaply.Thenhetolduswhathadfrightenedhim.HehadseentheghostbehindthePersian,THEGHOSTWITHTHEDEATH'SHEADjustlikeJosephBuquet'sdescription!"

Jammeshadtoldherstoryeversoquickly,asthoughtheghostwereatherheels,andwasquiteoutofbreathatthefinish.Asilencefollowed,whileSorellipolishedhernailsingreatexcitement.ItwasbrokenbylittleGiry,whosaid:

"JosephBuquetwoulddobettertoholdhistongue."

"Whyshouldheholdhistongue?"askedsomebody.

"That'smother'sopinion,"repliedMeg,loweringhervoiceandlookingallaboutherasthoughfearinglestotherearsthanthosepresentmightoverhear.

"Andwhyisityourmother'sopinion?"

"Hush!Mothersaystheghostdoesn'tlikebeingtalkedabout."

"Andwhydoesyourmothersayso?"


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"Because--because--nothing--"

Thisreticenceexasperatedthecuriosityoftheyoungladies,whocrowdedroundlittleGiry,begginghertoexplainherself.Theywerethere,sidebyside,leaningforwardsimultaneouslyinonemovementofentreatyandfear,communicatingtheirterrortooneanother,takingakeenpleasureinfeelingtheirbloodfreezeintheirveins.

"Isworenottotell!"gaspedMeg.

Buttheylefthernopeaceandpromisedtokeepthesecret,untilMeg,burningtosayallsheknew,began,withhereyesfixedonthedoor:

"Well,it'sbecauseoftheprivatebox."

"Whatprivatebox?"

"Theghost'sbox!"

"Hastheghostabox?Oh,dotellus,dotellus!"

"Notsoloud!"saidMeg."It'sBoxFive,youknow,theboxonthegrandtier,nexttothestage-box,ontheleft."

"Oh,nonsense!"

"Itellyouitis.Motherhaschargeofit.Butyouswearyouwon'tsayaword?"

"Ofcourse,ofcourse."

"Well,that'stheghost'sbox.Noonehashaditforoveramonth,excepttheghost,andordershavebeengivenatthebox-officethatitmustneverbesold."

"Anddoestheghostreallycomethere?"

"Yes."

"Thensomebodydoescome?"

"Why,no!Theghostcomes,butthereisnobodythere."

Thelittleballet-girlsexchangedglances.Iftheghostcametothebox,hemustbeseen,becauseheworeadress-coatandadeath'shead.ThiswaswhattheytriedtomakeMegunderstand,butshereplied:

"That'sjustit!Theghostisnotseen.Andhehasnodress-coatandnohead!Allthattalkabouthisdeath'sheadandhisheadoffireis

nonsense!There'snothinginit.Youonlyhearhimwhenheisinthebox.Motherhasneverseenhim,butshehasheardhim.Motherknows,becauseshegiveshimhisprogram."

Sorelliinterfered.

"Giry,child,you'regettingatus!"

ThereuponlittleGirybegantocry.


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"Ioughttohaveheldmytongue--ifmotherevercametoknow!ButIwasquiteright,JosephBuquethadnobusinesstotalkofthingsthatdon'tconcernhim--itwillbringhimbadluck--motherwassayingsolastnight----"

Therewasasoundofhurriedandheavyfootstepsinthepassageandabreathlessvoicecried:

"Cecile!Cecile!Areyouthere?"

"It'smother'svoice,"saidJammes."What'sthematter?"

Sheopenedthedoor.Arespectablelady,builtonthelinesofaPomeraniangrenadier,burstintothedressing-roomanddroppedgroaningintoavacantarm-chair.Hereyesrolledmadlyinherbrick-dustcoloredface.

"Howawful!"shesaid."Howawful!"

"What?What?"

"JosephBuquet!"

"Whatabouthim?"

"JosephBuquetisdead!"

Theroombecamefilledwithexclamations,withastonishedoutcries,withscaredrequestsforexplanations.

"Yes,hewasfoundhanginginthethird-floorcellar!"

"It'stheghost!"littleGiryblurted,asthoughinspiteofherself;butsheatoncecorrectedherself,withherhandspressedtohermouth:"No,no!--I,didn'tsayit!--Ididn'tsayit!----"

Allaroundher,herpanic-strickencompanionsrepeatedundertheir

breaths:

"Yes--itmustbetheghost!"

Sorelliwasverypale.

"Ishallneverbeabletorecitemyspeech,"shesaid.

MaJammesgaveheropinion,whilesheemptiedaglassofliqueurthathappenedtobestandingonatable;theghostmusthavesomethingtodowithit.

ThetruthisthatnooneeverknewhowJosephBuquetmethisdeath.

Theverdictattheinquestwas"naturalsuicide."InhisMemoirsofManager,M.Moncharmin,oneofthejointmanagerswhosucceededMM.DebienneandPoligny,describestheincidentasfollows:

"AgrievousaccidentspoiledthelittlepartywhichMM.DebienneandPolignygavetocelebratetheirretirement.Iwasinthemanager'soffice,whenMercier,theacting-manager,suddenlycamedartingin.Heseemedhalfmadandtoldmethatthebodyofascene-shifterhadbeenfoundhanginginthethirdcellarunderthestage,betweenafarm-houseandascenefromtheRoideLahore.Ishouted:


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"'Comeandcuthimdown!'

"BythetimeIhadrusheddownthestaircaseandtheJacob'sladder,themanwasnolongerhangingfromhisrope!"

SothisisaneventwhichM.Moncharminthinksnatural.Amanhangsattheendofarope;theygotocuthimdown;theropehasdisappeared.Oh,M.Moncharminfoundaverysimpleexplanation!Listentohim:

"Itwasjustaftertheballet;andleadersanddancing-girlslostnotimeintakingtheirprecautionsagainsttheevileye."

Thereyouare!PicturethecorpsdeballetscuttlingdowntheJacob'sladderanddividingthesuicide'sropeamongthemselvesinlesstimethanittakestowrite!When,ontheotherhand,Ithinkoftheexactspotwherethebodywasdiscovered--thethirdcellarunderneaththestage!--imaginethatSOMEBODYmusthavebeeninterestedinseeingthattheropedisappearedafterithadeffecteditspurpose;andtimewillshowifIamwrong.

ThehorridnewssoonspreadallovertheOpera,whereJosephBuquetwasverypopular.Thedressing-roomsemptiedandtheballet-girls,crowdingaroundSorelliliketimidsheeparoundtheirshepherdess,made

forthefoyerthroughtheill-litpassagesandstaircases,trottingasfastastheirlittlepinklegscouldcarrythem.

[1]Ihavetheanecdote,whichisquiteauthentic,fromM.PedroGailhardhimself,thelatemanageroftheOpera.

ChapterIITheNewMargarita

Onthefirstlanding,SorelliranagainsttheComtedeChagny,whowascomingup-stairs.Thecount,whowasgenerallysocalm,seemedgreatlyexcited.

"Iwasjustgoingtoyou,"hesaid,takingoffhishat."Oh,Sorelli,whatanevening!AndChristineDaae:whatatriumph!"

"Impossible!"saidMegGiry."Sixmonthsago,sheusedtosinglikeaCROCK!Butdoletusgetby,mydearcount,"continuesthebrat,withasaucycurtsey."Wearegoingtoinquireafterapoormanwhowasfoundhangingbytheneck."

Justthentheacting-managercamefussingpastandstoppedwhenhe

heardthisremark.

"What!"heexclaimedroughly."Haveyougirlsheardalready?Well,pleaseforgetaboutitfortonight--andabovealldon'tletM.DebienneandM.Polignyhear;itwouldupsetthemtoomuchontheirlastday."

Theyallwentontothefoyeroftheballet,whichwasalreadyfullofpeople.TheComtedeChagnywasright;nogalaperformanceeverequalledthisone.Allthegreatcomposersofthedayhadconductedtheirownworksinturns.FaureandKrausshadsung;and,onthat


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evening,ChristineDaaehadrevealedhertrueself,forthefirsttime,totheastonishedandenthusiasticaudience.GounodhadconductedtheFuneralMarchofaMarionnette;Reyer,hisbeautifuloverturetoSiguar;SaintSaens,theDanseMacabreandaReverieOrientale;Massenet,anunpublishedHungarianmarch;Guiraud,hisCarnaval;Delibes,theValseLentefromSylviaandthePizzicatifromCoppelia.Mlle.KrausshadsungthebolerointheVespriSiciliani;andMlle.DeniseBlochthedrinkingsonginLucreziaBorgia.

ButtherealtriumphwasreservedforChristineDaae,whohadbegunbysingingafewpassagesfromRomeoandJuliet.ItwasthefirsttimethattheyoungartistsanginthisworkofGounod,whichhadnotbeentransferredtotheOperaandwhichwasrevivedattheOperaComiqueafterithadbeenproducedattheoldTheatreLyriquebyMme.Carvalho.Thosewhoheardhersaythathervoice,inthesepassages,wasseraphic;butthiswasnothingtothesuperhumannotesthatshegaveforthintheprisonsceneandthefinaltrioinFAUST,whichshesangintheplaceofLaCarlotta,whowasill.Noonehadeverheardorseenanythinglikeit.

DaaerevealedanewMargaritathatnight,aMargaritaofasplendor,aradiancehithertounsuspected.Thewholehousewentmad,risingtoitsfeet,shouting,cheering,clapping,whileChristinesobbedandfaintedinthearmsofherfellow-singersandhadtobecarriedtoher

dressing-room.Afewsubscribers,however,protested.Whyhadsogreatatreasurebeenkeptfromthemallthattime?Tillthen,ChristineDaaehadplayedagoodSiebeltoCarlotta'srathertoosplendidlymaterialMargarita.AndithadneededCarlotta'sincomprehensibleandinexcusableabsencefromthisgalanightforthelittleDaae,atamoment'swarning,toshowallthatshecoulddoinapartoftheprogramreservedfortheSpanishdiva!Well,whatthesubscriberswantedtoknowwas,whyhadDebienneandPolignyappliedtoDaae,whenCarlottawastakenill?Didtheyknowofherhiddengenius?And,iftheyknewofit,whyhadtheykeptithidden?Andwhyhadshekeptithidden?Oddlyenough,shewasnotknowntohaveaprofessorofsingingatthatmoment.Shehadoftensaidshemeanttopractisealoneforthefuture.Thewholethingwasamystery.

TheComtedeChagny,standingupinhisbox,listenedtoallthisfrenzyandtookpartinitbyloudlyapplauding.PhilippeGeorgesMarieComtedeChagnywasjustforty-oneyearsofage.Hewasagreataristocratandagood-lookingman,abovemiddleheightandwithattractivefeatures,inspiteofhishardforeheadandhisrathercoldeyes.Hewasexquisitelypolitetothewomenandalittlehaughtytothemen,whodidnotalwaysforgivehimforhissuccessesinsociety.Hehadanexcellentheartandanirreproachableconscience.OnthedeathofoldCountPhilibert,hebecametheheadofoneoftheoldestandmostdistinguishedfamiliesinFrance,whosearmsdatedbacktothefourteenthcentury.TheChagnysownedagreatdealofproperty;and,whentheoldcount,whowasawidower,died,itwasnoeasytaskfor

Philippetoacceptthemanagementofsolargeanestate.Histwosistersandhisbrother,Raoul,wouldnothearofadivisionandwaivedtheirclaimtotheirshares,leavingthemselvesentirelyinPhilippe'shands,asthoughtherightofprimogeniturehadneverceasedtoexist.Whenthetwosistersmarried,onthesameday,theyreceivedtheirportionfromtheirbrother,notasathingrightfullybelongingtothem,butasadowryforwhichtheythankedhim.

TheComtessedeChagny,needeMoerogisdeLaMartyniere,haddiedingivingbirthtoRaoul,whowasborntwentyyearsafterhiselder


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brother.Atthetimeoftheoldcount'sdeath,Raoulwastwelveyearsofage.Philippebusiedhimselfactivelywiththeyoungster'seducation.Hewasadmirablyassistedinthisworkfirstbyhissistersandafterwardbyanoldaunt,thewidowofanavalofficer,wholivedatBrestandgaveyoungRaoulatasteforthesea.TheladenteredtheBordatraining-ship,finishedhiscoursewithhonorsandquietlymadehistriproundtheworld.Thankstopowerfulinfluence,hehadjustbeenappointedamemberoftheofficialexpeditiononboardtheRequin,whichwastobesenttotheArcticCircleinsearchofthesurvivorsoftheD'Artoi'sexpedition,ofwhomnothinghadbeenheardforthreeyears.Meanwhile,hewasenjoyingalongfurloughwhichwouldnotbeoverforsixmonths;andalreadythedowagersoftheFaubourgSaint-Germainwerepityingthehandsomeandapparentlydelicatestriplingforthehardworkinstoreforhim.

Theshynessofthesailor-lad--Iwasalmostsayinghisinnocence--wasremarkable.Heseemedtohavebutjustleftthewomen'sapron-strings.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,especiallysincehis

sistersweresettled,tocomeandspendanhourortwoafterdinnerinthecompanyofadancer,who,thoughnotsovery,verywitty,hadthefinesteyesthateverwereseen!And,besides,thereareplaceswhereatrueParisian,whenhehastherankoftheComtedeChagny,isboundtoshowhimself;andatthattimethefoyeroftheballetattheOperawasoneofthoseplaces.

Lastly,PhilippewouldperhapsnothavetakenhisbrotherbehindthescenesoftheOperaifRaoulhadnotbeenthefirsttoaskhim,repeatedlyrenewinghisrequestwithagentleobstinacywhichthecountrememberedatalaterdate.

Onthatevening,Philippe,afterapplaudingtheDaae,turnedtoRaoul

andsawthathewasquitepale.

"Don'tyousee,"saidRaoul,"thatthewoman'sfainting?"

"Youlooklikefaintingyourself,"saidthecount."What'sthematter?"

ButRaoulhadrecoveredhimselfandwasstandingup.

"Let'sgoandsee,"hesaid,"sheneversanglikethatbefore."


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Thecountgavehisbrotheracurioussmilingglanceandseemedquitepleased.Theyweresoonatthedoorleadingfromthehousetothestage.Numbersofsubscriberswereslowlymakingtheirwaythrough.RaoultorehisgloveswithoutknowingwhathewasdoingandPhilippehadmuchtookindahearttolaughathimforhisimpatience.ButhenowunderstoodwhyRaoulwasabsent-mindedwhenspokentoandwhyhealwaystriedtoturneveryconversationtothesubjectoftheOpera.

Theyreachedthestageandpushedthroughthecrowdofgentlemen,scene-shifters,supersandchorus-girls,Raoulleadingtheway,feelingthathisheartnolongerbelongedtohim,hisfacesetwithpassion,whileCountPhilippefollowedhimwithdifficultyandcontinuedtosmile.Atthebackofthestage,Raoulhadtostopbeforetheinrushofthelittletroopofballet-girlswhoblockedthepassagewhichhewastryingtoenter.Morethanonechaffingphrasedartedfromlittlemade-uplips,towhichhedidnotreply;andatlasthewasabletopass,anddivedintothesemi-darknessofacorridorringingwiththenameof"Daae!Daae!"ThecountwassurprisedtofindthatRaoulknewtheway.HehadnevertakenhimtoChristine'shimselfandcametotheconclusionthatRaoulmusthavegonetherealonewhilethecountstayedtalkinginthefoyerwithSorelli,whooftenaskedhimtowaituntilitwashertimeto"goon"andsometimeshandedhimthelittlegaitersinwhichsherandownfromherdressing-roomtopreservethespotlessnessofhersatindancing-shoesandherflesh-coloredtights.Sorellihad

anexcuse;shehadlosthermother.

PostponinghisusualvisittoSorelliforafewminutes,thecountfollowedhisbrotherdownthepassagethatledtoDaae'sdressing-roomandsawthatithadneverbeensocrammedasonthatevening,whenthewholehouseseemedexcitedbyhersuccessandalsobyherfaintingfit.Forthegirlhadnotyetcometo;andthedoctorofthetheaterhadjustarrivedatthemomentwhenRaoulenteredathisheels.Christine,therefore,receivedthefirstaidoftheone,whileopeninghereyesinthearmsoftheother.Thecountandmanymoreremainedcrowdinginthedoorway.

"Don'tyouthink,Doctor,thatthosegentlemenhadbetterclearthe

room?"askedRaoulcoolly."There'snobreathinghere."

"You'requiteright,"saidthedoctor.

Andhesenteveryoneaway,exceptRaoulandthemaid,wholookedatRaoulwitheyesofthemostundisguisedastonishment.Shehadneverseenhimbeforeandyetdarednotquestionhim;andthedoctorimaginedthattheyoungmanwasonlyactingashedidbecausehehadtherightto.Theviscount,therefore,remainedintheroomwatchingChristineassheslowlyreturnedtolife,whileeventhejointmanagers,DebienneandPoligny,whohadcometooffertheirsympathyandcongratulations,foundthemselvesthrustintothepassageamongthecrowdofdandies.TheComtedeChagny,whowasoneofthosestandingoutside,laughed:

"Oh,therogue,therogue!"Andheadded,underhisbreath:"Thoseyoungsterswiththeirschool-girlairs!Sohe'saChagnyafterall!"

HeturnedtogotoSorelli'sdressing-room,butmetherontheway,withherlittletroopoftremblingballet-girls,aswehaveseen.

Meanwhile,ChristineDaaeutteredadeepsigh,whichwasansweredbyagroan.Sheturnedherhead,sawRaoulandstarted.Shelookedatthedoctor,onwhomshebestowedasmile,thenathermaid,thenatRaoul


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again.

"Monsieur,"shesaid,inavoicenotmuchaboveawhisper,"whoareyou?"

"Mademoiselle,"repliedtheyoungman,kneelingononekneeandpressingaferventkissonthediva'shand,"IAMTHELITTLEBOYWHOWENTINTOTHESEATORESCUEYOURSCARF."

Christineagainlookedatthedoctorandthemaid;andallthreebegantolaugh.

Raoulturnedveryredandstoodup.

"Mademoiselle,"hesaid,"sinceyouarepleasednottorecognizeme,Ishouldliketosaysomethingtoyouinprivate,somethingveryimportant."

"WhenIambetter,doyoumind?"Andhervoiceshook."Youhavebeenverygood."

"Yes,youmustgo,"saidthedoctor,withhispleasantestsmile."Leavemetoattendtomademoiselle."

"Iamnotillnow,"saidChristinesuddenly,withstrangeandunexpectedenergy.

Sheroseandpassedherhandoverhereyelids.

"Thankyou,Doctor.Ishouldliketobealone.Pleasegoaway,allofyou.Leaveme.Ifeelveryrestlessthisevening."

Thedoctortriedtomakeashortprotest,but,perceivingthegirl'sevidentagitation,hethoughtthebestremedywasnottothwarther.Andhewentaway,sayingtoRaoul,outside:

"Sheisnotherselfto-night.Sheisusuallysogentle."

ThenhesaidgoodnightandRaoulwasleftalone.Thewholeofthispartofthetheaterwasnowdeserted.Thefarewellceremonywasnodoubttakingplaceinthefoyeroftheballet.RaoulthoughtthatDaaemightgotoitandhewaitedinthesilentsolitude,evenhidinginthefavoringshadowofadoorway.HefeltaterriblepainathisheartanditwasofthisthathewantedtospeaktoDaaewithoutdelay.

Suddenlythedressing-roomdooropenedandthemaidcameoutbyherself,carryingbundles.Hestoppedherandaskedhowhermistresswas.Thewomanlaughedandsaidthatshewasquitewell,butthathemustnotdisturbher,forshewishedtobeleftalone.Andshepassedon.OneideaalonefilledRaoul'sburningbrain:ofcourse,Daae

wishedtobeleftaloneFORHIM!Hadhenottoldherthathewantedtospeaktoherprivately?

Hardlybreathing,hewentuptothedressing-roomand,withhiseartothedoortocatchherreply,preparedtoknock.Buthishanddropped.HehadheardAMAN'SVOICEinthedressing-room,saying,inacuriouslymasterfultone:

"Christine,youmustloveme!"


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AndChristine'svoice,infinitelysadandtrembling,asthoughaccompaniedbytears,replied:

"Howcanyoutalklikethat?WHENISINGONLYFORYOU!"

Raoulleanedagainstthepaneltoeasehispain.Hisheart,whichhadseemedgoneforever,returnedtohisbreastandwasthrobbingloudly.ThewholepassageechoedwithitsbeatingandRaoul'searsweredeafened.Surely,ifhisheartcontinuedtomakesuchanoise,theywouldhearitinside,theywouldopenthedoorandtheyoungmanwouldbeturnedawayindisgrace.WhatapositionforaChagny!Tobecaughtlisteningbehindadoor!Hetookhisheartinhistwohandstomakeitstop.

Theman'svoicespokeagain:"Areyouverytired?"

"Oh,to-nightIgaveyoumysoulandIamdead!"Christinereplied.

"Yoursoulisabeautifulthing,child,"repliedthegraveman'svoice,"andIthankyou.Noemperoreverreceivedsofairagift.THEANGELSWEPTTONIGHT."

Raoulheardnothingafterthat.Nevertheless,hedidnotgoaway,but,asthoughhefearedlestheshouldbecaught,hereturnedtohisdark

corner,determinedtowaitforthemantoleavetheroom.Atoneandthesametime,hehadlearnedwhatlovemeant,andhatred.Heknewthatheloved.Hewantedtoknowwhomhehated.Tohisgreatastonishment,thedooropenedandChristineDaaeappeared,wrappedinfurs,withherfacehiddeninalaceveil,alone.Sheclosedthedoorbehindher,butRaoulobservedthatshedidnotlockit.Shepassedhim.Hedidnotevenfollowherwithhiseyes,forhiseyeswerefixedonthedoor,whichdidnotopenagain.

Whenthepassagewasoncemoredeserted,hecrossedit,openedthedoorofthedressing-room,wentinandshutthedoor.Hefoundhimselfinabsolutedarkness.Thegashadbeenturnedout.

"Thereissomeonehere!"saidRaoul,withhisbackagainstthecloseddoor,inaquiveringvoice."Whatareyouhidingfor?"

Allwasdarknessandsilence.Raoulheardonlythesoundofhisownbreathing.Hequitefailedtoseethattheindiscretionofhisconductwasexceedingallbounds.

"Youshan'tleavethisuntilIletyou!"heexclaimed."Ifyoudon'tanswer,youareacoward!ButI'llexposeyou!"

Andhestruckamatch.Theblazelituptheroom.Therewasnooneintheroom!Raoul,firstturningthekeyinthedoor,litthegas-jets.Hewentintothedressing-closet,openedthecupboards,huntedabout,

feltthewallswithhismoisthands.Nothing!

"Lookhere!"hesaid,aloud."AmIgoingmad?"

Hestoodfortenminuteslisteningtothegasflaringinthesilenceoftheemptyroom;loverthoughhewas,hedidnoteventhinkofstealingaribbonthatwouldhavegivenhimtheperfumeofthewomanheloved.Hewentout,notknowingwhathewasdoingnorwherehewasgoing.Atagivenmomentinhiswaywardprogress,anicydraftstruckhimintheface.Hefoundhimselfatthebottomofastaircase,downwhich,


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behindhim,aprocessionofworkmenwerecarryingasortofstretcher,coveredwithawhitesheet.

"Whichisthewayout,please?"heaskedofoneofthemen.

"Straightinfrontofyou,thedoorisopen.Butletuspass."

Pointingtothestretcher,heaskedmechanically:"What'sthat?"

Theworkmenanswered:

"'That'isJosephBuquet,whowasfoundinthethirdcellar,hangingbetweenafarm-houseandascenefromtheROIDELAHORE."

Hetookoffhishat,fellbacktomakeroomfortheprocessionandwentout.

ChapterIIITheMysteriousReason

Duringthistime,thefarewellceremonywastakingplace.Ihavealreadysaidthatthismagnificentfunctionwasbeinggivenonthe

occasionoftheretirementofM.DebienneandM.Poligny,whohaddeterminedto"diegame,"aswesaynowadays.Theyhadbeenassistedintherealizationoftheirideal,thoughmelancholy,programbyallthatcountedinthesocialandartisticworldofParis.Allthesepeoplemet,aftertheperformance,inthefoyeroftheballet,whereSorelliwaitedforthearrivaloftheretiringmanagerswithaglassofchampagneinherhandandalittlepreparedspeechatthetipofhertongue.Behindher,themembersoftheCorpsdeBallet,youngandold,discussedtheeventsofthedayinwhispersorexchangeddiscreetsignalswiththeirfriends,anoisycrowdofwhomsurroundedthesupper-tablesarrangedalongtheslantingfloor.

Afewofthedancershadalreadychangedintoordinarydress;butmost

ofthemworetheirskirtsofgossamergauze;andallhadthoughtittherightthingtoputonaspecialfacefortheoccasion:all,thatis,exceptlittleJammes,whosefifteensummers--happyage!--seemedalreadytohaveforgottentheghostandthedeathofJosephBuquet.Sheneverceasedtolaughandchatter,tohopaboutandplaypracticaljokes,untilMm.DebienneandPolignyappearedonthestepsofthefoyer,whenshewasseverelycalledtoorderbytheimpatientSorelli.

Everybodyremarkedthattheretiringmanagerslookedcheerful,asistheParisway.NonewilleverbeatrueParisianwhohasnotlearnedtowearamaskofgaietyoverhissorrowsandoneofsadness,boredomorindifferenceoverhisinwardjoy.Youknowthatoneofyourfriendsisintrouble;donottrytoconsolehim:hewilltellyouthatheis

alreadycomforted;but,shouldhehavemetwithgoodfortune,becarefulhowyoucongratulatehim:hethinksitsonaturalthatheissurprisedthatyoushouldspeakofit.InParis,ourlivesareonemaskedball;andthefoyeroftheballetisthelastplaceinwhichtwomenso"knowing"asM.DebienneandM.Polignywouldhavemadethemistakeofbetrayingtheirgrief,howevergenuineitmightbe.AndtheywerealreadysmilingrathertoobroadlyuponSorelli,whohadbeguntoreciteherspeech,whenanexclamationfromthatlittlemadcapofaJammesbrokethesmileofthemanagerssobrutallythattheexpressionofdistressanddismaythatlaybeneathitbecameapparent


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toalleyes:

"TheOperaghost!"

Jammesyelledthesewordsinatoneofunspeakableterror;andherfingerpointed,amongthecrowdofdandies,toafacesopallid,solugubriousandsougly,withtwosuchdeepblackcavitiesunderthestraddlingeyebrows,thatthedeath'sheadinquestionimmediatelyscoredahugesuccess.

"TheOperaghost!TheOperaghost!"EverybodylaughedandpushedhisneighborandwantedtooffertheOperaghostadrink,buthewasgone.Hehadslippedthroughthecrowd;andtheothersvainlyhuntedforhim,whiletwooldgentlementriedtocalmlittleJammesandwhilelittleGirystoodscreaminglikeapeacock.

Sorelliwasfurious;shehadnotbeenabletofinishherspeech;themanagers,hadkissedher,thankedherandrunawayasfastastheghosthimself.Noonewassurprisedatthis,foritwasknownthattheyweretogothroughthesameceremonyonthefloorabove,inthefoyerofthesingers,andthatfinallytheywerethemselvestoreceivetheirpersonalfriends,forthelasttime,inthegreatlobbyoutsidethemanagers'office,wherearegularsupperwouldbeserved.

Heretheyfoundthenewmanagers,M.ArmandMoncharminandM.FirminRichard,whomtheyhardlyknew;nevertheless,theywerelavishinprotestationsoffriendshipandreceivedathousandflatteringcomplimentsinreply,sothatthoseoftheguestswhohadfearedthattheyhadarathertediouseveninginstoreforthematonceputonbrighterfaces.Thesupperwasalmostgayandaparticularlycleverspeechoftherepresentativeofthegovernment,minglingthegloriesofthepastwiththesuccessesofthefuture,causedthegreatestcordialitytoprevail.

Theretiringmanagershadalreadyhandedovertotheirsuccessorsthetwotinymaster-keyswhichopenedallthedoors--thousandsofdoors--oftheOperahouse.Andthoselittlekeys,theobjectofgeneral

curiosity,werebeingpassedfromhandtohand,whentheattentionofsomeoftheguestswasdivertedbytheirdiscovery,attheendofthetable,ofthatstrange,wanandfantasticface,withtheholloweyes,whichhadalreadyappearedinthefoyeroftheballetandbeengreetedbylittleJammes'exclamation:

"TheOperaghost!"

Theresattheghost,asnaturalascouldbe,exceptthatheneitheratenordrank.Thosewhobeganbylookingathimwithasmileendedbyturningawaytheirheads,forthesightofhimatonceprovokedthemostfunerealthoughts.Noonerepeatedthejokeofthefoyer,nooneexclaimed:

"There'stheOperaghost!"

Hehimselfdidnotspeakawordandhisveryneighborscouldnothavestatedatwhatprecisemomenthehadsatdownbetweenthem;buteveryonefeltthatifthedeaddidevercomeandsitatthetableoftheliving,theycouldnotcutamoreghastlyfigure.ThefriendsofFirminRichardandArmandMoncharminthoughtthatthisleanandskinnyguestwasanacquaintanceofDebienne'sorPoligny's,whileDebienne'sandPoligny'sfriendsbelievedthatthecadaverousindividualbelonged


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toFirminRichardandArmandMoncharmin'sparty.

Theresultwasthatnorequestwasmadeforanexplanation;nounpleasantremark;nojokeinbadtaste,whichmighthaveoffendedthisvisitorfromthetomb.Afewofthosepresentwhoknewthestoryoftheghostandthedescriptionofhimgivenbythechiefscene-shifter--theydidnotknowofJosephBuquet'sdeath--thought,intheirownminds,thatthemanattheendofthetablemighteasilyhavepassedforhim;andyet,accordingtothestory,theghosthadnonoseandthepersoninquestionhad.ButM.Moncharmindeclares,inhisMemoirs,thattheguest'snosewastransparent:"long,thinandtransparent"arehisexactwords.I,formypart,willaddthatthismightverywellapplytoafalsenose.M.Moncharminmayhavetakenfortransparencywhatwasonlyshininess.Everybodyknowsthatorthopaedicscienceprovidesbeautifulfalsenosesforthosewhohavelosttheirnosesnaturallyorastheresultofanoperation.

Didtheghostreallytakeaseatatthemanagers'supper-tablethatnight,uninvited?AndcanwebesurethatthefigurewasthatoftheOperaghosthimself?Whowouldventuretoassertasmuch?Imentiontheincident,notbecauseIwishforasecondtomakethereaderbelieve--oreventotrytomakehimbelieve--thattheghostwascapableofsuchasublimepieceofimpudence;butbecause,afterall,thethingisimpossible.

M.ArmandMoncharmin,inchapterelevenofhisMemoirs,says:

"WhenIthinkofthisfirstevening,IcannotseparatethesecretconfidedtousbyMM.DebienneandPolignyintheirofficefromthepresenceatoursupperofthatGHOSTLYpersonwhomnoneofusknew."

Whathappenedwasthis:Mm.DebienneandPoligny,sittingatthecenterofthetable,hadnotseenthemanwiththedeath'shead.Suddenlyhebegantospeak.

"Theballet-girlsareright,"hesaid."ThedeathofthatpoorBuquetisperhapsnotsonaturalaspeoplethink."

DebienneandPolignygaveastart.

"IsBuquetdead?"theycried.

"Yes,"repliedtheman,ortheshadowofaman,quietly."Hewasfound,thisevening,hanginginthethirdcellar,betweenafarm-houseandascenefromtheRoideLahore."

Thetwomanagers,orratherex-managers,atonceroseandstaredstrangelyatthespeaker.Theyweremoreexcitedthantheyneedhavebeen,thatistosay,moreexcitedthananyoneneedbebytheannouncementofthesuicideofachiefscene-shifter.Theylookedat

eachother.They,hadbothturnedwhiterthanthetable-cloth.Atlast,DebiennemadeasigntoMm.RichardandMoncharmin;Polignymutteredafewwordsofexcusetotheguests;andallfourwentintothemanagers'office.IleaveM.Moncharmintocompletethestory.InhisMemoirs,hesays:

"Mm.DebienneandPolignyseemedtogrowmoreandmoreexcited,andtheyappearedtohavesomethingverydifficulttotellus.First,theyaskedusifweknewtheman,sittingattheendofthetable,whohadtoldthemofthedeathofJosephBuquet;and,whenweansweredinthe


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negative,theylookedstillmoreconcerned.Theytookthemaster-keysfromourhands,staredatthemforamomentandadvisedustohavenewlocksmade,withthegreatestsecrecy,fortherooms,closetsandpressesthatwemightwishtohavehermeticallyclosed.TheysaidthissofunnilythatwebegantolaughandtoaskiftherewerethievesattheOpera.Theyrepliedthattherewassomethingworse,whichwastheGHOST.Webegantolaughagain,feelingsurethattheywereindulginginsomejokethatwasintendedtocrownourlittleentertainment.Then,attheirrequest,webecame'serious,'resolvingtohumorthemandtoenterintothespiritofthegame.Theytoldusthattheyneverwouldhavespokentousoftheghost,iftheyhadnotreceivedformalordersfromtheghosthimselftoaskustobepleasanttohimandtograntanyrequestthathemightmake.However,intheirreliefatleavingadomainwherethattyrannicalshadeheldsway,theyhadhesitateduntilthelastmomenttotellusthiscuriousstory,whichourskepticalmindswerecertainlynotpreparedtoentertain.ButtheannouncementofthedeathofJosephBuquethadservedthemasabrutalreminderthat,whenevertheyhaddisregardedtheghost'swishes,somefantasticordisastrouseventhadbroughtthemtoasenseoftheirdependence.

"Duringtheseunexpectedutterancesmadeinatoneofthemostsecretandimportantconfidence,IlookedatRichard.Richard,inhisstudentdays,hadacquiredagreatreputationforpracticaljoking,andhe

seemedtorelishthedishwhichwasbeingserveduptohiminhisturn.Hedidnotmissamorselofit,thoughtheseasoningwasalittlegruesomebecauseofthedeathofBuquet.Henoddedhisheadsadly,whiletheothersspoke,andhisfeaturesassumedtheairofamanwhobitterlyregrettedhavingtakenovertheOpera,nowthatheknewthattherewasaghostmixedupinthebusiness.Icouldthinkofnothingbetterthantogivehimaservileimitationofthisattitudeofdespair.However,inspiteofallourefforts,wecouldnot,atthefinish,helpburstingoutlaughinginthefacesofMM.DebienneandPoligny,who,seeinguspassstraightfromthegloomieststateofmindtooneofthemostinsolentmerriment,actedasthoughtheythoughtthatwehadgonemad.

"Thejokebecamealittletedious;andRichardaskedhalf-seriouslyandhalfinjest:

"'But,afterall,whatdoesthisghostofyourswant?'

"M.Polignywenttohisdeskandreturnedwithacopyofthememorandum-book.Thememorandum-bookbeginswiththewell-knownwordssayingthat'themanagementoftheOperashallgivetotheperformanceoftheNationalAcademyofMusicthesplendorthatbecomesthefirstlyricstageinFrance'andendswithClause98,whichsaysthattheprivilegecanbewithdrawnifthemanagerinfringestheconditionsstipulatedinthememorandum-book.Thisisfollowedbytheconditions,whicharefourinnumber.

"ThecopyproducedbyM.Polignywaswritteninblackinkandexactlysimilartothatinourpossession,exceptthat,attheend,itcontainedaparagraphinredinkandinaqueer,laboredhandwriting,asthoughithadbeenproducedbydippingtheheadsofmatchesintotheink,thewritingofachildthathasnevergotbeyondthedown-strokesandhasnotlearnedtojoinitsletters.Thisparagraphran,wordforword,asfollows:

"'5.Orifthemanager,inanymonth,delayformorethanafortnight


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thepaymentoftheallowancewhichheshallmaketotheOperaghost,anallowanceoftwentythousandfrancsamonth,saytwohundredandfortythousandfrancsayear.'

"M.Polignypointedwithahesitatingfingertothislastclause,whichwecertainlydidnotexpect.

"'Isthisall?Doeshenotwantanythingelse?'askedRichard,withthegreatestcoolness.

"'Yes,hedoes,'repliedPoligny.

"Andheturnedoverthepagesofthememorandum-bookuntilhecametotheclausespecifyingthedaysonwhichcertainprivateboxesweretobereservedforthefreeuseofthepresidentoftherepublic,theministersandsoon.Attheendofthisclause,alinehadbeenadded,alsoinredink:

"'BoxFiveonthegrandtiershallbeplacedatthedisposaloftheOperaghostforeveryperformance.'

"Whenwesawthis,therewasnothingelseforustodobuttorisefromourchairs,shakeourtwopredecessorswarmlybythehandandcongratulatethemonthinkingofthischarminglittlejoke,which

provedthattheoldFrenchsenseofhumorwasneverlikelytobecomeextinct.RichardaddedthathenowunderstoodwhyMM.DebienneandPolignywereretiringfromthemanagementoftheNationalAcademyofMusic.Businesswasimpossiblewithsounreasonableaghost.

"'Certainly,twohundredandfortythousandfrancsarenotbepickedupfortheasking,'saidM.Poligny,withoutmovingamuscleofhisface.'AndhaveyouconsideredwhatthelossoverBoxFivemeanttous?Wedidnotsellitonce;andnotonlythat,butwehadtoreturnthesubscription:why,it'sawful!Wereallycan'tworktokeepghosts!Weprefertogoaway!'

"'Yes,'echoedM.Debienne,'weprefertogoaway.Letusgo.'"

"Andhestoodup.Richardsaid:'But,afterallall,itseemstomethatyouweremuchtookindtotheghost.IfIhadsuchatroublesomeghostasthat,Ishouldnothesitatetohavehimarrested.'

"'Buthow?Where?'theycried,inchorus.'Wehaveneverseenhim!'

"'Butwhenhecomestohisbox?'

"'WEHAVENEVERSEENHIMINHISBOX.'

"'Thensellit.'

"'SelltheOperaghost'sbox!Well,gentlemen,tryit.'

"Thereuponweallfourlefttheoffice.RichardandIhad'neverlaughedsomuchinourlives.'"

ChapterIVBoxFive


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ArmandMoncharminwrotesuchvoluminousMemoirsduringthefairlylongperiodofhisco-managementthatwemaywellaskifheeverfoundtimetoattendtotheaffairsoftheOperaotherwisethanbytellingwhatwentonthere.M.Moncharmindidnotknowanoteofmusic,buthecalledtheministerofeducationandfineartsbyhisChristianname,haddabbledalittleinsocietyjournalismandenjoyedaconsiderableprivateincome.Lastly,hewasacharmingfellowandshowedthathewasnotlackinginintelligence,for,assoonashemadeuphismindtobeasleepingpartnerintheOpera,heselectedthebestpossibleactivemanagerandwentstraighttoFirminRichard.

FirminRichardwasaverydistinguishedcomposer,whohadpublishedanumberofsuccessfulpiecesofallkindsandwholikednearlyeveryformofmusicandeverysortofmusician.Clearly,therefore,itwasthedutyofeverysortofmusiciantolikeM.FirminRichard.Theonlythingstobesaidagainsthimwerethathewasrathermasterfulinhiswaysandendowedwithaveryhastytemper.

ThefirstfewdayswhichthepartnersspentattheOperaweregivenovertothedelightoffindingthemselvestheheadofsomagnificentanenterprise;andtheyhadforgottenallaboutthatcurious,fantasticstoryoftheghost,whenanincidentoccurredthatprovedtothemthatthejoke--ifjokeitwere--wasnotover.M.FirminRichardreachedhisofficethatmorningateleveno'clock.Hissecretary,M.Remy,showed

himhalfadozenletterswhichhehadnotopenedbecausetheyweremarked"private."OneofthelettershadatonceattractedRichard'sattentionnotonlybecausetheenvelopewasaddressedinredink,butbecauseheseemedtohaveseenthewritingbefore.Hesoonrememberedthatitwastheredhandwritinginwhichthememorandum-bookhadbeensocuriouslycompleted.Herecognizedtheclumsychildishhand.Heopenedtheletterandread:

DEARMR.MANAGER:

Iamsorrytohavetotroubleyouatatimewhenyoumustbesoverybusy,renewingimportantengagements,signingfreshonesandgenerallydisplayingyourexcellenttaste.Iknowwhatyouhavedonefor

Carlotta,SorelliandlittleJammesandforafewotherswhoseadmirablequalitiesoftalentorgeniusyouhavesuspected.

Ofcourse,whenIusethesewords,IdonotmeantoapplythemtoLaCarlotta,whosingslikeasquirtandwhooughtnevertohavebeenallowedtoleavetheAmbassadeursandtheCafeJacquin;nortoLaSorelli,whooweshersuccessmainlytothecoach-builders;nortolittleJammes,whodanceslikeacalfinafield.AndIamnotspeakingofChristineDaaeeither,thoughhergeniusiscertain,whereasyourjealousypreventsherfromcreatinganyimportantpart.Whenallissaid,youarefreetoconductyourlittlebusinessasyouthinkbest,areyounot?

Allthesame,IshouldliketotakeadvantageofthefactthatyouhavenotyetturnedChristineDaaeoutofdoorsbyhearingherthiseveninginthepartofSiebel,asthatofMargaritahasbeenforbiddenhersincehertriumphoftheotherevening;andIwillaskyounottodisposeofmyboxto-daynorontheFOLLOWINGDAYS,forIcannotendthisletterwithouttellingyouhowdisagreeablysurprisedIhavebeenonceortwice,tohear,onarrivingattheOpera,thatmyboxhadbeensold,atthebox-office,byyourorders.

Ididnotprotest,first,becauseIdislikescandal,and,second,


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becauseIthoughtthatyourpredecessors,MM.DebienneandPoligny,whowerealwayscharmingtome,hadneglected,beforeleaving,tomentionmylittlefadstoyou.Ihavenowreceivedareplyfromthosegentlementomyletteraskingforanexplanation,andthisreplyprovesthatyouknowallaboutmyMemorandum-Bookand,consequently,thatyouaretreatingmewithoutrageouscontempt.IFYOUWISHTOLIVEINPEACE,YOUMUSTNOTBEGINBYTAKINGAWAYMYPRIVATEBOX.

Believemetobe,dearMr.Manager,withoutprejudicetotheselittleobservations,

YourMostHumbleandObedientServant,OPERAGHOST.

Theletterwasaccompaniedbyacuttingfromtheagony-columnoftheRevueTheatrale,whichran:

O.G.--ThereisnoexcuseforR.andM.Wetoldthemandleftyourmemorandum-bookintheirhands.Kindregards.

M.FirminRichardhadhardlyfinishedreadingthisletterwhenM.ArmandMoncharminentered,carryingoneexactlysimilar.Theylookedateachotherandburstoutlaughing.

"Theyarekeepingupthejoke,"saidM.Richard,"butIdon'tcallitfunny."

"Whatdoesitallmean?"askedM.Moncharmin."Dotheyimaginethat,becausetheyhavebeenmanagersoftheOpera,wearegoingtoletthemhaveaboxforanindefiniteperiod?"

"Iamnotinthemoodtoletmyselfbelaughedatlong,"saidFirminRichard.

"It'sharmlessenough,"observedArmandMoncharmin."Whatisittheyreallywant?Aboxforto-night?"

M.FirminRichardtoldhissecretarytosendBoxFiveonthegrandtiertoMm.DebienneandPoligny,ifitwasnotsold.Itwasnot.Itwassentofftothem.DebiennelivedatthecorneroftheRueScribeandtheBoulevarddesCapucines;Poligny,intheRueAuber.O.Ghost'stwolettershadbeenpostedattheBoulevarddesCapucinespost-office,asMoncharminremarkedafterexaminingtheenvelopes.

"Yousee!"saidRichard.

Theyshruggedtheirshouldersandregrettedthattwomenofthatageshouldamusethemselveswithsuchchildishtricks.

"Theymighthavebeencivil,forallthat!"saidMoncharmin."Didyou

noticehowtheytreatuswithregardtoCarlotta,SorelliandLittleJammes?"

"Why,mydearfellow,thesetwoaremadwithjealousy!Tothinkthattheywenttotheexpenseof,anadvertisementintheRevueTheatrale!Havetheynothingbettertodo?"

"Bytheway,"saidMoncharmin,"theyseemtobegreatlyinterestedinthatlittleChristineDaae!"


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"YouknowaswellasIdothatshehasthereputationofbeingquitegood,"saidRichard.

"Reputationsareeasilyobtained,"repliedMoncharmin."Haven'tIareputationforknowingallaboutmusic?AndIdon'tknowonekeyfromanother."

"Don'tbeafraid:youneverhadthatreputation,"Richarddeclared.

Thereuponheorderedtheartiststobeshownin,who,forthelasttwohours,hadbeenwalkingupanddownoutsidethedoorbehindwhichfameandfortune--ordismissal--awaitedthem.

Thewholedaywasspentindiscussing,negotiating,signingorcancellingcontracts;andthetwooverworkedmanagerswenttobedearly,withoutsomuchascastingaglanceatBoxFivetoseewhetherM.DebienneandM.Polignywereenjoyingtheperformance.

Nextmorning,themanagersreceivedacardofthanksfromtheghost:

DEAR,MR.MANAGER:

Thanks.Charmingevening.Daaeexquisite.Choruseswantwakingup.Carlottaasplendidcommonplaceinstrument.Willwriteyousoonfor

the240,000francs,or233,424fr.70c.,tobecorrect.Mm.DebienneandPolignyhavesentmethe6,575fr.30c.representingthefirsttendaysofmyallowanceforthecurrentyear;theirprivilegesfinishedontheeveningofthetenthinst.

Kindregards.O.G.

Ontheotherhand,therewasaletterfromMm.DebienneandPoligny:

GENTLEMEN:

Wearemuchobligedforyourkindthoughtofus,butyouwilleasilyunderstandthattheprospectofagainhearingFaust,pleasantthoughit

istoex-managersoftheOpera,cannotmakeusforgetthatwehavenorighttooccupyBoxFiveonthegrandtier,whichistheexclusivepropertyofHIMofwhomwespoketoyouwhenwewentthroughthememorandum-bookwithyouforthelasttime.SeeClause98,finalparagraph.

Accept,gentlemen,etc.

"Oh,thosefellowsarebeginningtoannoyme!"shoutedFirminRichard,snatchinguptheletter.

AndthateveningBoxFivewassold.

Thenextmorning,Mm.RichardandMoncharmin,onreachingtheiroffice,foundaninspector'sreportrelatingtoanincidentthathadhappened,thenightbefore,inBoxFive.Igivetheessentialpartofthereport:

Iwasobligedtocallinamunicipalguardtwice,thisevening,toclearBoxFiveonthegrandtier,onceatthebeginningandonceinthemiddleofthesecondact.Theoccupants,whoarrivedasthecurtainroseonthesecondact,createdaregularscandalbytheirlaughterandtheirridiculousobservations.Therewerecriesof"Hush!"allaroundthemandthewholehousewasbeginningtoprotest,whenthebox-keeper


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cametofetchme.IenteredtheboxandsaidwhatIthoughtnecessary.Thepeopledidnotseemtometobeintheirrightmind;andtheymadestupidremarks.Isaidthat,ifthenoisewasrepeated,Ishouldbecompelledtoclearthebox.ThemomentIleft,Iheardthelaughingagain,withfreshprotestsfromthehouse.Ireturnedwithamunicipalguard,whoturnedthemout.Theyprotested,stilllaughing,sayingtheywouldnotgounlesstheyhadtheirmoneyback.Atlast,theybecamequietandIallowedthemtoentertheboxagain.Thelaughteratoncerecommenced;and,thistime,Ihadthemturnedoutdefinitely.

"Sendfortheinspector,"saidRichardtohissecretary,whohadalreadyreadthereportandmarkeditwithbluepencil.

M.Remy,thesecretary,hadforeseentheorderandcalledtheinspectoratonce.

"Telluswhathappened,"saidRichardbluntly.

Theinspectorbegantosplutterandreferredtothereport.

"Well,butwhatwerethosepeoplelaughingat?"askedMoncharmin.

"Theymusthavebeendining,sir,andseemedmoreinclinedtolarkaboutthantolistentogoodmusic.Themomenttheyenteredthebox,

theycameoutagainandcalledthebox-keeper,whoaskedthemwhattheywanted.Theysaid,'Lookinthebox:there'snoonethere,isthere?''No,'saidthewoman.'Well,'saidthey,'whenwewentin,weheardavoicesayingTHATTHEBOXWASTAKEN!'"

M.MoncharmincouldnothelpsmilingashelookedatM.Richard;butM.Richarddidnotsmile.Hehimselfhaddonetoomuchinthatwayinhistimenottorecognize,intheinspector'sstory,allthemarksofoneofthosepracticaljokeswhichbeginbyamusingandendbyenragingthevictims.Theinspector,tocurryfavorwithM.Moncharmin,whowassmiling,thoughtitbesttogiveasmiletoo.Amostunfortunatesmile!M.Richardglaredathissubordinate,whothenceforthmadeithisbusinesstodisplayafaceofutterconsternation.

"However,whenthepeoplearrived,"roaredRichard,"therewasnooneinthebox,wasthere?"

"Notasoul,sir,notasoul!Norintheboxontheright,norintheboxontheleft:notasoul,sir,Iswear!Thebox-keepertolditmeoftenenough,whichprovesthatitwasallajoke."

"Oh,youagree,doyou?"saidRichard."Youagree!It'sajoke!Andyouthinkitfunny,nodoubt?"

"Ithinkitinverybadtaste,sir."

"Andwhatdidthebox-keepersay?"

"Oh,shejustsaidthatitwastheOperaghost.That'sallshesaid!"

Andtheinspectorgrinned.Buthesoonfoundthathehadmadeamistakeingrinning,forthewordshadnosoonerlefthismouththanM.Richard,fromgloomy,becamefurious.

"Sendforthebox-keeper!"heshouted."Sendforher!Thisminute!Thisminute!Andbringherintomehere!Andturnallthosepeople


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out!"

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't

havepeopletellingmethattheyseehimnowhere.IlikepeopletoworkformewhenIemploythem!"

Havingsaidthis,M.Richardpaidnoattentiontotheinspectoranddiscussedvariousmattersofbusinesswithhisacting-manager,whohadenteredtheroommeanwhile.Theinspectorthoughthecouldgoandwasgently--oh,sogently!--sidlingtowardthedoor,whenM.Richardnailedthemantothefloorwithathundering:

"Staywhereyouare!"

M.Remyhadsentforthebox-keepertotheRuedeProvence,closetotheOpera,whereshewasengagedasaporteress.Shesoonmadeher

appearance.

"What'syourname?"

"Mme.Giry.Youknowmewellenough,sir;I'mthemotheroflittleGiry,littleMeg,what!"

Thiswassaidinsoroughandsolemnatonethat,foramoment,M.Richardwasimpressed.HelookedatMme.Giry,inherfadedshawl,herwornshoes,heroldtaffetadressanddingybonnet.Itwasquiteevidentfromthemanager'sattitude,thatheeitherdidnotknoworcouldnotrememberhavingmetMme.Giry,norevenlittleGiry,noreven"littleMeg!"ButMme.Giry'spridewassogreatthatthecelebrated

box-keeperimaginedthateverybodyknewher.

"Neverheardofher!"themanagerdeclared."Butthat'snoreason,Mme.Giry,whyIshouldn'taskyouwhathappenedlastnighttomakeyouandtheinspectorcallinamunicipalguard."

"Iwasjustwantingtoseeyou,sir,andtalktoyouaboutit,sothatyoumightn'thavethesameunpleasantnessasM.DebienneandM.Poligny.Theywouldn'tlistentomeeither,atfirst."


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"I'mnotaskingyouaboutallthat.I'maskingwhathappenedlastnight."

Mme.Giryturnedpurplewithindignation.Neverhadshebeenspokentolikethat.Sheroseasthoughtogo,gatheringupthefoldsofherskirtandwavingthefeathersofherdingybonnetwithdignity,but,changinghermind,shesatdownagainandsaid,inahaughtyvoice:

"I'lltellyouwhathappened.Theghostwasannoyedagain!"

Thereupon,asM.Richardwasonthepointofburstingout,M.Moncharmininterferedandconductedtheinterrogatory,whenceitappearedthatMme.Girythoughtitquitenaturalthatavoiceshouldbeheardtosaythataboxwastaken,whentherewasnobodyinthebox.Shewasunabletoexplainthisphenomenon,whichwasnotnewtoher,exceptbytheinterventionoftheghost.Nobodycouldseetheghostinhisbox,buteverybodycouldhearhim.Shehadoftenheardhim;andtheycouldbelieveher,forshealwaysspokethetruth.TheycouldaskM.DebienneandM.Poligny,andanybodywhoknewher;andalsoM.IsidoreSaack,whohadhadalegbrokenbytheghost!

"Indeed!"saidMoncharmin,interruptingher."DidtheghostbreakpoorIsidoreSaack'sleg?"

Mme.Giryopenedhereyeswithastonishmentatsuchignorance.However,sheconsentedtoenlightenthosetwopoorinnocents.ThethinghadhappenedinM.DebienneandM.Poligny'stime,alsoinBoxFiveandalsoduringaperformanceofFAUST.Mme.Girycoughed,clearedherthroat--itsoundedasthoughshewerepreparingtosingthewholeofGounod'sscore--andbegan:

"Itwaslikethis,sir.Thatnight,M.Manieraandhislady,thejewelersintheRueMogador,weresittinginthefrontofthebox,withtheirgreatfriend,M.IsidoreSaack,sittingbehindMme.Maniera.Mephistopheleswassinging"--Mme.Giryhereburstintosongherself--"'Catarina,whileyouplayatsleeping,'andthenM.Manieraheardavoiceinhisrightear(hiswifewasonhisleft)saying,'Ha,

ha!Julie'snotplayingatsleeping!'HiswifehappenedtobecalledJulie.So.M.Manieraturnstotherighttoseewhowastalkingtohimlikethat.Nobodythere!Herubshisearandaskshimself,ifhe'sdreaming.ThenMephistopheleswentonwithhisserenade...But,perhapsI'mboringyougentlemen?"

"No,no,goon."

"Youaretoogood,gentlemen,"withasmirk."Well,then,Mephistopheleswentonwithhisserenade"--Mme.Giry,burstintosongagain--"'Saint,unclosethyportalsholyandaccordthebliss,toamortalbendinglowly,ofapardon-kiss.'AndthenM.Manieraagainhearsthevoiceinhisrightear,saying,thistime,'Ha,ha!Julie

wouldn'tmindaccordingakisstoIsidore!'Thenheturnsroundagain,but,thistime,totheleft;andwhatdoyouthinkhesees?Isidore,whohadtakenhislady'shandandwascoveringitwithkissesthroughthelittleroundplaceintheglove--likethis,gentlemen"--rapturouslykissingthebitofpalmleftbareinthemiddleofherthreadgloves."Thentheyhadalivelytimebetweenthem!Bang!Bang!M.Maniera,whowasbigandstrong,likeyou,M.Richard,gavetwoblowstoM.IsidoreSaack,whowassmallandweaklikeM.Moncharmin,savinghispresence.Therewasagreatuproar.Peopleinthehouseshouted,'Thatwilldo!Stopthem!He'llkillhim!'Then,atlast,M.Isidore


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Saackmanagedtorunaway."

"Thentheghosthadnotbrokenhisleg?"askedM.Moncharmin,alittlevexedthathisfigurehadmadesolittleimpressiononMme.Giry.

"Hedidbreakitforhim,sir,"repliedMme.Giryhaughtily."Hebrokeitforhimonthegrandstaircase,whichherandowntoofast,sir,anditwillbelongbeforethepoorgentlemanwillbeabletogoupitagain!"

"DidtheghosttellyouwhathesaidinM.Maniera'srightear?"askedM.Moncharmin,withagravitywhichhethoughtexceedinglyhumorous.

"No,sir,itwasM.Manierahimself.So----"

"Butyouhavespokentotheghost,mygoodlady?"

"AsI'mspeakingtoyounow,mygoodsir!"Mme.Giryreplied.

"And,whentheghostspeakstoyou,whatdoeshesay?"

"Well,hetellsmetobringhimafootstool!"

Thistime,Richardburstoutlaughing,asdidMoncharminandRemy,the

secretary.Onlytheinspector,warnedbyexperience,wascarefulnottolaugh,whileMme.Giryventuredtoadoptanattitudethatwaspositivelythreatening.

"Insteadoflaughing,"shecriedindignantly,"you'ddobettertodoasM.Polignydid,whofoundoutforhimself."

"Foundoutaboutwhat?"askedMoncharmin,whohadneverbeensomuchamusedinhislife.

"Abouttheghost,ofcourse!...Lookhere..."

Shesuddenlycalmedherself,feelingthatthiswasasolemnmomentin

herlife:

"LOOKHERE,"sherepeated."TheywereplayingLaJuive.M.Polignythoughthewouldwatchtheperformancefromtheghost'sbox...Well,whenLeopoldcries,'Letusfly!'--youknow--andEleazerstopsthemandsays,'Whithergoye?'...well,M.Poligny--Iwaswatchinghimfromthebackofthenextbox,whichwasempty--M.Polignygotupandwalkedoutquitestiffly,likeastatue,andbeforeIhadtimetoaskhim,'Whithergoye?'likeEleazer,hewasdownthestaircase,butwithoutbreakinghisleg.

"Still,thatdoesn'tletusknowhowtheOperaghostcametoaskyouforafootstool,"insistedM.Moncharmin.

"Well,fromthatevening,noonetriedtotaketheghost'sprivateboxfromhim.Themanagergaveordersthathewastohaveitateachperformance.And,wheneverhecame,heaskedmeforafootstool."

"Tut,tut!Aghostaskingforafootstool!Thenthisghostofyoursisawoman?"

"No,theghostisaman."


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"Howdoyouknow?"

"Hehasaman'svoice,oh,suchalovelyman'svoice!Thisiswhathappens:Whenhecomestotheopera,it'susuallyinthemiddleofthefirstact.HegivesthreelittletapsonthedoorofBoxFive.ThefirsttimeIheardthosethreetaps,whenIknewtherewasnooneinthebox,youcanthinkhowpuzzledIwas!Iopenedthedoor,listened,looked;nobody!AndthenIheardavoicesay,'Mme.Jules'mypoorhusband'snamewasJules--'afootstool,please.'Savingyourpresence,gentlemen,itmademefeelall-overishlike.Butthevoicewenton,'Don'tbefrightened,Mme.Jules,I'mtheOperaghost!'AndthevoicewassosoftandkindthatIhardlyfeltfrightened.THEVOICEWASSITTINGINTHECORNERCHAIR,ONTHERIGHT,INTHEFRONTROW."

"WasthereanyoneintheboxontherightofBoxFive?"askedMoncharmin.

"No;BoxSeven,andBoxThree,theoneontheleft,werebothempty.Thecurtainhadonlyjustgoneup."

"Andwhatdidyoudo?"

"Well,Ibroughtthefootstool.Ofcourse,itwasn'tforhimselfhewantedit,butforhislady!ButIneverheardhernorsawher."

"Eh?What?Sonowtheghostismarried!"TheeyesofthetwomanagerstraveledfromMme.Girytotheinspector,who,standingbehindthebox-keeper,waswavinghisarmstoattracttheirattention.Hetappedhisforeheadwithadistressfulforefinger,toconveyhisopinionthatthewidowJulesGirywasmostcertainlymad,apieceofpantomimewhichconfirmedM.Richardinhisdeterminationtogetridofaninspectorwhokeptalunaticinhisservice.Meanwhile,theworthyladywentonaboutherghost,nowpaintinghisgenerosity:

"Attheendoftheperformance,healwaysgivesmetwofrancs,sometimesfive,sometimeseventen,whenhehasbeenmanydayswithoutcoming.Only,sincepeoplehavebeguntoannoyhimagain,hegivesme

nothingatall.

"Excuseme,mygoodwoman,"saidMoncharmin,whileMme.Girytossedthefeathersinherdingyhatatthispersistentfamiliarity,"excuseme,howdoestheghostmanagetogiveyouyourtwofrancs?"

"Why,heleavesthemonthelittleshelfinthebox,ofcourse.Ifindthemwiththeprogram,whichIalwaysgivehim.Someevenings,Ifindflowersinthebox,arosethatmusthavedroppedfromhislady'sbodice...forhebringsaladywithhimsometimes;oneday,theyleftafanbehindthem."

"Oh,theghostleftafan,didhe?Andwhatdidyoudowithit?"

"Well,Ibroughtitbacktotheboxnextnight."

Heretheinspector'svoicewasraised.

"You'vebrokentherules;Ishallhavetofineyou,Mme.Giry."

"Holdyourtongue,youfool!"mutteredM.FirminRichard.

"Youbroughtbackthefan.Andthen?"


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"Well,then,theytookitawaywiththem,sir;itwasnotthereattheendoftheperformance;andinitsplacetheyleftmeaboxofEnglishsweets,whichI'mveryfondof.That'soneoftheghost'sprettythoughts."

"Thatwilldo,Mme.Giry.Youcango."

WhenMme.Giryhadbowedherselfout,withthedignitythatneverdesertedher,themanagertoldtheinspectorthattheyhaddecidedtodispensewiththatoldmadwoman'sservices;and,whenhehadgoneinhisturn,theyinstructedtheacting-managertomakeuptheinspector'saccounts.Leftalone,themanagerstoldeachotheroftheideawhichtheybothhadinmind,whichwasthattheyshouldlookintothatlittlematterofBoxFivethemselves.

ChapterVTheEnchantedViolin

ChristineDaae,owingtointriguestowhichIwillreturnlater,didnotimmediatelycontinuehertriumphattheOpera.Afterthefamousgalanight,shesangonceattheDuchessdeZurich's;butthiswasthe

lastoccasiononwhichshewasheardinprivate.Sherefused,withoutplausibleexcuse,toappearatacharityconcerttowhichshehadpromisedherassistance.Sheactedthroughoutasthoughshewerenolongerthemistressofherowndestinyandasthoughshefearedafreshtriumph.

SheknewthattheComtedeChagny,topleasehisbrother,haddonehisbestonherbehalfwithM.Richard;andshewrotetothankhimandalsotoaskhimtoceasespeakinginherfavor.Herreasonforthiscuriousattitudewasneverknown.Somepretendedthatitwasduetooverweeningpride;othersspokeofherheavenlymodesty.Butpeopleonthestagearenotsomodestasallthat;andIthinkthatIshallnotbefarfromthetruthifIascribeheractionsimplytofear.Yes,I

believethatChristineDaaewasfrightenedbywhathadhappenedtoher.IhavealetterofChristine's(itformspartofthePersian'scollection),relatingtothisperiod,whichsuggestsafeelingofabsolutedismay:

"Idon'tknowmyselfwhenIsing,"writesthepoorchild.

Sheshowedherselfnowhere;andtheVicomtedeChagnytriedinvaintomeether.Hewrotetoher,askingtocalluponher,butdespairedofreceivingareplywhen,onemorning,shesenthimthefollowingnote:

MONSIEUR:

Ihavenotforgottenthelittleboywhowentintotheseatorescuemyscarf.IfeelthatImustwritetoyouto-day,whenIamgoingtoPerros,infulfilmentofasacredduty.To-morrowistheanniversaryofthedeathofmypoorfather,whomyouknewandwhowasveryfondofyou.Heisburiedthere,withhisviolin,inthegraveyardofthelittlechurch,atthebottomoftheslopewhereweusedtoplayaschildren,besidetheroadwhere,whenwewerealittlebigger,wesaidgood-byforthelasttime.

TheVicomtedeChagnyhurriedlyconsultedarailwayguide,dressedas


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quicklyashecould,wroteafewlinesforhisvalettotaketohisbrotherandjumpedintoacabwhichbroughthimtotheGareMontparnassejustintimetomissthemorningtrain.Hespentadismaldayintownanddidnotrecoverhisspiritsuntiltheevening,whenhewasseatedinhiscompartmentintheBrittanyexpress.HereadChristine'snoteoverandoveragain,smellingitsperfume,recallingthesweetpicturesofhischildhood,andspenttherestofthattediousnightjourneyinfeverishdreamsthatbeganandendedwithChristineDaae.DaywasbreakingwhenhealightedatLannion.HehurriedtothediligenceforPerros-Guirec.Hewastheonlypassenger.Hequestionedthedriverandlearnedthat,ontheeveningofthepreviousday,ayoungladywholookedlikeaParisianhadgonetoPerrosandputupattheinnknownastheSettingSun.

Thenearerhedrewtoher,themorefondlyherememberedthestoryofthelittleSwedishsinger.Mostofthedetailsarestillunknowntothepublic.

Therewasonce,inalittlemarket-townnotfarfromUpsala,apeasantwholivedtherewithhisfamily,diggingtheearthduringtheweekandsinginginthechoironSundays.Thispeasanthadalittledaughtertowhomhetaughtthemusicalalphabetbeforesheknewhowtoread.Daae'sfatherwasagreatmusician,perhapswithoutknowingit.NotafiddlerthroughoutthelengthandbreadthofScandinaviaplayedashe

did.Hisreputationwaswidespreadandhewasalwaysinvitedtosetthecouplesdancingatweddingsandotherfestivals.HiswifediedwhenChristinewasenteringuponhersixthyear.Thenthefather,whocaredonlyforhisdaughterandhismusic,soldhispatchofgroundandwenttoUpsalainsearchoffameandfortune.Hefoundnothingbutpoverty.

Hereturnedtothecountry,wanderingfromfairtofair,strumminghisScandinavianmelodies,whilehischild,whoneverlefthisside,listenedtohiminecstasyorsangtohisplaying.Oneday,atLjimbyFair,ProfessorValeriusheardthemandtookthemtoGothenburg.Hemaintainedthatthefatherwasthefirstviolinistintheworldandthatthedaughterhadthemakingofagreatartist.Hereducationand

instructionwereprovidedfor.Shemaderapidprogressandcharmedeverybodywithherprettiness,hergraceofmannerandhergenuineeagernesstoplease.

WhenValeriusandhiswifewenttosettleinFrance,theytookDaaeandChristinewiththem."Mamma"ValeriustreatedChristineasherdaughter.AsforDaae,hebegantopineawaywithhomesickness.HeneverwentoutofdoorsinParis,butlivedinasortofdreamwhichhekeptupwithhisviolin.Forhoursatatime,heremainedlockedupinhisbedroomwithhisdaughter,fiddlingandsinging,very,verysoftly.SometimesMammaValeriuswouldcomeandlistenbehindthedoor,wipeawayatearandgodown-stairsagainontiptoe,sighingforherScandinavianskies.

Daaeseemednottorecoverhisstrengthuntilthesummer,whenthewholefamilywenttostayatPerros-Guirec,inafar-awaycornerofBrittany,wheretheseawasofthesamecolorasinhisowncountry.Oftenhewouldplayhissaddesttunesonthebeachandpretendthattheseastoppeditsroaringtolistentothem.AndthenheinducedMammaValeriustoindulgeaqueerwhimofhis.Atthetimeofthe"pardons,"orBretonpilgrimages,thevillagefestivalanddances,hewentoffwithhisfiddle,asintheolddays,andwasallowedtotakehisdaughterwithhimforaweek.Theygavethesmallesthamletsmusicto


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lastthemforayearandsleptatnightinabarn,refusingabedattheinn,lyingclosetogetheronthestraw,aswhentheyweresopoorinSweden.Atthesametime,theywereveryneatlydressed,madenocollection,refusedthehalfpenceofferedthem;andthepeoplearoundcouldnotunderstandtheconductofthisrusticfiddler,whotrampedtheroadswiththatprettychildwhosanglikeanangelfromHeaven.Theyfollowedthemfromvillagetovillage.

Oneday,alittleboy,whowasoutwithhisgoverness,madehertakealongerwalkthanheintended,forhecouldnottearhimselffromthelittlegirlwhosepure,sweetvoiceseemedtobindhimtoher.TheycametotheshoreofaninletwhichisstillcalledTrestraou,butwhichnow,Ibelieve,harborsacasinoorsomethingofthesort.Atthattime,therewasnothingbutskyandseaandastretchofgoldenbeach.Only,therewasalsoahighwind,whichblewChristine'sscarfouttosea.Christinegaveacryandputoutherarms,butthescarfwasalreadyfaronthewaves.Thensheheardavoicesay:

"It'sallright,I'llgoandfetchyourscarfoutofthesea."

Andshesawalittleboyrunningfast,inspiteoftheoutcriesandtheindignantprotestsofaworthyladyinblack.Thelittleboyranintothesea,dressedashewas,andbroughtherbackherscarf.Boyandscarfwerebothsoakedthrough.Theladyinblackmadeagreatfuss,

butChristinelaughedmerrilyandkissedthelittleboy,whowasnoneotherthantheVicomteRaouldeChagny,stayingatLannionwithhisaunt.

Duringtheseason,theysaweachotherandplayedtogetheralmosteveryday.Attheaunt'srequest,secondedbyProfessorValerius,Daaeconsentedtogivetheyoungviscountsomeviolinlessons.Inthisway,RaoullearnedtolovethesameairsthathadcharmedChristine'schildhood.Theyalsobothhadthesamecalmanddreamylittlecastofmind.Theydelightedinstories,inoldBretonlegends;andtheirfavoritesportwastogoandaskforthematthecottage-doors,likebeggars:

"Ma'am..."or,"Kindgentleman...haveyoualittlestorytotellus,please?"

Anditseldomhappenedthattheydidnothaveone"given"them;fornearlyeveryoldBretongrandamehas,atleastonceinherlife,seenthe"korrigans"dancebymoonlightontheheather.

Buttheirgreattreatwas,inthetwilight,inthegreatsilenceoftheevening,afterthesunhadsetinthesea,whenDaaecameandsatdownbythemontheroadsideand,inalowvoice,asthoughfearinglestheshouldfrightentheghostswhomheevoked,toldthemthelegendsofthelandoftheNorth.And,themomenthestopped,thechildrenwouldaskformore.

Therewasonestorythatbegan:

"Akingsatinalittleboatononeofthosedeep,stilllakesthatopenlikeabrighteyeinthemidstoftheNorwegianmountains..."

Andanother:

"LittleLottethoughtofeverythingandnothing.Herhairwasgoldenasthesun'sraysandhersoulasclearandblueashereyes.She


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wheedledhermother,waskindtoherdoll,tookgreatcareofherfrockandherlittleredshoesandherfiddle,butmostofallloved,whenshewenttosleep,toheartheAngelofMusic."

Whiletheoldmantoldthisstory,RaoullookedatChristine'sblueeyesandgoldenhair;andChristinethoughtthatLottewasveryluckytoheartheAngelofMusicwhenshewenttosleep.TheAngelofMusicplayedapartinallDaddyDaae'stales;andhemaintainedthateverygreatmusician,everygreatartistreceivedavisitfromtheAngelatleastonceinhislife.SometimestheAngelleansovertheircradle,ashappenedtoLotte,andthatishowtherearelittleprodigieswhoplaythefiddleatsixbetterthanmenatfifty,which,youmustadmit,isverywonderful.Sometimes,theAngelcomesmuchlater,becausethechildrenarenaughtyandwon'tlearntheirlessonsorpractisetheirscales.And,sometimes,hedoesnotcomeatall,becausethechildrenhaveabadheartorabadconscience.

NooneeverseestheAngel;butheisheardbythosewhoaremeanttohearhim.Heoftencomeswhentheyleastexpecthim,whentheyaresadanddisheartened.Thentheirearssuddenlyperceivecelestialharmonies,adivinevoice,whichtheyrememberalltheirlives.PersonswhoarevisitedbytheAngelquiverwithathrillunknowntotherestofmankind.Andtheycannottouchaninstrument,oropentheirmouthstosing,withoutproducingsoundsthatputallotherhuman

soundstoshame.ThenpeoplewhodonotknowthattheAngelhasvisitedthosepersonssaythattheyhavegenius.

LittleChristineaskedherfatherifhehadheardtheAngelofMusic.ButDaddyDaaeshookhisheadsadly;andthenhiseyeslitup,ashesaid:

"Youwillhearhimoneday,mychild!WhenIaminHeaven,Iwillsendhimtoyou!"

Daddywasbeginningtocoughatthattime.

Threeyearslater,RaoulandChristinemetagainatPerros.Professor

Valeriuswasdead,buthiswidowremainedinFrancewithDaddyDaaeandhisdaughter,whocontinuedtoplaytheviolinandsing,wrappingintheirdreamofharmonytheirkindpatroness,whoseemedhenceforthtoliveonmusicalone.Theyoungman,ashenowwas,hadcometoPerrosonthechanceoffindingthemandwentstraighttothehouseinwhichtheyusedtostay.Hefirstsawtheoldman;andthenChristineentered,carryingthetea-tray.SheflushedatthesightofRaoul,whowentuptoherandkissedher.Sheaskedhimafewquestions,performedherdutiesashostessprettily,tookupthetrayagainandlefttheroom.Thensheranintothegardenandtookrefugeonabench,apreytofeelingsthatstirredheryoungheartforthefirsttime.Raoulfollowedherandtheytalkedtilltheevening,veryshyly.Theywerequitechanged,cautiousastwodiplomatists,andtoldeach

otherthingsthathadnothingtodowiththeirbuddingsentiments.Whentheytookleaveofeachotherbytheroadside,Raoul,pressingakissonChristine'stremblinghand,said:

"Mademoiselle,Ishallneverforgetyou!"

Andhewentawayregrettinghiswords,forheknewthatChristinecouldnotbethewifeoftheVicomtedeChagny.

AsforChristine,shetriednottothinkofhimanddevotedherself


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whollytoherart.Shemadewonderfulprogressandthosewhoheardherprophesiedthatshewouldbethegreatestsingerintheworld.Meanwhile,thefatherdied;and,suddenly,sheseemedtohavelost,withhim,hervoice,hersoulandhergenius.Sheretainedjust,butonlyjust,enoughofthistoentertheCONSERVATOIRE,whereshedidnotdistinguishherselfatall,attendingtheclasseswithoutenthusiasmandtakingaprizeonlytopleaseoldMammaValerius,withwhomshecontinuedtolive.

ThefirsttimethatRaoulsawChristineattheOpera,hewascharmedbythegirl'sbeautyandbythesweetimagesofthepastwhichitevoked,butwasrathersurprisedatthenegativesideofherart.Hereturnedtolistentoher.Hefollowedherinthewings.HewaitedforherbehindaJacob'sladder.Hetriedtoattractherattention.Morethanonce,hewalkedafterhertothedoorofherbox,butshedidnotseehim.Sheseemed,forthatmatter,toseenobody.Shewasallindifference.Raoulsuffered,forshewasverybeautifulandhewasshyanddarednotconfesshislove,eventohimself.Andthencamethelightning-flashofthegalaperformance:theheavenstornasunderandanangel'svoicehearduponearthforthedelightofmankindandtheuttercaptureofhisheart.

Andthen...andthentherewasthatman'svoicebehindthedoor--"Youmustloveme!"--andnooneintheroom...

Whydidshelaughwhenheremindedheroftheincidentofthescarf?Whydidshenotrecognizehim?Andwhyhadshewrittentohim?...

Perroswasreachedatlast.Raoulwalkedintothesmokysitting-roomoftheSettingSunandatoncesawChristinestandingbeforehim,smilingandshowingnoastonishment.

"Soyouhavecome,"shesaid."IfeltthatIshouldfindyouhere,whenIcamebackfrommass.Someonetoldmeso,atthechurch."

"Who?"askedRaoul,takingherlittlehandinhis.

"Why,mypoorfather,whoisdead."

Therewasasilence;andthenRaoulasked:

"DidyourfathertellyouthatIloveyou,Christine,andthatIcannotlivewithoutyou?"

Christineblushedtotheeyesandturnedawayherhead.Inatremblingvoice,shesaid:

"Me?Youaredreaming,myfriend!"

Andsheburstoutlaughing,toputherselfincountenance.

"Don'tlaugh,Christine;Iamquiteserious,"Raoulanswered.

Andsherepliedgravely:"Ididnotmakeyoucometotellmesuchthingsasthat."

"You'mademecome,'Christine;youknewthatyourletterwouldnotleavemeindignantandthatIshouldhastentoPerros.Howcanyouhavethoughtthat,ifyoudidnotthinkIlovedyou?"


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"Ithoughtyouwouldrememberourgameshere,aschildren,inwhichmyfathersooftenjoined.Ireallydon'tknowwhatIthought...PerhapsIwaswrongtowritetoyou...ThisanniversaryandyoursuddenappearanceinmyroomattheOpera,theotherevening,remindedmeofthetimelongpastandmademewritetoyouasthelittlegirlthatIthenwas..."

TherewassomethinginChristine'sattitudethatseemedtoRaoulnotnatural.Hedidnotfeelanyhostilityinher;farfromit:thedistressedaffectionshininginhereyestoldhimthat.Butwhywasthisaffectiondistressed?Thatwaswhathewishedtoknowandwhatwasirritatinghim.

"Whenyousawmeinyourdressing-room,wasthatthefirsttimeyounoticedme,Christine?"

Shewasincapableoflying.

"No,"shesaid,"Ihadseenyouseveraltimesinyourbrother'sbox.Andalsoonthestage."

"Ithoughtso!"saidRaoul,compressinghislips."Butthenwhy,whenyousawmeinyourroom,atyourfeet,remindingyouthatIhadrescuedyourscarffromthesea,whydidyouanswerasthoughyoudidnotknow

meandalsowhydidyoulaugh?"

ThetoneofthesequestionswassoroughthatChristinestaredatRaoulwithoutreplying.Theyoungmanhimselfwasaghastatthesuddenquarrelwhichhehaddaredtoraiseattheverymomentwhenhehadresolvedtospeakwordsofgentleness,loveandsubmissiontoChristine.Ahusband,aloverwithallrights,wouldtalknodifferentlytoawife,amistresswhohadoffendedhim.Buthehadgonetoofarandsawnootherwayoutoftheridiculouspositionthantobehaveodiously.

"Youdon'tanswer!"hesaidangrilyandunhappily."Well,Iwillanswerforyou.Itwasbecausetherewassomeoneintheroomwhowas

inyourway,Christine,someonethatyoudidnotwishtoknowthatyoucouldbeinterestedinanyoneelse!"

"Ifanyonewasinmyway,myfriend,"Christinebrokeincoldly,"ifanyonewasinmyway,thatevening,itwasyourself,sinceItoldyoutoleavetheroom!"

"Yes,sothatyoumightremainwiththeother!"

"Whatareyousaying,monsieur?"askedthegirlexcitedly."Andtowhatotherdoyourefer?"

"Tothemantowhomyousaid,'Isingonlyforyou!...to-nightIgave

youmysoulandIamdead!'"

ChristineseizedRaoul'sarmandclutcheditwithastrengthwhichnoonewouldhavesuspectedinsofrailacreature.

"Thenyouwerelisteningbehindthedoor?"

"Yes,becauseIloveyoueverything...AndIheardeverything..."

"Youheardwhat?"


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Andtheyounggirl,becomingstrangelycalm,releasedRaoul'sarm.

"Hesaidtoyou,'Christine,youmustloveme!'"

Atthesewords,adeathlypallorspreadoverChristine'sface,darkringsformedroundhereyes,shestaggeredandseemedonthepointofswooning.Raouldartedforward,witharmsoutstretched,butChristinehadovercomeherpassingfaintnessandsaid,inalowvoice:

"Goon!Goon!Tellmeallyouheard!"

Atanutterlosstounderstand,Raoulanswered:"Iheardhimreply,whenyousaidyouhadgivenhimyoursoul,'Yoursoulisabeautifulthing,child,andIthankyou.Noemperoreverreceivedsofairagift.Theangelswepttonight.'"

Christinecarriedherhandtoherheart,apreytoindescribableemotion.Hereyesstaredbeforeherlikeamadwoman's.Raoulwasterror-stricken.ButsuddenlyChristine'seyesmoistenedandtwogreattearstrickled,liketwopearls,downherivorycheeks.

"Christine!"

"Raoul!"

Theyoungmantriedtotakeherinhisarms,butsheescapedandfledingreatdisorder.

WhileChristineremainedlockedinherroom,Raoulwasathiswit'sendwhattodo.Herefusedtobreakfast.Hewasterriblyconcernedandbitterlygrievedtoseethehours,whichhehadhopedtofindsosweet,slippastwithoutthepresenceoftheyoungSwedishgirl.Whydidshenotcometoroamwithhimthroughthecountrywheretheyhadsomanymemoriesincommon?Heheardthatshehadhadamasssaid,thatmorning,forthereposeofherfather'ssoulandspentalongtimeprayinginthelittlechurchandonthefiddler'stomb.Then,asshe

seemedtohavenothingmoretodoatPerrosand,infact,wasdoingnothingthere,whydidshenotgobacktoParisatonce?

Raoulwalkedaway,dejectedly,tothegraveyardinwhichthechurchstoodandwasindeedaloneamongthetombs,readingtheinscriptions;but,whenheturnedbehindtheapse,hewassuddenlystruckbythedazzlingnoteoftheflowersthatstraggledoverthewhiteground.Theyweremarvelousredrosesthathadblossomedinthemorning,inthesnow,givingaglimpseoflifeamongthedead,fordeathwasallaroundhim.Italso,liketheflowers,issuedfromtheground,whichhadflungbackanumberofitscorpses.Skeletonsandskullsbythehundredwereheapedagainstthewallofthechurch,heldinpositionbyawirethatleftthewholegruesomestackvisible.Deadmen'sbones,

arrangedinrows,likebricks,toformthefirstcourseuponwhichthewallsofthesacristyhadbeenbuilt.Thedoorofthesacristyopenedinthemiddleofthatbonystructure,asisoftenseeninoldBretonchurches.

RaoulsaidaprayerforDaaeandthen,painfullyimpressedbyallthoseeternalsmilesonthemouthsofskulls,heclimbedtheslopeandsatdownontheedgeoftheheathoverlookingthesea.Thewindfellwiththeevening.Raoulwassurroundedbyicydarkness,buthedidnotfeelthecold.Itwashere,heremembered,thatheusedtocomewithlittle


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ChristinetoseetheKorrigansdanceattherisingofthemoon.Hehadneverseenany,thoughhiseyesweregood,whereasChristine,whowasalittleshortsighted,pretendedthatshehadseenmany.Hesmiledatthethoughtandthensuddenlygaveastart.Avoice

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