"Why, my dear fellow, these two are mad with jealousy! To think that
they went to the expense of, an advertisement in the Revue Theatrale!
Have they nothing better to do?"
"By the way," said Moncharmin, "they seem to be greatly interested in
that little Christine Daae!"
"You know as well as I do that she has the reputation of being quite
good," said Richard.
"Reputations are easily obtained," replied Moncharmin. "Haven't I a
reputation for knowing all about music? And I don't know one key from
another."
"Don't be afraid: you never had that reputation," Richard declared.
Thereupon he ordered the artists to be shown in, who, for the last two
hours, had been walking up and down outside the door behind which fame
and fortune--or dismissal--awaited them.
The whole day was spent in discussing, negotiating, signing or
cancelling contracts; and the two overworked managers went to bed
early, without so much as casting a glance at Box Five to see whether
M. Debienne and M. Poligny were enjoying the performance.
Next morning, the managers received a card of thanks from the ghost: DEAR, MR. MANAGER: Thanks. Charming evening. Daae exquisite. Choruses want waking up.
Carlotta a splendid commonplace instrument. Will write you soon for
the 240,000 francs, or 233,424 fr. 70 c., to be correct. Mm. Debienne
and Poligny have sent me the 6,575 fr. 30 c. representing the first ten
days of my allowance for the current year; their privileges finished on
the evening of the tenth inst.
Kind regards. O. G.
On the other hand, there was a letter from Mm. Debienne and Poligny: GENTLEMEN: We are much obliged for your kind thought of us, but you will easily
understand that the prospect of again hearing Faust, pleasant though it
is to ex-managers of the Opera, can not make us forget that we have no
right to occupy Box Five on the grand tier, which is the exclusive
property of HIM of whom we spoke to you when we went through the
memorandum-book with you for the last time. See Clause 98, final
paragraph.
Accept, gentlemen, etc.
"Oh, those fellows are beginning to annoy me!" shouted Firmin Richard,
snatching up the letter.
And that evening Box Five was sold.
The next morning, Mm. Richard and Moncharmin, on reaching their office,
found an inspector's report relating to an incident that had happened,
the night before, in Box Five. I give the essential part of the report: I was obliged to call in a municipal guard twice, this evening, to
clear Box Five on the grand tier, once at the beginning and once in the
middle of the second act. The occupants, who arrived as the curtain
rose on the second act, created a regular scandal by their laughter and
their ridiculous observations. There were cries of "Hush!" all around
them and the whole house was beginning to protest, when the box-keeper
came to fetch me. I entered the box and said what I thought necessary.
The people did not seem to me to be in their right mind; and they made
stupid remarks. I said that, if the noise was repeated, I should be
compelled to clear the box. The moment I left, I heard the laughing
again, with fresh protests from the house. I returned with a municipal
guard, who turned them out. They protested, still laughing, saying
they would not go unless they had their money back. At last, they
became quiet and I allowed them to enter the box again. The laughter
at once recommenced; and, this time, I had them turned out definitely.