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Faust* when she sang in place of La Carlotta, who was sick. No And, thinking that the young man had a right to stay, he sent
one had ever heard or seen anything like it. everyone away, except Raoul and a servant-woman. She did not
People wanted to know why Daae, a real jewel, had been kept know Raoul — in fact, she had never seen him before — but she
from them. Why was Daae only allowed to perform this piece did not dare to question him.
when La Carlotta was sick? Were Debienne and Poligny trying to Christine Daae turned, looked at the doctor, and smiled.
keep this great talent hidden? Why? And why had she kept it Then, she saw Raoul and asked, "Monsieur, who are you?"
hidden? The whole thing was a mystery. "Mademoiselle,"* replied the young man, kneeling on one
Philippe Georges Marie, Count of Chagny, was forty-one, knee and pressing a kiss on her hand, "I am the little boy who
good-looking, and wealthy. Standing up in his box, he had listened went into the sea to rescue your scarf."
to the enthusiastic audience and joined in by clapping loudly. Next Christine again looked at the doctor and the servant-woman,
to him was his brother, Raoul, who was twenty years younger. and all three began to laugh.
Their parents had died when Raoul was very young, so Philippe Raoul turned very red and stood up. "Mademoiselle," he said,
brought up the young viscount, who later joined the navy. Raoul "since you choose not to recognize me, I would like to say
had just come back from a trip around the world and was now something to you in private, something very important."
home for six months before his next journey to the North Pole. "When I am better, do you mind?"
Philippe wanted Raoul to see Paris, so he took him "Yes, you must go," said the doctor, with his pleasant smile.
everywhere and introduced him to the Opera. On that evening, "Let me take care of mademoiselle."
Philippe was clapping loudly when he looked at his brother, who Suddenly, Christine stood up with strange and unexpected
seemed quite pale. Christine Daae had just been carried off after energy and asked all the men to leave. Outside her door, the
fainting at the end of her performance. doctor said to Raoul, "She is not herself tonight. She is usually so
"You are not going to faint too, are you?" Philippe asked. gentle."
But Raoul recovered and stood up. "Let's go and see her," he Raoul stood alone after the doctor left. This part of the
said. "She never sang like that before." theater was now empty. He felt a terrible pain in his heart, and
Raoul led the way, feeling that his heart no longer belonged to this was what he wanted to speak to her about. The servant-
him, his face a picture of burning desire. Count Philippe followed woman came out and Raoul asked about Christine. The woman
him through the crowd of gentlemen, scene movers, and ballet said that she was quite well, but that he must not bother her
girls. When they arrived at Christine Daae's dressing room, the because she wished to be left alone. Only one idea filled Raoul's
doctor was there with her — and with a great admiring crowd. burning brain: of course, she wanted to be left alone for him! He
"Don't you think, Doctor, that those gentlemen had better had told her that he wanted to speak to her privately.
clear the room?" asked Raoul coolly. "She can't breathe here." He went to her door and prepared to knock. But his hand
"You're quite right," said the doctor. dropped. He heard a man's voice in the dressing room, saying,

* Faust: an opera by Gounod. * Mademoiselle: the French word for Miss.

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