Page 61 - Phantom of the Opera

What had happened? Where had she gone? There was much "I saw them walking backward! And when I tried to shake
confusion on the stage and in the audience. Raoul had cried out. Monsieur Richard's hand, Monsieur Moncharmin hurriedly
Count Philippe had jumped up in his box. People looked at whispered,'Go away! Go away! Do not touch the manager!' Am
them and wondered if this event was connected in any way with I supposed to have a disease?"
the paragraph in the morning's paper. Raoul hurriedly left his "It's unbelievable!"
seat, the count disappeared from his box, and everyone in the "Monsieur Richard turned around, and although there was no
audience spoke at once, trying to suggest an explanation. one in front of him, he put his hands together and lowered his
At last, the curtain rose and one of the singers said in a serious head, and left slowly, walking backward!"
voice, "Christine Daae has disappeared in front of our eyes .. "Really?"
.
and nobody can tell us how!" "And Monsieur Moncharmin also left, walking backward!
.
• They went like that to their office .. backward! So, if they are
not crazy, can you explain what this means?"
Behind the curtain, there was a crowd of singers, dancers, scenery "Maybe they were practicing a dance for the ballet," suggested
men — and all were asking questions and shouting. Three men Gabriel, although he did not really believe this.
stood together, talking in a low voice, looking desperately This made the secretary very angry. He whispered in Gabriel's
worried. They were Gabriel, the singing master, Mercier, the ear, "There are things going on here and you and Mercier are
scenery manager, and Remy, the secretary. They were anxious to partly responsible."
tell the managers about Christine Daae's disappearance. But the "What do you mean?" asked Gabriel.
managers were in their office, and they had given orders that they "Christine Daae is not the only one who disappeared tonight.
were not to be bothered. Remy made several attempts to
Maybe you can explain why Mercier took Madame Giry away
persuade them to open the door of their office, and when he
just a little while ago when she appeared in the hall?"
finally succeeded, Monsieur Moncharmin only shouted at him,
"Did he? I didn't see that."
"Do you have a safety pin?" When Remy answered that he did
"You did, Gabriel, because you went with Mercier and
not, Monsieur Moncharmin shouted at him to go away. Then he
Madame Giry to Mercier's office. No one has seen Madame Giry
continued shouting for a safety pin until a boy brought him one,
since."
which he took — then quickly shut the door in Remy's face.
"Do you think we've eaten her?"
Remy returned to tell Gabriel and Mercier that he was unable
"No, but you locked her in the office."
to communicate the message of Christine Daae's disappearance
Suddenly, Mercier arrived, out of breath. He told Gabriel and
to the managers. Mercier decided to go and tell them himself.
Remy that he had knocked on the managers' office door and
Remy questioned Gabriel about the managers' strange behavior when Moncharmin appeared, he told him that Christine Daae
earlier that evening. "Why won't they let anyone come near them
had disappeared. But Moncharmin said,"And a good thing, too!"
or touch them?"
Then, he put a safety pin into Mercier's hand.
"What? Won't they? That is odd. What do you mean?"
"Strange! Very strange!" said Gabriel.
50 51