Page 66 - Phantom of the Opera

respect for the Secretary for Fine Arts. Moncharmin stood "One does not joke with 20,000 francs."
behind him. Madame Giry rubbed against Monsieur Richard, "That's what I think!"
slipped the envelope into his coat pocket, and disappeared. "Look, you gave me a ride. You were the only one to
Mercier, following Moncharmin's instructions, took the good approach me. If the 20,000 francs was no longer in my pocket,
lady to the scenery manager's office and turned the key, making it there's a good chance of it being in yours!"
impossible for her to communicate with her ghost, Moncharmin jumped up at the suggestion. "Oh!" he shouted.
Richard, during this time, was walking backward, imagining "A safety pin!"
he had the Secretary of Fine Arts in front of him, which caused "What do you want a safety pin for?"
amazement to those who saw him. "To fasten the 20,000 francs to your coat! Then you will feel
Moncharmin did the same thing, in addition to pushing away the hand that pulls at your pocket and you will see if it's mine!
Remy and begging the manager of the Central Bank not to Oh, so you are suspecting me now, are you? A safety pin!"
touch him. Moncharmin did not want Richard to come to him And that was the moment when Moncharmin opened the
when the 20,000 francs were gone and say, "Maybe it was the door and shouted down the passage, "A safety pin! Somebody
manager of the Central Bank .. or Remy." give me a safety pin!"
.
The two managers returned to their office in this way, walking This, of course, was when Remy saw Moncharmin and the
backward, with Moncharmin keeping a close watch behind boy who brought the safety pin, which Moncharmin took before
Richard. They locked themselves in the office and Moncharmin shutting the door in Remy's face. Then, Moncharmin knelt down
put the key in his pocket. behind Richard. He took the envelope from Richard's pocket and
"We remained locked up like this last time," he said, "until you took out the bills with a trembling hand. He made sure they were
left the Opera to go home." real, then pinned them back in the coat pocket with great care.
"No one came in, I suppose?" Then he sat down behind Richard's coattails and kept his eyes on
"No one." them, while Richard, sitting at his writing table, did not move.
"Then I was robbed on the way home from the Opera." "The clock will soon strike twelve," said Moncharmin. "Last
"No, that's impossible. I gave you a ride home. The 20,000 time, we left at twelve."
francs disappeared at your place: there's no doubt about that." "And if it is a ghost who puts the magic envelopes on the
.
"
"Not my servants!" table," said Richard, ... who talks in Box Five .. who killed
.
Moncharmin raised his eyes — he did not wish to discuss Joseph Buquet ... who unhooked the chandelier .. and who
.
details. robs us .. There is no one here except you and me. If the bills
"Moncharmin, I've had enough of this!" said Richard, tired of disappear and neither you nor I are involved, we will have to
his partner's attitude. believe in the ghost."
"Richard, I've had enough of this!" At that moment the clock began to strike twelve times. The
"Do you dare to suspect me?" two managers trembled, their foreheads were wet. When the
"Yes, of a silly joke!" clock stopped, they rose from their chairs.

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