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CHAPTER 2 THE DIRECTORS OF THE OPERA HOUSE |
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The Opera House was famous, |
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and the directors of the Opera House were very important men. |
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It was the first week of work for the two new directors, |
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Monsieur Ar mand Moncharmin and Monsieur Firmin Richard. |
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In the directors' office the next day, |
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the two men talked about Joseph Buquet. |
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'It was an accident,' Monsieur Armand said angrily. |
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'Or Buquet killed himself.' |
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'An accident?…Killed himself?' |
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Monsieur Firmin said. |
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'Which story do you want,my friend? |
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Or do you want the story of the ghost?' |
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'Don't talk to me about ghosts!' |
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Monsieur Armand said. |
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'We have 1,500 people |
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working for us in this Opera House, |
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and everybody is talking about the ghost. |
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They're all mad! I don't want to hear about the ghost, OK?' |
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Monsieur Firmin looked at a letter on the table next to him. |
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And what are we going to do about this letter,Armand?' |
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'Do?' cried Monsieur Armand. |
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'Why, do nothing, of course! |
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What can we do?' |
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The two men read the letter again. |
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It wasn't very long. |
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To the new directors |
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Because you are new in the Opera House, |
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I am writing to tell you some important things. |
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Never sell tickets for Box 5; |
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that is my box for every opera night. |
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Madame Giry, the door keeper, |
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knows all about it. |
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Also,I need money for my work in the Opera House. |
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I am not expensive,and I am happy to |
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take only 20,000 francs a month. |
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That is all. |
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But please remember, |
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I can be a good friend, |
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but a bad enemy. |
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O.G. |
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'Don't sell tickets for Box 5! |
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20,000 francs a month!'Monsieur Armand was very angry again.' |
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That's the best box in the Opera House, |
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and we need the money, Firmin! |
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And who is this O.G,eh?Tell me that!' |
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'Opera Ghost,of course,'Monsieur tirmin said.' |
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But you're right, Armand. |
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We can do nothing about this letter. |
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It's a joke, a bad joke. Somebody thinks we are fools, |
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because we are new here. |
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There are no ghosts in the Opera House!' |
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The two men then talked about the opera for that night. |
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It was Faust,and usually La Carlotta sang Margarita. |
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La Carlotta was Spanish,and the best singer in Paris. |
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But today,La Carlot ta was ill. |
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'Everybody in Paris is going to be at the opera tonight,' |
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said Monsieur Armand,'and cur best singer is ill. |
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Suddenly! She writes a letter to us just this morning-she is ill, |
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she cannot sing tonight!' |
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'Don't get angry again, Armand,' |
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Monsieur Firmin said quickly.'We have Christine Daaé, |
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that young singer from Norway. |
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She can sing Margarita tonight. |
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She has a good voice.' |
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'But she's so young, and nobody knows her! |
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Nobody wants to listen to a new singer.' |
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'Wait and see. |
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Perhaps Daaé can sing better than La Carlot ta. |
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Who knows?' |