"i did...my concierge had never been to the opera--this is, the first time--and, as she is now going to come every night, i wanted her to have a good seat, before spending her time ing other people to theirs."moncharmin asked what he meant and richard answered that he had persuaded his concierge, in whom he had the greatest confidence, to come and take mme.giry's place.yes, he would like to see if, with that woman instead of the old lunatic, box five would continue to astonish the natives?
"by the way," said moncharmin, "you know that mother giry is going to lodge a complaint against you.""with whom? the ghost?"
the ghost! moncharmin had almost forgotten him.however, that mysterious person did nothing to bring himself to the memory of the managers;and they were just saying so to each other for the second time, when the door of the box suddenly opened to admit the startled stage-manager.
"what's the matter?" they both asked, amazed at seeing him there at such a time.
"it seems there's a plot got up by christine daae's friends against carlotta.carlotta's furious.""what on earth...?" said richard, knitting his brows.
but the curtain rose on the kermess scene and richard made a sign to the stage-manager to go away.when the two were alone again, moncharmin leaned over to richard:
"then daae has friends?" he asked.
"yes, she has."
"whom?"
richard glanced across at a box on the grand tier containing no one but two men.
"the comte de chagny?"
"yes, he spoke to me in her favor with such warmth that, if ihad not known him to be sorelli's friend...""really? really?" said moncharmin."and who is that pale young man beside him?""that's his brother, the viscount."
"he ought to be in his bed.he looks ill."the stage rang with gay song:
"red or white liquor, coarse or fine!