The evening world., 1911-04-01
I h e Ph nm
Of h e Opera
3 By CASTOR Leroux
3 The Most Daring Sensation Novsi" of the Century


" way tnat tncN du not lpSe Slgnt OF iHe
envelope for n second during the per-
formance n even afterward. for, "a
the envelope had not moved. those who
watched It did not move either, and
Nine. CRY went away while the man
ayers, Gabriel and Mercier were stu
there. AT last they became tired OF
waiting and opened the envelope. after
ascertaining that the seals had not been
broken.
At first sight Richard and M~oncharmln
thought that the notes were still there.
hut soon they perceived that they were
not the same. The twenty real notes
were gone and had been replaced BY
twenty notes Ut the Bank OF st.
Farce"
Nevertheless. they had been so abso-
lutely tricked that they were bound TO
suffer a certain detection. And, upon
my word. IL was not difficult tn under
stand. We must not forget that the
managers had ~ Idea Mt the back ~
their minds, all the time, that TINS
strange incident might he an unpleas-
ant practical Joke on the part OF their
predecessors and that 1t would not do
20 divulge 1t prematurely. ON the other
hand. Moncharmin was sometimes
troubled with "a suspicion Of Richard
himself. vino occasionally took fnncitul
wilma Into his head. And So tN"y we're
content to await events. while k"oplng
an eye on Mother CRY. l;icht- would
not have her spoken to.
"If she is a confederate" he said. the
notes are gone long ago. Bat. in my
opinion, she H. merely an IDIOT
she's not the only idiot IN this bust
ness" said Monrharmin pensively.
well, who could have thought ~"
moaned Richard. But don't he afraid
= next time. | shall have taken
my precautions"
The next time fell on the Same day
that beheld the disappearance OF Chris
tan Daae. In the morning. "A note from
the ghost reminded them that the money
was due. II read:
DO inst as you did last time. :;
went very we'll. Put the twenty thou
sand IN the envelope and hand II TO our
! excellent Nine. Cry
And the note was accompanied by the
usual envelope. They had only TO In
sert the notes.
This was done about half an hour be-
fore the curtains rose on the hrst act
OF Faust" Richard showed the en-
yelope to Moncharmin. Then he counted
the twenty thousand-franc notes IN
front OF him and put the notes into
the envelope. but without closing K.
And now" ne said. lets have Mother
CRY in"
The old woman was sent tor. She
entered with a sweeping courtesy. She
still wore her black taifeta dress. the
color of which was rapidly turning to
rust and lilac. 20 say nothing OF the
dingy bonnet. She seemed IN a good
temper She at once said:
'Good evening. gentlemen rs FOR
the envelope. | SUPPOSE
Yes. Nine. CRY" said Richard, most
amlably. "For the envelope and
something else besides"
at your service. VI. Richard, a. VOW
service. And what g., tho soTe;hins
else. please
! "FIrst OF all. Nine. G.rv. 7 have a
l',,le question 20 put to you."
by all means. VI. Richard. Nine
CRY IS here 10 answer you
Are you still on good terms with the
yhost?"
Couldn't be better. sir; couldn't b,
better"
"Ah. We are delighted. Locl
here. Nine. Gi-y.' said Richard. In O
tone OF making an important co'-
ndenco. I'VE may lust as well 20.
You, among ourselves you're g..
fool!'
why. Sir" exclaimed tho hox-keopor
stopping tho pleasant nodding OF tn,
max feathers In her dingy bonnet
~ assure you no one has ever doubte,
that ,
we are quite agreed and we shall
soor understand ono another. Tho
.tory OF the ghost Is all humbuS. ism
a., Well. still between ourselves
II has lasted long enough"