Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-13
CHAPTER w.
BOX Five.


we may well ask IL he ever found time
TO attend to the affairs OF the opera |
otherwise than by telling what went
on there. u. Moncharmin did not
know a note OF music, but he called
the minister Of education and fine
arts by his Christian name, had dab
bled little in society Journalism and
enjoyed a considerable private In
come Lastly, he was a charming feL
low and showed that he was not lack
ing In intelligence, for, as soon as he
made up his mind to be a sleeping
partner IN the opera, he selected the
best possible active manager and
went straight to Firmin Richard.
F1rmin Richard vas a very distin
guished composer, who had published
a number OF successful pieces OF all
kinds and who liked nearly every form
of music and every sort Of musician.
Clearly, therefore, ii was the duty OF
every sort OF musician TO ike NJ. Fir.
min Richard. The only things to be
said against him were that he was
rather masterful in his ways and en-.
doved with a very hasty temper.
The first few days which the part
ners spent at the opera were given
over TO the delight Of finding them
selves the head OF so magnificent an
enterprise; and they had forgotten all
about that furious, fantastic story OF
the ghost, when an incident occurred
that proved TO them that the joke
II Joke II were-was not over. NJ.
Firmin Richard reached his Office that
morning at eleven o'clock. His secre-
tary, NJ. Remy, showed him half a
dozen letters which he had not opened
because they were marked private"
One Of the letters had at once at
tra' ed Richards attention not only
because the envelope was addressed
in red ink. hut because he seemed to
have seen the writing before. He soon
rem embered that 1t was the red hand
writing in which the memorandum
book had been go curiously completed.
he recognized the clumsy childish
hand. He opened the letter and read:
Dear Mr.. Manager:
Il am sorry to have to trouble you
at time when you must be so very
busy, renewing important engage
ments, signing fresh ones and gen.
orally displaying your excellent taste.
know what you have done for Car
lotta, Sorelli and little Jammes and
for few others whose admirable
qualities OF talent or genius you have
suspected.
"OI course, when use these words,
do not mean to apply them to La
Carlotta, who sings like a squirt and
who ought never to have been al
lowed to leave the Ambassadors and
the Cafe Joaquin; nor to La Soreli,
who owes her success mainly to the
coach-builders; nor to little Jammes,
who dances like a calf in a field. And
/ am not speaking OF Christine Daae
either. though her genius is certain.
whereas your jealousy prevents her
from creating any important part.
When all il said, you are free TO con.
duct your little business as you think
best, are you not?s
All the same. l should like to take
advantage OF the fact that you have
not yet turned Christine Daae out OF
doors by hearing her this evening in
the part OF Siebel, as that of Mar
garita has been forbidden her since
her triumph OF the other evening; and
ill ask you not 20 dispose of my
box today nor on the following days
for | cannot end this letter without
telling you how disagreeably sur
prised have been once or twice, Il
hear, on arriving at the opera, tina
my box had been sold, at the box
once, by your orders.
81 did not protest. first, because
dislike scandal, and. second, becaus,
thought that your predecessors
NM. Debienne and Soigny. who wer,
always charming 10 me. had neglect
ed, before leaving. to mention my III
tie fads TO you. / have now receives
a reply from those gentlemen to m!
letter asking for an explanation, an,
this reply proves that you know al
about my memorandum.book and. cor
sequently. that you are treating M
with outrageous contempt. II you wisl
70 live In peace, you must not begil
by taking away my private box.
Believe nue. TO be. dear Mr.. Man
.aGer. without prejudice to these it'll
observations,
Your Most humble and Obedien
Servant
OPERA GHOST"
The letter was accompanied by
cutting from the agony-eolumn of tn
Revue Theatrale, which ran:
20. G.-There is no excuse for /
and NJ. We told them and left you
memorandum-book In their handi
Kind regards"
n. F1rmin Richard had hardly nI
ished reading this letter when NJ. A
mAnd Moncharmin entered, earryin
one exactly similar. They looked {
each other and burst out laughing.
They ere keeping up the joke
said II. Richard. but / don't call
funny"
Whist does Il all meanY asked \
Honcharmin- do they imagine tina
A.ssaSe they haye been msnaKerz