歌剧院的幽灵 04 The Phantom is angry

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　　That was Tuesday night．On Wednesday morning Mon sieur Armand and Monsieur Firmin were happy men．Paris liked the new Margarita-everything in life was good．The next opera night was Friday． It was Faust again， but this time with La Carlotta singing Margarita．

　　By Wednesday afternoon they were not so happy．A second letter arrived for them-from O．G．

　　Why don't you listen to me？ I am getting angry． Leave Box 5 free for me． And where are my 20， 000 francs？ On Friday Daaé must sing Margarita again．She is now the best singer in Paris． La Carlotta cannot sing-she has a very ugly voice，like a toad²．

　　Remember， I am a bad enemy． O． G．

　　'So，Firmin，is this still a joke？'Monsieur Armand shouted．

　　'What are we going to do now， eh？ Is O． G． the director³ here，or are we？'

　　'Don't shout，Armand，'said Monsieur Firmin tiredly．'I don't know the answers．Let's talk to Madame⁴ Giry， the door keeper⁵ of Box 5．Perhaps she can help us．'

　　But Madame Giry was not helpful．Madame Giry was not afraid of ghosts， and she was not afraid of directors⁶ of Opera Houses.

　　'People say that you're a friend of the Opera ghost，Madame Giry，' Monsieur Armand began．'Tell us about him．Some people say he has no head．'

　　'And some people say he has no body，' said Monsieur Firmin．'What do you say， Madame Giry？'

　　Madame Giry looked at the two men and laughed．'I say that the directors of the Opera House are fools！'

　　'What！'Monsieur Armand shouted． He stood up，and his face was red and angry．'Listen to me，woman-'

　　'Oh， sit down， Armand，and listen，' said Monsieur Firmin．'why do you say that，Madame Giry？'

　　'Because，Monsieur，the Opera ghost is angry with you．When the ghost wants something， he must have it． He is clever and dangerous，this ghost．The old directors before you， they knew that，oh yes. At first they tried to stop him. Then there were many accidents in the Opera House，many strange acci dents⁷．And when did these accidents happen？ When the ghost was angry！So，the old directors learnt very quickly．The ghost wants Box 5？ He can have it every night．The ghost wants money？Let's give the money to him at once．Oh yes，the old directors understood very well．'

　　'But we are the directors， not the Opera ghost！' Monsieur Armand shouted．He turned to Monsieur Firmin．'This woman is mad．Why do we listen to her？ On Friday night La Carlotta is going to sing Margarita． And you and I， Firmin，are going to watch the opera from Box 5．' 'Well， we can try that， Armand． But we don't want any ac cidents．'

　　Madame Giry came nearer to the two men．'Listen to me，'she said quietly．'Remember Joseph Buquet？ I tell you，the Opera ghost is a good friend， but a bad enemy．'

　　The two men stared⁸ at her．'Those words，Monsieur Firmin said slowly，'why did you say those words， Madame Giry？'

　　'Because the ghost says them to me． I never see him， but I often hear him．He has a very nice voice and he doesn't shout at people．'

　　4．幽灵发怒了

　　那是星期二的晚上。星期三上午阿尔芒先生和菲尔曼先生成了快乐的人。巴黎喜欢玛格丽塔的新演唱者——生活中的一切都是美好的。下一场晚场歌剧是在星期五，又是《浮士德》，但是这一次由拉·卡洛塔演唱玛格丽塔。

　　到星期三下午他们就不那么快乐了。第二封信送到了他们手中——来自O．G．的信。

　　你们为什么不听我的话？我会发怒的。把5号包厢空着留给我。另外我的两万法郎在哪里？星期五达埃必须再次演唱玛格丽塔。她是当今巴黎最好的歌唱家。拉·卡洛塔不能演唱——她的声音非常难听，活象一只癞蛤蟆。

　　记住，我是一个死对头。O．G．

　　“如此看来，菲尔曼，这仅仅是一个玩笑吗？”阿尔芒先生喊道，“现在我们该做些什么，啊？ O．G．是这里的经理，还是我们？”

　　“不要喊叫，阿尔芒，”菲尔曼先生有气无力地说，“我也不知道如何是好。让我们同吉丽夫人，那个5号包厢的看门人谈一谈。或许她能帮助我们。”

　　但是吉丽夫人帮不了什么。吉丽夫人并不怕幽灵，也不怕歌剧院的经理们。

　　“人们说你是歌剧院幽灵的朋友，吉丽夫人，”阿尔芒先生打开了话题，“告诉我们有关他的情况。有人说他没有脑袋。”

　　“而有人说他没有身体，”菲尔曼先生说，“你说呢，吉丽夫人？”

　　吉丽夫人看着这两个人大笑起来。“我说歌剧院的经理们都是傻瓜！”

　　“什么！”阿尔芒先生喊道。他站起来，满脸通红，面显怒色。“听我说，小娘们——”

　　“哦，坐下，阿尔芒，听她说，”菲尔曼先生说，“你为什么那样说，吉丽夫人？”

　　“因为，先生，这歌剧院的幽灵对你们发怒了。因为这幽灵想要什么，他就必须得到它。他是聪明而危险的，这个幽灵。你们的那些前任却深谙此道，哦，对了。刚开始他们试图阻止他。接着在歌剧院里就发生了许多事故，许多意想不到的事故。而什么时候那些事故发生呢？就是这幽灵发怒的时候！所以，那些老经理们很快就知道该怎么做了。这幽灵想要5号包厢？他可以每个晚上都拥有它。这幽灵想要钱？让我们马上把钱给他。哦对了，那些老经理们领会得很好。”

　　“但是我们是经理，而不是这歌剧院的幽灵！”阿尔芒先生喊道。他转向菲尔曼先生。“这个女人疯了。我们为什么要听她的？星期五晚上由拉·卡洛塔演唱玛格丽塔。而你和我，菲尔曼，到5号包厢里去观看歌剧。”

　　“好，我们可以那样试试，阿尔芒。但是我们不希望发生任何事故。”

　　吉丽夫人走近这两个人。“听我说，”她轻声道：“记得约瑟夫·比凯吗？我告诉你们，这歌剧院的幽灵会是一个好朋友，但也会是一个死对头。”

　　这两个人凝视着她。“那些话，”菲尔曼先生一字一顿地说，“你为什么说那些话，吉丽夫人？”

　　“因为这幽灵跟我说过那些话。我从来没有见过他，但是我经常听到他说话。他有一副很好的嗓子——而且不对人喊叫。

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