I'm now on page 49 of The Phantom of the Opera and things are only getting more amusing. The new managers take over, there are letters from Erik, and Madame Giry makes her first appearance. I seem to remember myself maybe thinking this stuff was boring, but now I can't see how at all.

Oh, and one other thing: Leroux's chapters are SHORT.


Chapter Three
Chapter three switches its location to the farewell parties of Debienne and Poligny, the former managers. It's the same night as the last chapter and Erik is still sneaking around the Opera, or so we are made to think.

It's Meg who shrieks "It's the opera house!" in the crowd of people in the dancer's lounge when she spots a man with a "death's head". There are three get-togethers for the managers and, at each, some people see a strange man and some do not, but all seemed to agree that there was a peculiar presence in the room. Leroux mentions an odd fellow at the end of a table that had been considered.

According to the legend, however, the ghost had no nose, whereas this man had one; but Moncharmin says in his memoirs that it was transparent--his exact words are "His nose was long, thin, and transparent"--and I will add that it may have been a false nose. Moncharmin may have mistaken shininess for transparency.

Erik might have a fake nose? XD It just makes me think of Robert Englund.

Either way, he spoke to Debienne and Poligny and suddenly told them that Joseph Buquet's death may not have been so natural, and they left the room stiffly with Moncharmin and Richard. The chapter, from there, was an amusing exchange between the new and old managers.

The quotes pretty much speak for themselves:

Debienne and Poligny seemed more and more agitated, and it appeared to us that they had something to tell us but found it difficult to say. First they asked us if we knew the man at the end of the table who had told them about Joseph Buquet's death, and when we answered in the negative their agitation increased still more. Poligny took the master keys from us, looked at them for a moment, shook his head, and advised us to have new locks made, in secret, for all rooms, closets, and objects that we wanted to keep securely closed. As he said this, he and Debienne looked so funny that Richard and I laughed, and I asked if there were thieves in the Opera. Poligny answered that there was something worse than thieves: the ghost.

Moncharmin and Richard think this idea is hilarious, taking the claim as a joke of old French humor. Of course they're leaving management of the opera! Who could contend with such a demanding ghost?!

"If I had such a bothersome ghost, I wouldn't hesitate to have him arrested."
"Where? How?" Cried Poligny. "We've never seen him!"
"Not even when he comes to his box?"
"We've never seen him in his box."
"They why not rent it?"
"Rent the Opera ghost's box? Try it, gentlemen, just try it!"

At this point, I kind of wish that Debienne and Poligny would stick around so I could hear more. They'd have to know a lot about the "ghost", and it's clearly my objective, as I read this book, to learn as much about Erik as possible.

* * * * *


Chapter Four
Chapter four starts with a short description of Moncharmin and Richard before they both realize they've been sent a letter. Naturally, it's from Erik, and he's not happy that they've started their first week by giving away his box.

"~In response to my request for an explanation, [Debienne & Poligny] have just given me an answer that proves you are acquainted with my book of instructions, and therefore that you are showing intolerable disrespect for me. If you want us to live in peace, you must not begin by taking my box away from me!

He also mentions that Carlotta sings 'like a yowling cat'.

I know he's a guy with a death's head, but I can't help but feel like Erik's notes are adorable.

However, at this point, Moncharmin/Richard just think Debienne and Poligny are pretending to be an "Opera ghost" just to fuck with them. They figure if they want the box so much that they'll just send them tickets for it in the mail! A day later, they then receive two letters. One from them, declining the seats, and one from Erik, saying "thanks for the box!" XD

They're amusing to listen to. I like the way they're a little bit amused and then slowly they're getting a temper about all this. Once they start getting annoyed, they call in the supervisor, who's some nervous guy who doesn't really know how to placate. Moncharmin keeps looking amused, but Richard is pissed, so he just keeps switching between smiles and looks of dismay. It reminded me of Cosmo for some reason.

By the end of the Chapter, Madame Giry (who, as you may know, is the Box 5 usher) is to be sent in like a kid to the principal's office because the supervisor said she blamed "the ghost" for a disruption in Box 5 some night before.

I read Chapter 5, but I'm too lazy to go over it. I want to include quotes, but I'm tired. So~ I'll just read on and include it in the next installment!