牛津書蟲系列 歌劇院的幽靈 02 The directors of the Opera House
The Opera House was famous， and the directors of the Opera House were veryimportant men.It was the first week of work for the two new directors， Monsieur Ar mand Moncharmin and Monsieur Firmin Richard.In the direc tors' office the next day，the two men talked about Joseph Bu quet.
'It was an accident，' Monsieur Armand said angrily.'Or Buquet killedhimself.'
'An accident?…Killed himself?' Monsieur Firmin said.'Which story do you want，my friend? Or do you want the sto ry of the ghost?'
'Don't talk to me about ghosts!'Monsieur Armand said.'We have 1，500 people working for us in this Opera House，and everybody is talking about the ghost. They're allmad! I don't want to hear about the ghost， OK?'
Monsieur Firmin looked at a letter on the table next to him.
And what are we going to do about this letter，Armand?'
'Do?' cried Monsieur Armand.'Why， do nothing， of course! What can we do?'
The two men read the letter again.It wasn't very long.
To the new directors
Because you are new in the Opera House，I am writing to tell you some important things.Never sell tickets for Box 5;that is my box for every opera night. Madame Giry， the door keeper， knows all about it. Also，I need money for my work in the Opera House.I am not expensive，and I am happy to take only20，000 francs a month. That is all. But please remem ber， I can be a good friend， but a bad enemy.
O.G.
'Don't sell tickets for Box 5! 20，000 francs a month!'Monsieur Armand was very angry again.'That's the best box in the Opera House， and we need the money， Firmin! And who is this O.G，eh?Tell me that!'
'Opera Ghost，of course，'Monsieur tirmin said.'But you're right， Armand. We can do nothing about this letter. It's a joke， a bad joke. Somebody thinks we arefools， because we are new here.There are no ghosts in the Opera House!'
The two men then talked about the opera for that night. It was Faust，and usually La Carlotta sang Margarita.La Carlotta was Spanish，and the best singer in Paris.But today，La Carlot ta was ill.
'Everybody in Paris is going to be at the opera tonight，'said Monsieur Armand，'and cur best singer is ill.Suddenly! She writes a letter to us just this morning-she is ill， she cannot sing tonight!'
'Don't get angry again， Armand，' Monsieur Firmin said quickly.'We have Christine Daaé， that young singer from Nor way.She can sing Margarita tonight.She has a goodvoice.'
'But she's so young， and nobody knows her!Nobody wants to listen to a new singer.'
'Wait and see.Perhaps Daaé can sing better than La Carlot ta.Who knows?'
2.歌劇院的經(jīng)理們
歌劇院很著名，而歌劇院的經(jīng)理們也都是些非常顯要的人物。這是兩位新經(jīng)理阿爾芒·蒙沙曼先生和菲爾曼·理查德先生上任的第一個星期。第二天，在經(jīng)理辦公室里，這兩位先生談起了約瑟夫·比凱的事。
“這是個意外事故，”阿爾芒先生氣憤地說，“要不然比凱就是自殺的。”
“意外事故?……自殺?”菲爾曼先生說，“你想要聽一類故事，我的朋友?或者說你想聽一個關(guān)于幽靈的故事?”
“不要跟我談關(guān)于幽靈的事!”阿爾芒先生說，“這個歌劇院里有1，500人在為我們工作，而每個人都在談?wù)撽P(guān)于幽靈的事。他們都瘋了!我不想聽到關(guān)于幽靈的事，行不行?”
菲爾曼先生看著他臨近的桌子上一封給他的信。“那對于這封信我們該做些什么，阿爾芒?”
“做些什么?”阿爾芒先生叫道，“為什么，什么也不做，當(dāng)然!我們又能做些什么呢?”兩位先生又讀了一遍這封信。信并不很長。
致新任經(jīng)理們
因為你們是歌劇院的新任經(jīng)理，所以我寫信告訴你們一些重要的事情。不要出售5號包廂的票;那是我觀看每一場晚場歌劇的包廂。吉麗夫人，那位看門人，知道這一切。除此之外，我還需要在歌劇院工作的錢。我要價并不高，一個月拿兩萬法郎我就感到滿足了。就這些。但是請記住，我會是一個好朋友，也會是一個死對頭。
O.G.(注： O.G即 Opera Ghost的縮寫。)
“不要出售5號包廂的票!兩萬法郎一個月!”阿爾芒先生又來氣了，“那是歌劇院最好的包廂，而且我們需要錢，菲爾曼!誰是這個O.G.啊?告訴我!”
“自然是歌劇院的幽靈，”菲爾曼先生說，“但你是對的，阿爾芒。我絕對不能按照信上說的那么做。這是一個玩笑，一個惡毒的玩笑。一些人認(rèn)為我們是傻瓜，因為我們是新來的。歌劇院里根本就沒有幽靈!”
然后這兩位先生就談?wù)撈甬?dāng)晚的歌劇來。當(dāng)晚的歌劇是《浮士德》，通常由拉·卡洛塔演唱瑪格麗塔。拉·卡洛塔是西班牙人，是巴黎最好的歌唱家。但是今天，拉·卡洛塔卻病了。
“今晚巴黎的每個人都會到歌劇院來，”阿爾芒先生說，“而我們最好的歌唱家卻病了。她今天上午方才突然寫信給我們——她病了，她今晚不能演唱了!”
“不要再生氣了，阿爾芒，”菲爾曼先生急忙說，“我們有克麗斯廷·達(dá)埃，那個年輕的挪威歌唱家。她今晚可以演唱瑪格麗塔那個角色。她有一副好嗓子。”
“但是她太年輕了，而且沒有人知道她!沒有人想聽一位新歌唱家的演唱。”
“等著瞧吧。也許達(dá)埃還會比拉·卡洛塔唱得更好。誰知道呢?”
