牛津書蟲系列 歌劇院的幽靈 04 The Phantom is angry
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 toad.
Remember， I am a bad enemy. O. G.
'So，F(xiàn)irmin，is this still a joke?'Monsieur Armand shouted.
'What are we going to do now， eh? Is O. G. the director here，or are we?'
'Don't shout，Armand，'said Monsieur Firmin tiredly.'I don't know the answers.Let's talk toMadame Giry， the door keeper 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 directors 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 dents.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 stared 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.幽靈發(fā)怒了
那是星期二的晚上。星期三上午阿爾芒先生和菲爾曼先生成了快樂的人。巴黎喜歡瑪格麗塔的新演唱者——生活中的一切都是美好的。下一場晚場歌劇是在星期五，又是《浮士德》，但是這一次由拉·卡洛塔演唱瑪格麗塔。
到星期三下午他們就不那么快樂了。第二封信送到了他們手中——來自O(shè).G.的信。
你們?yōu)槭裁床宦犖业脑?我會發(fā)怒的。把5號包廂空著留給我。另外我的兩萬法郎在哪里?星期五達(dá)埃必須再次演唱瑪格麗塔。她是當(dāng)今巴黎最好的歌唱家。拉·卡洛塔不能演唱——她的聲音非常難聽，活象一只癩蛤蟆。
記住，我是一個死對頭。O.G.
“如此看來，菲爾曼，這僅僅是一個玩笑嗎?”阿爾芒先生喊道，“現(xiàn)在我們該做些什么，啊? O.G.是這里的經(jīng)理，還是我們?”
“不要喊叫，阿爾芒，”菲爾曼先生有氣無力地說，“我也不知道如何是好。讓我們同吉麗夫人，那個5號包廂的看門人談一談?；蛟S她能幫助我們。”
但是吉麗夫人幫不了什么。吉麗夫人并不怕幽靈，也不怕歌劇院的經(jīng)理們。
“人們說你是歌劇院幽靈的朋友，吉麗夫人，”阿爾芒先生打開了話題，“告訴我們有關(guān)他的情況。有人說他沒有腦袋。”
“而有人說他沒有身體，”菲爾曼先生說，“你說呢，吉麗夫人?”
吉麗夫人看著這兩個人大笑起來。“我說歌劇院的經(jīng)理們都是傻瓜!”
“什么!”阿爾芒先生喊道。他站起來，滿臉通紅，面顯怒色。“聽我說，小娘們——”
“哦，坐下，阿爾芒，聽她說，”菲爾曼先生說，“你為什么那樣說，吉麗夫人?”
“因為，先生，這歌劇院的幽靈對你們發(fā)怒了。因為這幽靈想要什么，他就必須得到它。他是聰明而危險的，這個幽靈。你們的那些前任卻深諳此道，哦，對了。剛開始他們試圖阻止他。接著在歌劇院里就發(fā)生了許多事故，許多意想不到的事故。而什么時候那些事故發(fā)生呢?就是這幽靈發(fā)怒的時候!所以，那些老經(jīng)理們很快就知道該怎么做了。這幽靈想要5號包廂?他可以每個晚上都擁有它。這幽靈想要錢?讓我們馬上把錢給他。哦對了，那些老經(jīng)理們領(lǐng)會得很好。”
“但是我們是經(jīng)理，而不是這歌劇院的幽靈!”阿爾芒先生喊道。他轉(zhuǎn)向菲爾曼先生。“這個女人瘋了。我們?yōu)槭裁匆犓?星期五晚上由拉·卡洛塔演唱瑪格麗塔。而你和我，菲爾曼，到5號包廂里去觀看歌劇。”
“好，我們可以那樣試試，阿爾芒。但是我們不希望發(fā)生任何事故。”
吉麗夫人走近這兩個人。“聽我說，”她輕聲道：“記得約瑟夫·比凱嗎?我告訴你們，這歌劇院的幽靈會是一個好朋友，但也會是一個死對頭。”
這兩個人凝視著她。“那些話，”菲爾曼先生一字一頓地說，“你為什么說那些話，吉麗夫人?”
“因為這幽靈跟我說過那些話。我從來沒有見過他，但是我經(jīng)常聽到他說話。他有一副很好的嗓子——而且不對人喊叫。
