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Ch. 2: A Plan of Action

January 2, 18--,

Dear Diary,

Christine and I spent a pleasant New Year at the De Chagny Estate. Yes, pleasant. How soon we break our resolutions after making them! New Year's Eve went according to plan. We hosted the most illustrious families in France to a splendid dinner commemorating the first holiday season of Christine's and my marriage. We dazzled the throngs with seven splendid courses, and each plate came out in prompt, neat, tidy succession. Each course was spaced according to a strict timeframe maintained by my kitchen staff. Discussion amongst the men was limited to local politics and the economic concerns of those of our station. The women remained the models of grace and propriety as they nodded and smiled at their husbands. Everything was perfect.

How I hated it! Not one thing about the evening was out of the ordinary! I kept scolding myself, "Be spontaneous! Do something interesting! How would Erik handle an evening such as this?" I could not help but laugh at that thought. Try as I might to imagine Erik hosting twelve of the most distinguished families in France to a dinner party, I simply could not fathom the idea. I could not even imagine him eating. Certainly he must eat at times. It is a natural human function. Still, his weight hardly suggests any sort of regular dining habits. If Erik ever did host a dinner party, the evening would probably end with him striking someone over the head with a baguette. I just could not bring myself to do that. It would be in poor taste to bludgeon one's dinner guest with a baked good.

Still, the tedium of the evening was not lost upon me. Christine certainly appeared the gracious hostess. She even seemed happy. However, her smile was content and pleasant rather than elated. A woman such as her deserves excitement. I could have done something . . . anything . . . to make the evening more romantic. Therefore, today I formulated a plan of action. I tried to ponder what it is about Erik that could be appealing to a woman. You see, Christine is not the only one drawn to his powerful presence. On more than one occasion at the opera, I have heard ladies – and not the course kind found among the ranks of the ballerinas or chorus girls but women of society! – remark on the romance of the legend of the Opera Ghost! Not knowing it was indeed the De Chagny family that was intimately connected with the legend, the women would remark that they wished they had a devoted suitor who would carry them off as the Ghost reportedly did to a young, unnamed soprano!

What is it about Erik? Looks he simply does not have. Frankly, he does not come across as particularly charming, either. I was brought up with the belief that women desire comfort and security. Erik is moody, ill-tempered, and often violent . . . and he lives in the cellar of an opera house. Not exactly comfortable or secure. He certainly has an air of mystery. The mask contributes to that. I suppose mystery could be appealing to women. Perhaps that offsets his ugliness and complete lack of prospects or manners. Still, if women want comfort and security, why is it that they seem to prefer mysterious, dangerous men? I simply do not understand women. I do not think I ever will.

Erik is also intelligent and talented. According to the little I have learned from Mme. Giry, the Persian, and Christine, Erik is well-traveled and knows several languages. His talents for music and architecture cannot be denied, either. I suppose those things are attractive. Still, most men I know do quite well being only moderately more educated than their wives.

Taking into consideration Erik's general personality and talents, I have compiled a list of his attributes that could be useful in acquiring to become more appealing to my wife. My list is reproduced below:

--mysterious (wears mask, cape, and evening wear in all seasons and at all times of day)

--temperamental (practice being spontaneous and otherwise ambiguous in my emotions)

-- a linguist (find my German book)

-- a magician

-- a musician (I suppose I could dust off the pianoforte)

-- an architect

-- writes letters signed "Your obedient servant, O.G." (I suppose this is part of being mysterious)

-- lurks in shadows (also part of the mystery)

Tomorrow is a new day -- one that will be full of passion, mystery, and spontaneity. Now, I must speak with Willis about my agenda for tomorrow.

Yours,

Raoul, Comte de Chagny