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The walls of the room were austere grey stone, but the guests were wearing lavish ball-gowns and Hungarian costumes; velvet, satin and fur, flowers and lace. Dracula had chosen one of his long black jackets, like always.
"Carlotta. You look ... splendid is the word I have in my mind."
Carlotta bowed her head for Dracula´s compliment. She was wearing a splendid ball-gown of red velvet, with roses scattered across the neckline; a veil, dyed with resplendent ruby color, covered her hair; unnatural bloom blushed her face. She he did not answer in order to avoid using word "Master"; she did not had to, because Dracula said:
"Shall we?"
Carlotta took the offered hand and let Dracula to lead her to eerily beautiful waltz.
"Have you heard about Christine Daaé?" Dracula asked, when they swirled on the floor.
"Yes," Carlotta said shortly. Christine Daaé´s fall from grace had been all over the newspapers.
"I have heard that she performs at rather gaudy place in Coney Island, and she had an affair short before the wedding."
"Christine Daaé´s "talent" is in her youth and prettiness, violent manager and her eagerness to let the career criminal to grope her at the stage," Carlotta said coldly. "Don Juan Triumphant was a gorgeous-looking opera flop. There were some poetic lyrics; it was risque, something which brothel theatres would show, but the critics and real opera audiences disliked it."
Dracula smiled. "She is only seventeen. She may turn better."
"Unripe, too. Inferior and unripe talent. "
Dracula did not say more, but smile stayed on his face.
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