Chapter 11
Some hours later
I went into the dining room for dinner to find the table set for one.
"Odd." I muttered.
Erik sidled into the room. I gave him a questioning look, and he replied with: "When I am composing, I do not eat nor sleep." He grabbed a pitcher of water and left the room. Starving, I sat down to eat.
3 Hours later
Putting down my book, I sighed. I could hear Erik say loudly,"No! It's not right!" I couldn't concentrate with all this noise. The coffin may be comfortable, but I needed quiet. I left to my closet and fell asleep.
I awoke early and ate with Erik(who apparently was done composing).
That night Erik entered my room with an odd look on his face. "What's wrong?" I asked, looking up from my book. "My box has been sold." He said. "I sent a letter to Poligny and Debienne asking if they showed the new managers my demands."
"And if they didn't?" I asked.
"Then I shall speak with them."
The next night, Erik's box was sold again, and I took on the title of L.D.-Lady Death. We sent Andre and Firmin identical notes that went like this:
Dear Mr. Manager:
We are sorry to have to trouble you at a time when you must be so very busy, renewing important engagements, signing fresh ones and generally displaying your excellent taste. We know what you have done for Carlotta, Sorelli and little Jammes and for a few others whose admirable qualities of talent or genius you have suspected.
Of course, when we use these words, we do not mean to apply them to La Carlotta, who sings like a squirt and who ought never to have been allowed to leave the ambassadors and the Cafe Jacquin, nor to La Sorelli, who owes her success mainly to the coach-builders, nor to little Jammes, who dances like a calf in a field. And we are not speaking of Christine Daae either, though her genius is certain
Is not! Shut up L.D.
Whereas your jealousy prevents her from creating any important part. When all is said, you are free to conduct your little business as you think best, are you not?
All the same, we should like to take advantage of the fact that you have not turned her out of doors by hearing her this evening in the part of Siebel, as that of
Let me write! NO.
Margarita has been forbidden her since her triumph of the other evening, and we will ask you not to dispose of our box today nor on the following days, for we cannot end this letter without telling you how disagreeably surprised we have been once or twice, to hear, on arriving at the Opera, that our box had been sold, at the box office, by your orders.
We did not protest, first, because we dislike scandal,
You dislike scandal. STOP. WRITING. NOW.
And second, because I thought that your predecessors, MM. Poligny and Debienne, who were always charming to me, had neglected, before leaving, to mention my little fads to you.
And mine. What? You don't have any! I do now.
I have now received a reply from those gentlemen to our letter asking for an explanation, and this reply proves that you know all about my memorandum-book
And mine. You don't have one! It's in Andre's office.WHAT?
And, consequently, that you are treating me with outrageous contempt.
And me!
If you wish to live in peace, you must not begin by taking away our private box.
Believe us to be, dear Mr. manager, prejudice to these little observations,
your most Humble and Obedient Servants,
Opera Ghost
Lady Death
The letter was accompanied with a cutting from the newspaper, which read:
'O.G.-There is no excuse for A. and F. We told them and left your memorandum book in their hands.
Kind regards.'
After sending the letter, Erik turned to me and said, "You have a memorandum book?"
"Of course I do!" I replied.
"What are your demands?"
"Well," I said, "I demand 7,000 francs a month, and that Jamie Redwood gets a raise. Do you realize that I haven't gotten my salary for a long time?!"
Erik just sighed.
