The next morning, Gustave took Christine to Madame Giry's class a little early. He wanted to have a few minutes to speak to the Ballet Mistress in private about the encounter he had with the mysterious boy. As usual, Madame Giry was doing her stretch exercises with little Meg by her side imitating everything her mother did. When they saw the pair entering the room they stopped and smiled broadly.

"Good morning Monsieur, Christine." Said Meg.

"Good morning to you." Answered Gustave.

"You are early today." Madame Giry pointed out. "Hello Christine."

"Hello Madame." Christine saluted her.

Gustave smiled at his daughter and suggested that she go and change into her ballerina gown.

"Why don't you go help her Meg?" Madame Giry told her daughter, sensing Gustave's need for privacy.

"Of course Mother."

The two girls when into the changing room and left the adults to themselves. Gustave decided to go straight to the point because he did not have much time before the girls got back.

"Madame, I have a confession and a question to make." He started out. "First, I must confess that I have been disobeying the night curfew of this establishment."

"I see" her look was puzzled and scared for what was to come next.

"I am very sorry but, for a few nights now I have been making my way to the music room to practice the new score the orchestra must perform next month. I really saw no harm in it since everyone was asleep by then and the walls of the music room are so thick no one would be disturbed."

"Still, it is against the rules of the Opera house Gustave, and the manager is very strict with this."

"I do know this. However that is not what I wanted to talk about."

"It is not?" she asked confused.

"Madame, last night I heard a noise coming from the chapel, and after investigating I saw a boy wearing a most peculiar mask. He was startled by me and fled. I was wondering if you could perhaps enlighten me as to whom the boy is."

"What makes you think I know?" Madame Giry asked nervously, trying to fool Gustave.

"Oh but you do know! I can tell by the way you avoid my eyes." Gustave said excitedly. "Please Madame; tell me who this young man is."

"I can't Gustave, I just can't."

"Why not?"

"Because it is not my business to tell, and besides, I don't know much about him."

"If you can tell me what you do know I will be very grateful." He insisted.

"Why do you want to know about Erik?" Madame Giry blurted out.

"Erik. His name is Erik then?"

"Oh my, I shouldn't have said that." The woman lamented.

"Listen Madame, I seek no harm toward the boy. And it is not just curiosity that feeds my need to know about him. Last night I sensed we shared more than the need to be up and about while everyone else slept. Something tells me that I must know who he is… but please, ask me not the reason for I myself do not know it."

Madame Giry was touched by his explanation, yet still she knew better than to disclose the little information she knew about the boy. Gustave was new to the Opera house and he could get into great trouble if she told him something that increased his interest for Erik. If Gustave when about prying for more information then the Opera manager would find out it was she who told him about Erik. She would lose her job, her life at the Opera house; she could not take such a risk. Still, Gustave seemed sincerely taken by the boy.

"Alright, but I warn you that you must not tell anyone about this. If it ever became known, you and I would lose our jobs and God knows what else might happen."

Worried by her words Gustave was tempted to ask her to keep quiet about what she knew is it meant her job, and his, would be in jeopardy. Yet somehow he couldn't bring himself to stop her.

"He was related to the founders of this Opera house, his grandfather I believe was the initial owner. I do not know of their arrangement but the manager allows him to live within the building, although I am not certain where exactly, there are no spare rooms that I know of. He dines; I myself leave him a plate in the kitchen, after everyone is in their respective rooms, thus the reason for the curfew, so that one sees him."

Gustave was more intrigued than ever.

"Is it because of the mask? What is he hiding?"

"I have never seen him without it. Even in the few times we have crossed paths in the kitchen he remains in the shadows, all I can make out is his mask. He does not speak to me although he knows that I am aware of his existence, after all, I am in charge of his meal."

"You have never tried to talk to him?"

"Why would I? I have been warned to serve him and leave. I do not ask things that do not concern me."

A little hurt by her last comment Gustave understood that it was time to end their conversation. He was sure that Madame Giry did not know more than what she had told him already, and she sounded annoyed by his inquiries.

"Thank you Madame Giry, I really appreciate your patience with me."

"It's okay, just don't make it a habit to be asking things that I am not supposed to answer."

"Yes, I understand." Gustave answered as other little girls loudly entered the room. Christine was also exiting the changing room with Meg. Gustave waved goodbye to her and left for rehearsal. No matter what Madame Giry had said Gustave knew that he needed to know more about the boy, he needed to know more about Erik. The night is no companion for a happy soul, Erik's soul must be just as sad as Gustave's was. They shared a loneliness that was invisible to the rest of the world; Gustave had proved this with Madame Giry's reaction to his questions. If only I could talk to him, Gustave thought. If only…