Chapter Four - Please, Monsieur

Christine pushed at the mirror again and again, but it would not give way.

She forced herself not to pound on the glass, not to scream in frustration. Did she have the strength to shatter the glass. And with what? Everything had been removed from the room, but for the dust-covered dressing table and the sofa.

And what would she find beyond the mirror now?

"He sealed that passageway off, Madame."

Christine turned to see Monsieur Reyer standing in the doorway.

"What do you mean, Monsieur, what do you know?"

The old music director closed the door behind him as he answered.

"He thought you would never return. He no longer needed this mirror and sealed off the passage."

"How do you know this?"

"I have known about the Opera Ghost for some years. I don't pretend to know as much as Therese," he answered, referring to Madame Giry be her first name out of habit, "but when she left for England with her daughter, I became his only contact with this world."

Christine was almost afraid to hear the answer to her next question.

"Tell me, please, how is he?"

"How is he," Reyer answered with an odd shrug, "he is as well as can be expected, given the circumstances. I don't know the details of that night, Madame, nor do I ask to know them. At my age, knowledge like that can be a burden."

"I want to see him, Monsieur."

Reyer drew a small iron key from his waistcoat pocket. He held it in the palm of his hand, but did not offer it to her.

"I don't know if it would be wise for me to tell you, Madame."

"Please, Monsieur. I beg you."

He pressed the key into her hand.

"Go down to the chapel. Open the little door to the left of the steps. Follow that passage way and you will find a second door. This key will open it. From there, you should have no difficulty in finding your way. Make sure you take a candle, though, the way from there down is very dark."