Chapter Fifteen
Another man, tall and thin, approached their table. As he glanced quickly towards the German officers who were now seated on the far side of the room, Christine noted that his hair was heavily streaked with premature gray and thin scar traced his forehead.
"Pardon me, are you Monsieur de Chagny?"
Raoul also looked toward the Nazi officers before nodding to this newcomer.
The man slid into the seat next to Raoul and held out a small jewelers box covered in worn green leather. Raoul snapped it open and saw a heavy gold ring inside, an antique bishop's ring set with amethysts and seed pearls.
"I have heard, Monsieur de Chagny, that you might be interested in purchasing this ring."
Raoul took the ring from the case, tested the weight of it in his palm.
"How much do you want for it?"
"Not much. Not much at all. I'm rather desperate for money and it might make a pretty ornament for the lady," he said with a nervous smile at Christine.
Raoul passed the ring to her. She took it, feigning curiousity and admiration. She knew the man had no plans to sell it, that the offer itself was a ruse to arrange certain meetings.
She handed the ring back to Raoul who tucked it back into the shabby case.
"I should like to have it," she lied, "it's quite pretty."
Raoul gave the case to the man and gave an indifferent shrug.
"I'm afraid I am not carrying enough money this evening? Perhaps tomorrow?"
"There is no hurry, Monsieur. Perhaps you would call at the Cafe de Fantasie in the morning? At ten? Simply asked for Philippe. I am a regular there."
"Very well, tomorrow at noon. I will see you then."
"It would be better if the lady did not come with you. The Fantasie is not really a suitable place for a woman. Perhaps she might care to visit the bazaar? It is a fascinating place. Many nice things there."
When Philippe had gone, Christine continue to look around the room, so desperate for some sign of Erik.
She saw that Inspector Giry was alone again, the Nazi officers were dancing and flirting with several women near Sam's piano.
As the band began to play again, the Inspector rose and crossed to the bar.
"Wait here, dearest," Raoul told her, "I need to find our Monsieur Philippe and ask him for the measurement of that rings...and directions to the Fantasie. I won't be long at all."
When he had gone, Christine left the table and took a seat beside Inspector Giry.