44) They just don´t trust...
Erik´s revelation brought an expression of utmost shock to the managers´ faces, and Mme.Giry had to adapt quickly. Inwardly, however, she was smiling. As far as she could tell staying with her beloved for the rest of her life wouldn´t exactly be the worst fate for Christine. But of course saying that was impossible. So the ballet mistress remained silent, waiting for a reaction of the two men.
"Well… do you have any proof for your story?", M.André asked. Since he was unable of locating Erik´s voice he looked around in an irritated way, as if he tried to address ten people at once. The man on the other side of the wall could hardly keep himself from chuckling. "Mme.Giry has seen Christine and me together today.", he said, silently apologising for dragging the woman even deeper into their business. He hadn´t found another solution that quickly. Fetching the girl or something belonging to her would have cost too much time.
Now the managers focused their attention on the ballet teacher. "Yes, I´ve seen them… in Box Five.", she lied hastily. "That´s why I went up there in the first place – I had noticed Christine and wanted to make sure that she was all right." She threw the men an anxious glance, but they seemed to believe every word she told them, even thought there were differences to what she had said before. Encouraged by this impression she went on: "He hasn´t harmed the girl in any way… yet. Still she´s very frightened. Who knows what will happen if you don´t get her out of there soon?".
"I always thought he was rather fond of Mlle.Daaé.", M.Firmin argued. He knew he was grasping for straws, but maybe it would work. He hated the thought of having yet another person at this opera to worry about, so shortly after having got their ballet teacher back. "He´d never dare hurt her." "Who are you to decide what I would do?", Erik asked through gritted teeth, his hands clenching into fists. The insolence of these men was starting to get on his nerves, and for a moment he wished he had one of them down in this world. Then he could demonstrate what he was truly capable of.
Mme.Giry, who hadn´t failed to hear the anger in his voice, quickly said: "You mustn´t underestimate the Opera Ghost. He´s the most dangerous man in France, maybe even in the entire world. At the moment he only has Christine Daaé in his sway – tomorrow it could be your wives!". Erik briefly wondered why this woman hadn´t become an actress. She seemed to have hidden talents in that area. Standing in front of the managers, foreseeing terrible misfortunes, she almost reminded him of Cassandra from the Greek mythology. Even Erik himself hadn´t known he was that dangerous.
The other men apparently were equally impressed by this statement. "I´m sure we´ll find a solution that´s satisfying for all of us.", M.André muttered. By now not only his voice was trembling. "Of course we will.", Erik agreed readily, glad that they were finally convinced. "I´ll give instructions and you follow them. You´ll never question my decisions. I expect to be informed about everything the moment it happens. Even if a chorus girl wants to wear pink ballet shoes instead of rose coloured ones, I´ll be asked first. Communication will go via Mme.Giry. She´s your contact when I´m not available. If you don´t violate any of my rules, we´ll get along very well. Goodbye, madame! Goodbye, messieurs!"
For a minute after he seemed to have gone there was silence while everyone took in the speech they had just heard. Mme.Giry, who had known most of it from her previous conversation with Erik, was the first to begin to speak. "I guess you don´t need me anymore. You´ll excuse me then. I have an ill daughter to care for.", she told them, turning around. M.André caught her by the hand before she could open the door. "Wait!", he said urgently, throwing her a surprised glance. How could she think about leaving in such a serious situation? "There are so many things we have to discuss."
"Are there?" The ballet teacher looked annoyed. "You´ve decided to stage the Ghost´s opera the way he wants it. So everything is clear: We´ll continue rehearsing, and the first night will be on the planned evening. With the rest you´ll have to deal on your own. Just don´t forget to inform the press! I was told he likes publicity." With these words she wound out of the man´s grip and left as well.
The managers were even more shocked than before. "He likes publicity.", M.Firmin repeated in a faint whisper. "How shall we explain all this to the press? Instead of a well-known opera we´ll have a strange one written by a ghost, who also happens to be the leading male singer. This ghost has abducted the leading female singer and -" "No one has to find out the details.", his partner assured him with unusual resolution. "We´ve… we´ve come across the opera of an unknown, but very talented composer and decided to give him a chance. People will probably praise us because we´re helping a new talent. " The men´s faces lit up momentarily. This was the solution. But as they looked at each other a second time they grew serious, both of them having the same thought: How on earth should they keep the chorus girls, who loved gossip even more than handsome dancers, from telling everyone the truth?