Chapter 3

During the following weeks they rehearsed Tintomara, Eugen Onegin, The marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni by Mozart. Sergej Vasilov came up with idea for the latter, as he wanted to perform the title role and also wanted to hear Elisabeth as Zerlina. Maryshka talked to Erik about a rumour that had started in the orchestra. One of the musicians had been working at the Opera populaire back in 1880, when the opera house had been haunted by the infamous Phantom of the opera, and now as he saw mr Leroux, seeing him wearing a mask and learned he came from Paris, he told his colleagues that this could perhaps be the same man. 'A composer too, he is. Hope nothing will happen here. Watch out for him'. "I am used to this" Erik told Maryshka. "People are not used to see a man wearing a mask and they think the worst of it. I hope the rumour will not spread." –"Can you tell me if there is any truth in it? Or don't you trust me?" – "Let's just say I'm not here to do any harm. You can all be safe."

Elisabeth had a lot to do and since the ball they had not attended any more ballet performances. One afternoon when she was heading for the tea salon Michail caught up with her. "Elisabeth, I have not seen you since new years eve. How are you? " – "I'm just fine. Much to do right now, totally tied up in rehearsals. And you?" – "I have missed you. Can we walk this way? Not so much people here." They walked slowly. "Tell me what you do" he said. "I rehearse Tatiana and Zerlina. I'll be ready to sing in a month or so. At the same time I rehearse Tintomara with the rest of the ensemble. Then we will stay to perform for a while. I presume we stay in Moscow until the end of April." – "I'm pleased as long as you stay" he said in a low voice. "Will you come to the performance tonight? It's Giselle, a classic ballet. You have to see it. Anna and I are in it, as usual." – "Of course I will come. I'll ask Sonja to join me."- "You have become friends? A very nice girl. We dated for a while. Now she has a suitor with title and money. " –"Whom she finds boring. She still likes you." – "I can see that. But I'm restless, I look for new views. Be kind to me, Elisabeth, don't flee from me." She stopped. "Perhaps that's just what I should. Now I have to go back to the rehearsal anyway. See you tonight." And she fled. Later she asked Sonja "I would like to go to the ballet tonight, but I don't want to ask Erik – I'm afraid he will think I'm going there just to look at Michail." – "I'll solve this for you. I will ask Erik to come with me and say that you could come too." Now the problem was solved anyway, since Dimitrij invited them all to his box. "This is a classical piece you can't miss" he said. Elisabeth and Sonja watched Michail perform, their eyes met and they knew they were having the same thoughts. Afterwards they went backstage as usual. Anna breathed heavily after the performance and Dimitrij went up to her and hugged her. "You made a great performance, my child." She went the few steps up to Erik, a little clumsy in her toe-dancing shoes. "How did you like it?" – "Great. Very poetic. You were splendid." She stod beside him and he put his hand on her shoulder and gave her an encouraging touch, just a little.

The premier of The marriage of Figaro came closer and Elisabeth had made it a habit to visit the Winter garden to relax between rehearsals. She enjoyed the scents of the many flowers. One day Michail showed up. "I see you have begun to come here. Hoping to meet me?" – "I enjoy very much to be here. But of course, I also hope to meet you. Can we just walk and talk? Tell me a little about yourself." They walked for a long while, enjoying each other's company.

The night before the premier Sonja invited Elisabeth to her home and Erik stayed at the opera house to work on a new composition, inspired by Russian folk music. There was no performance at all this evening and the house was empty and quiet. He heard his music, which he played on the organ, echoing through the building. Suddenly there was loud noice and he heard feet running. They came nearer and a person entered the room in haste, dressed all in black with a scarf around head and face. A breathless woman's voice said "Hide me! Quickly!" She looked around and Erik recognized Anna. "Can I hide in the organ?" She squeezed in behind the keyboard. He rose but sat down again as he heard heavy steps outside the door. Three armed men in uniform entered the room. They looked around and one of them spoke to Erik in Russian. He answered in French. They tried again in German "We are searching for a person who disappeared into this building. Probably a woman. Have you seen her?" – "No. What has she done?" –"There has been an attempt to assassinate the tsar. Fortunately it failed. The assassins fled in all directions and one of them run in here. You haven't heard anything?" –"Perhaps I heard someone passing, I'm not sure. I haven't seen anyone." – "Will you excuse us while we search?" They looked behind curtains and furniture. Erik sat down by the organ and began to play, softly. After a while they went to the door. "We understand you are foreign and do not understand these things. But it's very important that the assassins get caught." They left and Erik rose and closed the door behind them. Anna climbed out, hands covering her ears. "Did you have to play?" – "To distract them. You are in no position to complain, instead you should be grateful to me for not turning you in. And you owe me an explanation." She sat down on the chair, still a little out of breath. She took off her scarf. He cheeks were red. "It's just like they said. There has been an attempt to assassinate the tsar and we were hunted in all directions. I happened to come here. It was my luck that you were here." Erik took another chair and sat down beside her. "Are you doing these things for real? It must be highly dangerous. What could you have accomplished tonight?" She opened her coat and showed a small pistol. "Something." – "But why?" She looked at him for a while. "I want justice. My father.. he was a poor peasant. He worked and he worked and still he was always poor. He died working..and there are so many rich people living good lives. " – "So you support a revolution? How did you manage to climb in the world?" – "A girl has means. I met Michail in an underground association, he lent me money and helped me with my education. I have repaid him all. But he would never do a thing like this. He just helps printing leaflets." – "Now you associate with the upper classes?" – "There are good people among them too." Erik rose from his chair. "For me, life has not always been good." Anna rose too. "So I have understood" she said. "You can talk to me about it any time, if you like. I would be flattered if you confide in me." – "Is it safe for you to go home now?" – "I go and change to my ordinary clothers, then I'm not a suspect." Erik looked at her. "Do you and Michail have a relationship?" – "No. We are just like brother and sister. I have not found the time to fall in love yet. Although.." she looked at him for a while " it might happen all of a sudden." She left the room. Erik felt bewildered – he had not expected this from this fair blond lady, though she hid more under the surface than she showed. He sat down to compose and ode for this daugher of the revolution. He kept this meeting a secret and didn't even tell Elisabeth what had happened.