Chapter Five: The Diva of the Opera
The day after the gala performance, Raoul received an anonymous note.
Do not fear for Mademoiselle Daaé's safety. The Angel of Music is ensuring her protection. Do not see her again, or a catastrophe beyond your imagination will occur.
The only thing Raoul could think of was the conversation he overheard from outside her dressing room door, but he dismissed it. Raoul asked everyone he could think of about Christine's whereabouts. It finally came down to the managers: Firmin and André.
When he burst into the managers' office later that day, Firmin and André were sitting at their desks reading memorandums. Copies of the Le Temps newspaper lay on their desks. The front headline read "Mystery after Gala Flight", an article written by the journalist Sûreté.
"Where is she?" Raoul demanded.
"Who are you talking about?" André replied, irritated. "Carlotta?"
Raoul composed himself. "I am speaking of Christine Daaé, who has been missing for an entire day."
Firmin threw down the notes he was holding. "I have no idea, and the journalists are eating it up. We've been made into a laughing-stock."
"If you do not know her whereabouts, how do you explain this note?" Raoul replied, holding up the mysterious message. André snatched the note from Raoul's hand and skimmed it. "If you sent it, I trust you know the secret of her location, monsieurs."
"Why on earth would we send threatening letters if we didn't even know where the girl was?" Firmin snapped. "How—"
Carlotta flung open the door and stormed in, Piangi following her like a pampered dog. "Where is he?" Carlotta cried.
"It's good to see you too, signora," André muttered dryly.
Carlotta caught sight of Raoul and shrieked a curse. "You! You hide behind your status as patron, and you dare to send me a note threatening my career!" She looked ready to strangle Raoul with her fur scarf. If the situation was under different circumstances— and Raoul not her target— he might have found the situation amusing.
As it was, he replied with sarcasm. "Of course I would send a note telling you to destroy your career! What do you think?"
"Why would you send it if not to support that dancer?" Carlotta spat out the word as if it were the worst insult imaginable and thrust the note in his hand.
Your days at the opera house are numbered, signora. If you attempt to replace Mademoiselle Daaé tonight in the lead role tonight, a great misfortune shall occur to you.
Firmin sighed loudly. "Enough! Monsieurs, signora, will everyone please leave the office?" André aided him in attempting to lead everyone out of the room. They opened the door to see Madame Giry and Meg standing in the hallway.
Madame Giry spoke. "Mademoiselle Daaé has returned, monsieurs."
"Where is she?" Raoul asked immediately. "May I speak with her?"
"She returned to her home to rest, lord vicomte," Meg said, curtsying quickly. "She will speak with no one."
"Will she sing tonight?" Carlotta said, Piangi looking eagerly over her shoulder.
"I do not know, signora, signor." Madame Giry raised her hand to reveal a note. Firmin groaned and took it from her hand.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," he read. "I have sent several memorandums describing how my theatre should be run. However, it seems my requests are not being fulfilled. I will give you one more chance. They must be accomplished by this evening's performance of Il Muto.
"I assume Madame Giry has told you of Mademoiselle Daaé's return. She has returned for the purpose of taking Signora Giudicelli's place as the lead in the performance. Mademoiselle Daaé will be performing the role of the Countess, while Signora Giudicelli will be in the role of Serafimo the Pageboy— the silent role.
"I will be attending the performance from my customary seat in Box Five. Fulfill these requests, and a disaster will not occur tonight."
"I told you!" Carlotta exclaimed. "The patron, the dancer's lover, is behind this! It is a ploy to further Christine's career and replace me! Traditori! Mentitori! Tu mi hai abbandonato, caduto in disgrazia a me, mi ha lasciato a morire!"
She turned and shoving past them all, burst out of the office to the foyer. The managers and Piangi followed her.
"Signora, wait!" André called after her. "We have not replaced you, signora!"
Firmin stopped Carlotta. "You will perform the lead tonight! Christine will be in the silent role!"
"You cannot attempt to please me! You have gone too far!" Carlotta cried. Without warning, she collapsed into Piangi's arms and began to sob.
"Your public, you devotees, you supporters, they need you!" André said. "They have been waiting for you to perform, signora!"
He elbowed Firmin. Firmin said in a hurried, unconvincing voice, "We need you, too!"
"Am I just a replacement until your precious ingénue can perform again?" Carlotta spat.
"No, signora! The world wants to see their prima donna perform. Show them you cannot be beaten down."
"The audience will be on their knees, begging you to sing for them!" André said. "They will be shouting your name; the lines leading to the opera doors will be miles long!"
Carlotta looked up slowly. "Truly, monsieurs? Christine will not perform tonight?"
"Of course, signora! The public wants to see you onstage, not a chorus girl! You will shine during the finale of numerous encores!"
Raoul turned to Madame Giry. He spoke quietly. "Is there any way these demands could be rejected?"
She shook her head. "Not that I know of. The managers will make a grave mistake if they cast Signora Giudicelli in the lead."
Carlotta finally composed herself and flounced away, singing to her heart's content. The managers turned to Raoul.
"I'm not completely sure you are innocent," André said slyly. "You must have been with the girl. There's no other explanation."
Raoul was incensed. "Why on earth would you think I sent those notes? I had nothing to do with it!"
"I told you he would demur," Firmin said in a smug tone.
"I will be in Box Five for the performance," Raoul continued, ignoring Firmin's comment. "I will make sure Mademoiselle Daaé is safe, which is more than you can do, monsieurs." However rash his words were, Raoul knew the managers would not rebuke him; they needed his money. Even so, he decided to leave as quickly as possible.
I hope I made some sense from the chaos that is "Prima Donna". The song is wonderful, but I can never understand what is going on.