Disclaimer: I do not own Sherlock. Or the Phantom of the Opera. Pity!
Baffled
"So this girl meets her childhood sweetheart," Sherlock mused. "But he is not any old childhood sweetheart – he is distinguished. A noble man. And he is still in love with her. But she has already fallen for the Phantom. Girls tend to fall for their teachers all the time. That's a fact."
"How do you know?"
"Common knowledge," Sherlock replied. "Besides, it's this old "My Fair Lady" motif all over again. A girl meets an older gentleman, who has knowledge and teaches her, and no matter how rude he is to her, she will definitely fall for him like a ton of bricks. It's psychology. What you hate in the beginning you will love in the end. It's as simple as that."
"And what about her suitor?"
"Oh, he's boring," Sherlock explained. "The Phantom is much more fascinating."
"And defaced," John added, dryly. "Why do you think is he wearing a mask?"
"Defaced?" Sherlock repeated. "Oh, that's even better. He is mystery and danger. Show me one girl, who is not drawn to that!"
John smiled and there was something troubling about that grin.
"What?" Sherlock demanded. "Am I wrong?"
"You have never been more wrong in your life," John said, smoothly.
Wrong? Did he miss something? Should he have paid more attention after all?
And for once, Sherlock was baffled.