the Pug of the Opera

When Erik returned to the flat that was his entrance to the catacombes he found a note in his letterbox, which surprised him. He was absolutely sure that he had paid the rent for this basement appartement, so why would anyone leave a letter? He went inside, locked the door and opened the envelope. The letter was addressed to Erik Cordier and it was written in Farsi.

While Beau occupied the pillow on the narrow bed Erik sat on one of the dusty chairs and read the letter. It was a rather short notice: "Dear Erik, I tried to visit you several times at various times a day, yet you never seem to be at home. I am worried about you. Please tell me when I can visit you. Yours, Nadir."

"Damn it, I forgot that I invited Nadir," Erik told Beau, "It seems I simply have to invite him eventually before he becomes mistrustful and tries to find out something about me."

Too late. It was already too late. A knock at the door alerted Erik to a visitor. With a grumble he opened and found the Daroga who grinned at him triumphantly. "Bonjour, my good friend," the Daroga greeted him, "Finally you seem to come home. Where have you been?"

Erik wanted to close the door in the Persian's face and lock him out, but Beau had other plans - Beau happily greeted Nadir and left the flat to do so. Nadir took the pug in his arms and lifted him up much like he would hold an infant. Beau happily began to play with Nadir's beard. Erik saw that he had no choice, he had to allow Nadir in or he could not get Beau back. "Come in," he grunted, sounding much like the warning growl of a vicious dog.

Nadir ignored him, knowing as long as he held the pug in his arms Erik would not do anything against him because he was sure Erik would never risk any harm to befall his pet. So Nadir looked around, sneezed at the dusty air in the basement flat, and sat down on a chair with Beau at his lap. Beau was still busy playing with Nadir's beard, the dog was absolutely fascinated by the fact that Nadir's beard would not come off like Erik's false beard that was part of his every-day-mask for going out. The dog knew that Erik took off his beared at home but had never touched a real beard before.

"What do you want?" Erik asked, crossing his arms before his chest.

"You invited me, or have you forgotten?" Nadir asked back, finally he figured out that the pug would leave his beard as long as the Persian fondled the pug's ears. Beau gave a happy snore-purr.

"It is custom to ask when it would be convenient to come," Erik snapped back irritated.

Nadir nodded. "I assumed that when I found you weren't at home in the last weeks... if you live here at all, Erik, which I highly doubt."

Erik frowned. "I do live here. I just went on holiday..."

"Holiday? YOU? Erik, stop lying to me. I know you do not live here. The dust may come from a lengthy absence, but you do not live here. I do not know what you need this room for, but you certainly do not actually LIVE here."

"I do."

"No you don't. This room lacks everything that makes a room personal. There is a bed, a table, two chairs and a cupboard and yes, a stove. I even see the dusty piano. But you do NOT live here. You want to know what told me that?"

"Enlighten me."

"No books. I can't imagine you living without books."

"I lend them from the library and bring them back after reading. One doesn't need to buy everything," Erik defended himself.

"If you can afford such fine clothing you certainly do not need to live in such poor environment," Nadir shot back, "Stop lying. You don't really live here."

"Look around, everything is covered in pug-hair, of course Beau and I live here!" Erik insisted.

Nadir laughed. "You come here regularly, that much I admit, but you don't live here. I do not know why you need a false address, but rest assured, I will find out."

Erik sighed. "Very well. I do not really live here. I only use this room when I am in Paris and I am very often somewhere else. I have always been one of the travelling people, as you might know."

Nadir accepted this, for now. He had no evidence that Erik was lying again so he did not argue, but both men knew that the Daroga would not give up. He would try to find out more.

"Since your flat is much more comfortable than mine I suggest we meet at your place in the future," Erik suggested.

"With pleasure."

Erik looked at the dirty windows of his basement flat. He would need to get curtains to make sure Nadir would not follow him here and find out that Erik went into his flat and disappeared from there. Using an automaton to sit on the bed was no option, Nadir would soon find out that "Erik" and the "pug" did not move as they should when he knocked the door. Erik was convinced his old friend would not give up spying on him. With a sigh he sat down on the bed. Beau jumped down from Nadir's lap, onto the bed and began scratching at the pocket of Erik's cloak because he knew Erik had cheese for him there.

Erik laughed and used that as a distraction. He gave Beau commands to show off what the pug could do, like sit, fetch and bring something to Nadir, in this case Erik's handkerchief for he had nothing else he could use for showing off this trick.

"Still the same showman," Nadir laughed, "I didn't know you were an animal trainer too."

"I wasn't until Beau showed up. He's a clever boy and needs to be trained and educated because if he gets bored he tends to cause trouble."

"Like master, like man. Or in this case: dog."

"Are you implying that I am up to something not good?" Erik snapped irritated.

"No, I just pointed out that you are usually up to nothing but mischief if you get bored. Being an independent gentleman does not bore you, does it?"

Erik laughed. "No. I finally have enough time for my music. I like composing you know."

"The dusty piano proves that you have another place to compose. Alright, you don't want to share what you are really doing. But why, Erik? Don't you trust me?"

Erik bit his lip. Of course he knew he was indebted to Nadir for saving his life, but he still did not want to tell Nadir the truth. "Very well," he sighed, "I do trust you. It is correct that I don't live here, I usually prefer to stay at a hotel because that's far more comfortable. But a man needs some address to receive his mail, that's why I got a cheap flat. Why waste money on a flat I use only seldom?"

"And... where did you get your money?" Nadir had to ask.

Erik rolled his eyes. "I was a building contractor, I made enough money to live the rest of my life. Don't worry about me."

"If you were a building contractor, what buildings did you build?" Nadir knew that with simple houses one would not become rich enough to retire early like Erik did.

"I build the opera house," Erik replied, "My company was quite large before or I would never have won that contract. They checked if I was able to fulfill the contract, I already had enough workers."

Nadir's eyes widened. "You worked under Garnier? Now THAT explains much. But why did you sell your company? You always loved building, why retire?"

"Because I wanted to concentrate on my music, you mistrustful fool!" Erik snapped, "And now kindly leave me in peace. Please. I am tired of being interrogated when I did nothing wrong. Nadir, you are not my warden, you are not responsible to keep me in line here. I am an honest gentleman now and I do not deserve your mistrust. Kindly leave me alone. If I need something, I will come to you."

Nadir studied Erik for some time, carefully studying Erik's false nose and beard, studying Erik's casual way to play with his pug during their conversation. "You are very lonely, aren't you?" Nadir draw a conclusion, "You need some company. Just know that my door is always open for you - and I will even have cheese for Beau."

The word "cheese" made Beau jump up and rush to Nadir, expecting a treat. Erik laughed. He did not have it in him to disappoint the pug so he reached into his pocket, got out a small piece of cheese and handed it to Nadir. "Here, give that to Beau. You said the word, you have to fulfill your promise."

The Daroga stared at Erik. "This... you don't mean that, do you? You can't let a pug dictate..."

"Just give him the treat," Erik sighed wearily, "or he will be sad. Now look - he already uncurls his tail. You cannot really mean to make him unhappy."

Nadir had to laugh but did as he was told, Beau was so greedy he barely missed Nadir's fingers as he took the cheese. "He trained you well, didn't he? I am glad you have your pug, Erik, he brings out the best in you. I think Beau likes me, doesn't he? Maybe we could have a walk in the park together eventually? Just come to me and then we go for a walk with him together."

Erik laughed. What a clever way to try to manipulate him. Nadir surely had found out Beau was his weakness. "It will be my pleasure."

XXXXXXXXX
Thank you for reading and please leave a review.