"Oh, thank you for picking her up for me," Adele says to Nadir, taking the small cane-sided case from him. Setting the case on her rosewood desk, she unlatches the carrier to release Isis.

Taking her time coming out, the tuxedo cat assesses the situation. After a short hiss at the daroga, she rubs her head against Adele's hand and jumps off the desk. Scampering across the floor, she finds the woven basket holding a bed set up for her in a corner under the armoire. After circling three times, she promptly falls asleep.

"I see she does not share your gratitude for my delivering her to you."

Adele laughs. "The hiss?"

He grunts.

"She does not like the carrier and likely blames you for her confinement," Adele says. "Did Erik give you the dried fish treats?"

"Holding out a paper sack to her," he says, "this is what he gave me."

Removing a glass jar from the bag, Adele says, "Give her one of these when she wakes and she will love you for life."

"I am not certain I will return the affection, but if offering a bit of fish will protect me from scratches and bites, I will be satisfied."

"Sit down, please. May I offer you some tea?" She asks. "I just prepared a pot and am anxious to learn what happened during your talk with Erik. To be honest, I have been on edge since you told me about Phillippe's interest.

"I am investigating the vicomte's death."

A chill of fear ran up her back. The young man was still proving to be a disruption to the order she attempts to maintain at the opera house. Even Erik's foolish pranks did not match the harm the foolhardy young man created. "Why? I thought the matter was settled."

"The Comte de Chagny has requested it," Nadir said. "I need to tell Erik."

"They are leaving for a short trip," she said, "I will be picking Isis up in Box Five shortly as a matter of fact."

"Then I best go down there and speak with him. He should know this before he goes anywhere."

"He will let you in?"

"He told me if I needed to speak to him about anything, just ring the bell in certain cadence."

"So you will no longer be using Box Five?"

"No. This will save much time and I will no longer need to bother you."

"It has been no bother."

"Even so. I should hate you to think I only come here for you to act as a go-between."

While the man with the exotic appearance, velvet voice and deep green eyes has shown her a great deal of attention, she cannot be certain if this is for her as a woman or merely to gain information. He was likely as courtly to strangers. With Christine, he was especially gracious and kind. And, yet, perhaps, there is an interest.

"It is fortunate I stopped by, saved you the chore of picking up the cat – I might have missed him," he says. "You are quite generous to be a messenger for him, I might have told him no a long time ago."

"Oh, he is most generous about that. While my salary is adequate, running errands for Erik has us quite comfortable."

Feeling her face flush, she turns away from him to attend to the tea. Her heart is fluttering – a feeling old and familiar – the emphasis on old – disturbs her. The discussion of her finances is also uncomfortable. Why had she even mentioned such a personal matter? What must he think of her?

"Then I robbed you of a fee?" Nadir says, getting up to follow her to the armoire, helping with the tea, then carrying the tray back to the coffee table. "I should know enough about the nature of this place to know many here have to share expenses. I am sorry."

"Please, I am fine. They pay well enough and my daughter has her salary," Adele says quickly. In truth, Erik's generosity enables them to have a nice flat instead of having to share with other dancers.

"I will need a messenger – for communications between the managers and myself."

"That would not be a problem," she replied with a smirk. "They are rather foolish almost like something you would see at La Comédie-Française."

"Would you also be able to help with some household errands?"

There was something in his voice suggesting this was a question he would rather not ask. While he never really spoke about his past, she could only imagine the difficulties he encountered. Why on earth would he choose to live below ground if life in the world was friendly.

"Of course, whatever you need."

"This is purely a business transaction – I do not expect you to work…and this is definitely a job – without being reimbursed."

"Really, no, I am pleased you trust me. I would not have my position here without your assistance."

"My dear, Adele, your friendship has allowed me to live in peace here. You work hard and deserve to be reimbursed for any chores I might ask of you beyond that friendship. The 20,000 francs I receive for my services is partly owed to you and I mean you to partake in my good fortune."

"Very well, I must admit a little extra each month will be welcomed."

"Good."

"We are fine."

"Even so," Nadir says reaching into the pocket of his waistcoat to take out his purse.

"Please, do not insult me. I told you we are fine," she snaps, her black eyes flashing. The last thing she wanted from this man was his pity. There has been enough of that in her life.

"Such a wonderful dancer," Louis said, his pale blue eyes smiling down on her. Even with her above average height, he seemed to tower over her.

"Such a wonderful trumpeter."

Foolish to consider a flirtation with a musician – Louis Giry barely made as much as she, likely less – and yet, his sweet smile and pale good looks, stirred her heart. Whereas the patrons said many of the same words with likely the same intent, Louis brought a thrill. Perhaps his poverty was attractive in and of itself. With the others, she was aware she would be little more than chattel if the affair went beyond a single night.

The romance was short-lived in any event. A rushed marriage – for there was a marriage – ended with Louis slipping and falling on the horse manure under the wheels of a large coach. With no money to give him a proper burial – what money she had must be saved for her and their young child – the priests buried him.

"And I accuse Erik of being insensitive," he says, a red flush colors his cheeks as he returns the purse to his pocket. "I am a damned fool. I apologize. Please forgive me."

Waving him off along with the memory, she pushes the sugar bowl toward him. "Have your tea. Tell about your meeting."

After a long moment studying her, he pours his tea, placing a number of sugar cubes on the saucer and says, "I believe he is more anxious about returning to his place of birth than Phillippe. He told me to go forward with the investigation," Nadir chuckles.

"I suppose that is good. Is it not?" Taking a sip of her own tea, she adds sugar taking her time to stir until the cube is melted. "I mean, it is fortunate you have the assignment since you know what actually happened."

"Understandably, I will not be telling him the truth."

"Of course not," she agrees. "Why does the Comte not believe the Vicomte was robbed?"

"Mlle. Daae…he saw the banns. Apparently his brother told him she was betrothed to him and he has it in his head Raoul met with foul play because of her involvement with another man."

"Well, he is correct in a sense," she says with a smirk. "So, he believes Erik killed Raoul?"

"Something like that," Nadir says. "He was asking around on his own, but, as you can expect, no one here is going to tell him anything. Which is why he went to the magistrate."

"What are you going to do?"

"Well, I thought I might set up an interview with you."

Choking on her tea, she places her cup down and coughs into her napkin. "Me?" she asks, recovering her voice. "Why me?"

"One thing he did find out was Mlle. Daae was living with you for a time before her disappearance."

"He knows that?"

"The entire city knew about her disappearance as you recall," he reminds her. "The managers were quite excited about it once the shock faded. It was M. Andre who told him about her living circumstances."

"Of course he would…man has no sense of confidentiality." The sneer on her face only emphasizes the disdain she feels for her superiors. "Even if she was kidnapped as was first supposed, why suspect Erik?"

"Everyone believes the Opera Ghost kidnapped her."

"But that rumor has been dispelled? "

"Not entirely."

"So he has been questioning the staff and performers here?"

"The only ones bound to secrecy are Jacques and Albert – you should know better than anyone how people love to gossip, and Christine's story is quite fascinating."

"I did wonder what all the whispering has been about lately," she says, frowning. "I must have a word with my daughter. She has been completely silent on the matter."

"One other thing – he has tried to track down an Erik Saint-Rien and no one seems to have ever heard of him."

"Then he obviously did not contact Charles Garnier," Adele sniffs.

"Why would he?"

"Erik was his assistant. He helped design and build this place," she says. "Of course you would not know, only Charles knows…and me. Erik told him he need not use his name – possibly for this very reason – someone trying to track him down."

Nadir shakes his head. "I should have, I suppose. The passages in the walls and the mirrors – all very Erik," he laughs. "Even so, there is something particularly dull minded about nobility – there is no reason to think Phillippe would make the connection between someone haunting a building – be it a ghost or real person and the fact the person might have helped create the space it was haunting. I did not and I am relatively clever."

"Odd he has not asked to speak to me after learning about Christine's connection to me from the managers," she says.

"You are a woman."

"Just so."

"I need to you speak to him."

"I would rather not, I am glad he has avoided me."

"You are the perfect person for him to interview."

"And tell him what?"

"Everything about Raoul's behavior…the drinking…the hounding of Christine…"

"Buquet?"

Nadir sighs deeply, before shaking his head. "I think it best not to bring any of that up – just his drunkenness…being a nuisance."

A surprising rage rises within her at the irony of the situation. "He believes Erik – the man Christine is betrothed to killed his brother – but he cannot know his brother actually tried to kill Erik and another man to boot?"

"I understand your anger, but I doubt it would serve Erik in bringing Raoul's involvement with Buquet up...and we have already addressed the issue about how Raoul did die."

"So then what am I supposed to say?"

"The truth…of sorts…he come from out of the city…near Rouen…she met him through her father…you will think of something."

"Not a patron?"

The daroga shakes his head. "Best he stay a stranger. I rather like keeping the idea of a ghost alive, just in case."

"So she was not kidnapped?"

"No," Nadir smiles. "Much like the vicomte appeared on the night of her debut, so, then, did the man from her past."

Adele sighs. "Oh, dear. How long do I have to come up with a story."

Nadir checks his watch. "An hour. You will be fine."