"Did the interview go well with the Comte?" Nadir asks, standing in the doorway.

"Close the door!" Adele exclaims, struggling to find her staff.

"Why the caution?" he asks, waving at her to sit down.

"Isis."

Nadir frowns as he walks over to the armoire where the tea things are kept. Feeling the kettle, he adds water and turns on the hot plate. Looking down he sees a pair of emerald green eyes looking up at him from the basket on the floor. "Oh. Well she seems quite content in her bed."

"She only just settled down, I am afraid Phillippe quite terrified the poor thing." The concern for the cat evident in her moue, followed by, "poor little girl. Poor kitty."

"What happened?" Satisfied with the tea preparations, Nadir makes his way to the green brocade sofa and sits down.

"I was explaining how Christine came to know Erik…"

"You say he worked with Charles Garnier?" Phillippe raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Indeed, he was quite instrumental in the architectural work."

Phillippe's brows furrowed, then his face brightened. "I recall now. The name Saint-Rien I discovered was of a builder in Rouen, except they claimed no knowledge of a family member by the name of Erik. No one by that name is credited with the Palais Garnier."

"From what I understand, he did not want that sort of recognition. I never discussed his background, but he was most definitely involved with the building of the opera house."

"Odd, who does not want fame…especially in something of this magnitude."

"I just know what I told you." Adele never quite understood that herself. Everything about Erik revolved around his face, so he may have simply been wary about the press hounding him. From what he told her, Charles agreed he could build the house in the fifth cellar and would never be in debt. Pressing further led to nothing more than a stern look and silence.

"Even so, what does that have to do with Mlle. Daae?" Phillippe asked, taking out a handkerchief to wipe his nose. "The grand opening was years ago?"

"As it turns out Erik was also a talented musician and he was impressed with her voice and became her teacher."

"An architect and a musician? Quite the fellow."

"Indeed, he is."

"Wealthy, too, I suspect."

"Yes."

"So a patron."

"Much like yourself, M. Comte," Adele smiled sweetly.

"Close to my age, I suspect, based on what you have told me."

"Perhaps a bit older."

"Raoul was handsome and wealthy…and young." Sneezing, then dabbing at his eyes, he said, "You must excuse me, I seem to have a touch of le grippe."

"I am sorry you are not feeling well."

A wave of the handkerchief dismissed her concern. "I wonder why she would prefer someone so much older."

"You would have to ask her, but my experience with your brother, if you will allow me to be frank…"

"Of course."

The cross look he gave her said otherwise, but she decided to continue. "The Vicomte was somewhat rash and impulsive…"

"Yes, he was that…still they were quite enamored of one another."

"Years ago…and if you will forgive me for saying so…you have been so gracious, I hate to presume…"

"Spit it out, woman," Phillippe said, sneezing into the already well-used square of linen.

"There was a considerable disparity in status."

Phillippe sighed and nodded. "I told Raoul then to forget the girl then. I repeated the same instruction not that long ago. I should have let it be…had I been more agreeable perhaps he would not have died."

Even though her heart filled with compassion, she could not tell him it was not his fault – there was no reasoning with his brother who was hell-bent on creating havoc. All she could say was, "She was committed to Erik."

Rising from her chair, she attends to the whistling kettle and prepares their tea.

"That is all? What about the cat?"

"At some point Isis awakened from her nap and wandered over to the chaise, where you now sit. The Comte sneezed quite loudly, not once but several times," Adele says with a low chuckle.

"The cat affected him so?"

"Apparently. When he saw her he threw his napkin at her frightening the poor dear."

"Horrible creature! Why did you not tell me you had a cat? I should have known when my eyes started watering the minute I walked in here – then the sneezing."

"It did not occur to me."

"Who has a cat in a theater?"

"Cats are quite well known to inhabit theaters, M. Comte."

"Beastly creatures make me ill. I could have died!" he cried as he rose from the chaise. Grabbing his hat, he ran from the room.

"Hmmm, I have heard of that with cats…some other animals as well. Difficulty breathing. I did not see him leave, I half expected him to still be here."

"You were watching?'

"Of course…I wished to speak with him…find out if he still wished to proceed with the investigation," he explains. "He must have used a different exit."

"Yes, well I suppose that was the case." The tea prepared, she says, "I have some meringues…would they interest you…in addition to the sugar cubes, of course?"

"You mock me for my sugar cubes but meringues are simply sugar disguised as cookies."

"They are food…made with egg whites as well as sugar. They have texture and density and flavor."

"The cubes have flavor when dipped in the tea…but, if you insist, I shall have some of the food as you call them."

Carrying the tray to the coffee table, she sets it down and sits in the visitor's chair across from him. "Well, I suppose if he believed he was about to die, it makes sense he ran from the room."

"Do you think you convinced him of Erik's innocence?"

"I hope I convinced him Christine chose Erik over Raoul, but one never knows."

"Well, now the interview is over, I have an idea."

"What might that be?" Adele looks at him over the rim of her teacup.

"A short journey."

"Where?"

"Rouen…Saint Martin de Boucherville."

Adele frowns.

"That is where Erik is."

"Precisely."

"Why?"

"To give him the good news," Nadir says. "I will submit my report to the magistrate and we can leave tomorrow morning."

"What of Isis?"

"Your daughter could care for her…or I suppose we could take her with us – it is little more than a day trip."

"Just show up?"

"I can send a message ahead."

"What if there are no accommodations?"

"We are not going into the wilderness."

"What do you think, Isis?" Adele asks the cat, now sitting comfortably next to Nadir on the couch. "She appears to be taken with you."

"I am not sure why."

"Probably because you do not seem fond of her," Adele laughs. "Cats are like that. Since she seems agreeable, I suppose a trip would be quite pleasant."

"Good," the Persian says, slapping his knee. "I shall finish my tea and make my report and make arrangements, including notifying Erik."

"Do you really think we are done with Phillippe?"

"While I understand his instincts…which are correct. The man is no fool…he is better off believing his brother died as he was told, rather than knowing what really happened."

"Truly?"

"And what really happened?" The door opens and Phillippe steps a part way into the room, his pale blue eyes searching for the cat. "I believe knowing the circumstances is why you are being paid."

Adele gasps in surprise, recovering quickly to say, "Please close the door, M. le Comte. I realize you are concerned about your affliction, but I will not condone Isis escaping. We can discuss your rude eavesdropping later."

Removing his hat and nodding to Adele, he smirks at her as he closes the door. "As you wish, Madame. I could have your job for your comments, however, I have always admired women who speak their minds. I will, however, continue to stand here." Turning his gaze to Nadir, he says, "I do believe what M. Giry told me about the romantic relationship Mlle. Daae has with M. Saint-Rien. Much time has passed since she was enamored with my brother. Raoul may have been somewhat impetuous in his assumption about her reciprocal feelings. However, that still does not answer how he really died."

"Please M. le Comte, sit down," Adele says. "I shall put Isis in her carrier…away from the door."

"Perhaps you could do that and I could continue to stand by an open door. Trust me, my aversion to the animal is not irrational. I apologize for my abrupt departure but needed fresh air. It would appear my leaving offered the opportunity to learn more than you were likely to share earlier."

"Yes, of course," she replies.

Phillippe stands, hands folded in front of him. His eyes looking in the distance as Adele accomplishes her task. Once the cat is secured, he opens the door, taking a deep breath. "And, now, M. Khan, what happened to my brother?"

Nadir loads their tea things on the tray and carries them to the armoire.

"I shall clean them up," Adele says. "He took the news quite well, everything considered."

"Yes," Nadir says. "I wish he had not been so insistent in knowing the truth. The truth can be quite painful. I cannot imagine how painful the knowledge his brother attempted not one, but two murders is."

"I suspect he knew about Erik – perhaps not the precise circumstances. Buquet was likely a complete shock."

"True."

"At least he will not continue pursuing this with the magistrate."

"Yes," Nadir agrees. "I will make my report tomorrow, then we can take our trip."

"Erik will be relieved."

"Yes…and Mlle. Christine. I feel sorry for le Comte," he says, touching her shoulder gently as he walks to the door.

"I, too," Adele agrees. "A good man – not always the case with these noble folks."

"Wealth and titles do tend to have a bad effect on the personalities of many," Nadir chuckles. "I shall see you in the morning then?"

"In the morning."