The Phantom of the Opera
By Gaston Leroux
I wish I had the lost chapter, from what I read, it fills in some blanks, but I'll be happy to check this out, since I enjoyed the Royal Albert Hall movie. The author/narrator makes note of the reality of the phantom and it not having been a man hysterical fantasy shared by those working and playing at the theater. Upon the Narrator's research, the oddities had only occurred 3 decades before, witnesses still able to relate the horrible story vividly. Narrator's suspicions eventually yielding proof, the day of which having started with looking through a manager's memoirs of the opera house, this man having taken many opportunities to joke about the phantom until the money "operation" involving the magical envelope.
N leaves temporarily and meets the current manager with the missing, now found "examining" lawman in the case, Monsieur Faure. they chat about it much of the night and believed the viscount's craziness along with the drowning of his brother being innocent, due to no evidence, but agrees it was a horrible occurrence involving the 2 and Christine Daaé. Faure responds with levity when q'd what he believed of the phantom, having heard the testimony of the "Persian", and saw him as a "visionary". N next locates and chats to the Persian a handful of months before his death, the last of his doubts dying with the Persian's physical proof, a letter determined to having been written by Christine.
He'd received another letter advising him to present his findings publicly, and he'd also seen a body found in the phantom's home, he believing it to be the phantom's ID, not bothered by the press saying otherwise. Pausing to thank some key players who'd helped him piece together this story, he'd eventually return to the subj. of the body. The night of the big celebratory presentation for the 3 managers retiring showed La Sorelli, 1 of the lead dancers memorizing her speech to the mannys when an influx of dancers barged into her room with the excuse of "the ghost", locking themselves in. Even though Sorelli believed, she insulted the girl before immediately requesting specifics, the group having seen him in a passage, appearing in front of them.
This'd been occurring for some months, now, the phantom popping out humorously and otherwise, it novelty for the ballet girls to blame all practical jokes pull on them and bad luck they had, on the phantom. 1 man, Joseph Buquet, who actually viewed the phantom shared with anyone of his experience, with such specifics and level-headedness, it still was dismissed til weird shit started going down, like when a fireman'd come to inspect the cellars, and'd been chased out by a floating, be-flamed skull. This differing description puts the ballet girls into an uproar, then agreeing the phantom had multiple heads, little Jammes soon has the whole rom silent as she bid they listen, looking scared af. Everyone hears the noise silk makes over the panel of the door.
Sorelli bravely opens the door despite the others wishing to remain locked inside, but no one is seen. This spurs Jammes to reiterate they actually having seen the phantom, despite she not finding anyone, Jammes also suggesting they stick together when they go to hear the speech and on the way back. Another girl, Giry is harped at until revealing what she'd been told by her ma about the phantom and his box, no one believing her at first. Then, Jammes/Cecile's ma bursts in and sits down quickly, she confiding Joseph Buquet had been found hanging in the basement, this news receiving another outburst from them, Giry blurting it must be the phantom, attempting to take it back, but the other girls running with it, the true reason behind Buquet's death, still officially unknown.
In the memoirs it is referenced, apparently 1 of the retiring manny's had seen him hanging and when they returned to cut his noose, the rope vanished, which obv. meant someone was invested in making certain the rope wasn't discovered, and time'd prove the narrator's good sense. The girls then were led by Sorelli up to the foyer. The group runs into Comte de Chagny, he surprised they'd heard about Buquet so fast, and not to mention it to the retiring mannys. Many people were already waiting, including Christine, they each having a part in the gala which was skillfully crafted.
The focus, ofc. was Christine's inconceivable turn around in vocal abilities, and this coming with Carlotta, the diva's not having attended today, but no one could get over how she'd pulled it off, not having a coach currently, and'd claimed to always having the thought to train. Meanwhile, Comte de Chagny is hearing their chat from his box, handsome, but cold, despite being terribly kind, helping his siblings justifiably well, his 2 sisters being given a piece of his inheritance, upon the 2 marrying, and his little brother becoming a seafarer, and was now readying for quite a trying expedition in the arctic. He was 21, but looked 18, a baby face and skin like a girl. The comte's bro, Raoul is pale as he notes the woman was fainting, the comte reminiscing how Sorelli'd ask him to keep her company til she went on stage, what with her mother dying recently.
Instead of meeting Sorelli, he walks with Raoul to Christine's room, and after watching whilst a doc and another attempt to revive her, Raoul suggests the room be cleared, Comte suspecting his bro and Christine had a thing going, so he discovers Sorelli with the ballet girls, still. Back with Christine, she comes to and asks who he was, the way he intros himself being a reminder of when he was younger, he'd returned her scarf from the ocean, all 3 present tickled by this, and so he requests private chat with her, due to her not recollecting him, to explain, but she asking to do so when she'd had recuperation time, feeling energized, and wishing to be left alone, so Raoul and the doc leave, the former waiting in the emptied area, and upon seeing the maid exit, asks how Christine is, the maid confirming she was better, but wished for solitude. This made Raoul suspect she meant to be by herself for him, but when he places his ear next to the door to hear her response from his knock, he hears a man speak of she having to love him, and her response is tinged with sadness as she reproaches his q with how she sang just for him. Raoul is heart stricken as he hears the 2 chat, he complimenting Christine on her skill this evening, Raoul then backing off to his former hidden spot to see the man he now despised come out, but only Christine is seen exiting, leaving her door unlocked.
Raoul looks inside and finds no one else, once leaving, he's hit with a cold wind to the face and finds himself at the start of a staircase, workmen carrying out a stretcher with Buquet's body, on their way out. Whilst this occurs, the mannys farewells were happening, Sorelli waiting to get her mo. to share her speech, whilst 15 year old Jammes seemed to have forgotten all the darkness which'd been felt for so long. Soreli calms her when the mannys appear in the foyer. The 2 truly Parisian by not showing their sadness for leaving, Paris taking rules of party etiquette seriously.
So, they beamed too brightly as Sorelli began, but all masks dropping when Jammes shouts of the Phantom, upsetting Giry, and Sorelli annoyed for not being able to finish, the mannys having to go to the singers floor next, and after, to their personal guests, the Phantom vanishing within the crowd. The new mannys changed the tone, but not for long since as the 100s of keys to the opera house is being passed about, the Phantom reappears sitting between 2 guests at the mannys table, acting cool, each manny's guests believing he was with the opposite party of the retiring and new mannys, so no one hassles him for goosebumps. The Narrator refers to Moncharmin's memoirs of their chat with the retiring mannys after about neither side knowing the masked fella. The Phantom eventually speaks and Debienne and Poligny are shaken to learn of Buquet's passing, they retreating with the other 2 mannys to their office, with a feeble reason to their guests.
Moncharmin's memoirs takes over, Debienne and Poligny advising they change all the locks, the new mannys taking their graveness lightly at first, but the retiring mannys asking for attentiveness as they detail what the Phantom bid of them. The new mannys pretend to be solemn, but can't help cracking up again, asking for specifics, and Poligny getting the memorandum book, with 4 policy rules, paying $240k/per year, his box to be reserved indefinitely for the Phantom's use, the new mannys not believing them, so the retiring mannys suggesting they attempt to sell the box, the 4 exiting the room. Moncharmin wasn't an artist, but worked as a silent partner to Richard, the active manny, Moncharmin dedicating his time to his memoirs and allowing Richard to take reign, he having been a composer. So, he also sported anger issues, but the 1st few days being quiet and high spirited, then an odd happening involving letters posted to him in the same writing as the memorandum book.
The contents 1st gives empathy for how busy he must be and looking out for specific budding talent, but then breaks down each name offered as undeserving of the attention, except for Christine, but the manny doing his job as he saw fit, obv. The Phantom then reiterates the necessity of the manny having to reserve his box from here on, since he hadn't been, and if he wanted a happy life, he'd remedy this immediately. The PHantom had also been kind enough to corroborate his letter with the confirming note by the retiring mannys. Moncharmin comes in with an identical letter and asks if they were to believe it wasn't actually being reserved for the retired mannys, so Richard has the box saved for the 2 if it wasn't sold, and it didn't, so he sends both mannys their tickets.
They were kept so busy they didn't see if the retired mannys had taken the box. A letter next morning is sent to both giving thanks, and opinions of performance, as well as the details for the retired mannys last payment, and the start of theirs. A 2nd letter comes from the retired mannys, it declining the tickets and for them to read the final paragraph of the memorandum book, Richard becoming peeved, and the box being sold this evening. A report of an accident occurring in the box is discovered next morning.
It told of the guests being too raucous racketing and eventually being made to leave. Upon getting in touch with the inspector, who wrote the report, they learn the guests'd claimed someone not of their party had occupied the box, but no one being there, Richard becoming angry and calling for the box-keeper, he interrogating whether the inspector'd seen the ghost, he denying this. Giry's ma enters, and wishes to explain, since the retired mannys hadn't regarded her, either, but Richard requests to hear only about the night before, she almost leaving for feeling insulted by his abruptness, but instead relates how she'd heard the ghost before, and 1 man'd even sustained a broken leg from him. She relates the story of the hubby hearing a voice and seeing Saack kissing his wife's palm, hitting him, Saack running down the stairs being what caused his broken limb.
The more ma Giry described, amused the room minus the inspector from experience, ma Giry staying calm and detailing her experiences with the ghost and how he'd requested a stool, he having a lady guest sometimes, and he'd leave her tips, the inspector noting a rule she'd broken, but after they letting her go, the mannys ending her contract with them, the acting manny made to rewrite the inspector's notes, and the 2 would research the box issue personally. Christine doesn't schedule manh private appearances other than 1 for a duchess, she declining all help from Raoul, as well, she writing a message which states of knowing him, and where she'd be, since her pop's death day was tomorrow. Raoul goes after her, a bit late, details of Christine's pop and his musical talent rubbing off on her being shared. She lost her mother when she was 6, and unfortunately for her pop, he doesn't find success.
He and his daughter were at a fair and was playing his violin whilst she sang, and the 2 gaining notice, their benefactors even helping Christine go to school, she and her pop taking a week to perform, they gathering a dedicated following. 1 of them was Raoul, who ran into the ocean after her scarf, and his aunt fussing over his drenched state. This was how Raoul began taking lessons from her pop for violin, the 2 kids begging for stories on their time off. The best tales coming form Christine's pop, who told Norwegian and Swedish folk tales, 1 involving the Angel of Music, Christine taken by the character, a person touched being able to give the experience of being so good as to defy human error.
Christine's pop declares he'd send him to her when he died. First their benefactor's hubby dies, she fueled seemingly solely by their music, Raoul locating her and the 2 having a drawn out chat which doesn't include their puppy lurv, Raoul leaving with regret by knowing she couldn't be his. When her pop perishes, most of her talent went into hibernation, she not making a big splash in school anymore. When Raoul reaches her inn's lobby, she sees him with no shock, and says her pop'd warned her of his coming, whilst she was at mass, Raoul confessing his love, and being met with her embarrassed denial. Raoul wishes she'd take him genuinely, she attempting to relate she'd written him as her kid-self, and hadn't meant it any other way.
This has Raoul flustered and wishing she'd explain her actions to him, revealing what he'd overheard, she becoming pale, then emotional, quite upset by his knowledge. He worries about her as she goes to her room, also curious why she was staying after already doing what she'd come to do. He goes and pays his respects to her pop, seeing the odd sight of human bones stacked against the church. When he goes off to sit by the sea on a cliff, Christine meets him there, then q's if he recollected the Angel of Music, he confirming.
She then confides of this being who he'd heard, her dressing room being where he conducted her lessons, she shocked he'd been able to hear him. When he takes it lights, it upsets her, she again wishing to be alone. She goes to bed without eating downstairs, Raoul about to sleep when he hears her moving from next door, so he gets ready and listens at his door. He then hears her exit, and go downstairs, collecting the key from the landlady, then going out the door.
He follows, and is brought back next morning half frozen for having been discovered on the altar of the church, Christine helping him recover. Next is shared a police report of a Q & A with Raoul, his recollection of following Christine to the church, and how she sped up with the clock striking 15 to midnight, and no one having been in the bright, snow-covered graveyard, but them being confessed by Raoul freely to the cop. Then they hear a familiar song being played perfectly on violin, Christine walking out when it finishes, and Raoul catching the player as he'd entered the church, fainting upon seeing the satanic eyes of the be-skulled man, and not recovering until he'd next seen Christine. Richard and Moncharmin go to view the box from the front row seating, all the boxes a bit darkened, but this not affecting both men seeing a shadow, which they knew the other'd seen with their responding reaction of clutching the other's hand.
The 2 discuss it after leaving the room, and Moncharmin is disappointed their shapes'd been different. Richard sees Ma Giry, and he viewing the skull, neither being discovered upon checking the box. Once both men'd fully moved the chairs, and analyzed the box, Richard suggests they occupy the box for their next show of Faust. (This is now reminding me of Dracula, with the diary formula, quite sucking ya inward-like) Saturday morning brought the mannys a letter from the Phantom which threatens repercussions if they don't hire back ma Giry, cast Christine in Carlotta's place, give him his box back directly, and delivers his allowance.
All this'd set Richard off, an acting manny comes in on behalf of the head groom wishing to speak with 1 of them on pressing matters, Richard having to be updated about the opera's stable and dozen horses. They allow the man in to speak, he wanting his stablemen let go for the differing stories they had regarding a stolen horse, and he believing the Phantom had everything to do with this. As Raoul is being detoured from letting go the head groom, ma Giry comes into tell of the letter she'd received from the Phantom. Richard promptly, and with indignity, kicks her out.
Carlotta meanwhile, was receiving her mail in bed and reads 1 message threatening something worse than dying if she showed up tonight. This had her pondering carefully, she having been sabotaging Christine's chance for stardom, so expected the same, and now Christine'd gotten a chance to show what she's made of, Carlotta'd gone dirty; Speaking ill of her on-set, and talking shit in the press, seemingly, so this threat upon Carlotta heightened her Spanish temper. She decides to stay in, once seeing a hearse outside her window, she also spreading the word to her posse, of Christine's plan against her, and to get most of the audience full with her fans, which she succeeds to have happen, these people not locating their target, though. The show starts, and Richard with Moncharmin are sitting in the Phantom's box, and waiting to see him show, who'd a penchant making himself known by mid-1st act.
Nothing occurs, and the 2 mannys chat about ma Giry making a complaint and how Richard's concierge'd agreed to take her posish. Then the stage manny bursts in looking scared due to Carlotta's claims getting to him, the 2 mannys sending him off, and watch as Carlotta gets big response out of timing to the usual spot, but this was being done by Christine, currently. During intermission, the mannys come back to find English candy, and opera glasses'd been left, the 2 feeling an odd air about them, but watching the show continue. When Christine sings, it becomes worse upon seeing the bros, 1 crying, and the other pissed.
Then Christine's note to Raoul is shown whilst they'd both been in Perros. Then, as Carlotta plays her part, stops, for truly letting herself go into her singing, only to be deflected from her mad applause by Faust singing his part, but as she's finishing her turn, she croaks, like a frog. Everyone looks as though they sensed the curse-sounding impression the croak had. The 2 mannys couldn't believe it'd happen again, Richard encouraging Carlotta to continue, but the croaks punctuating every line. Then, both mannys hear the Phantom mention the chandelier slyly, and see it fall directly on Ma Giry's replacement, and injuring others.
So, Carlotta was sick, Christine vanishes for 2 weeks, Raoul discovering this through the mannys, they currently looking rough, regardless of the lady's death being accidental, they didn't quite seem clear in the heads. Raoul does get out of them she'd taken a leave of absence, but doesn't know for what. Raoul couldn't help, but want to protect her, yearning to know, who wished to have Christine as prey. Raoul goes to see Madame Valerius, who couldn't walk, but was able to Raoul, she being Christine's benefactor.
Valerius greets him warmly and gets right down to the matter of Christine, she knowing she'd gone off with the Angel of Music, which troubled Raoul, ofc. Valerius confides more as to how Christine was given ultimatum which made her unable to ever hitch up, and when Raoul hears how Christine was supposed to have explained this more clearly to him in Perros, and mentions the Angel'd been the 1 playing her pop's violin in the graveyard, he requests the Angel's address. Upon getting the answer typical for an angel's house, he realizes how delicate a situation Christine'd learned through her formative years. Raoul inquires as to whether Christine was "still a good girl", and she'd been wrapped up in this Angel's lines for 3 months.
Raoul bows out not long after learning Christine had been getting lessons in her dressing room til now, leaving Valerius thinking he'd gone off his nut, a bit. He fully believes now the Angel and Christine were hooking up and he was actually a hot tenor and she was a hussy. He goes to his bro, who consoles and shares of Christine having been spotted with a man, this renewing Raoul's drive. He goes off alone to the last spot mentioned, Christine turning up in a carriage which speeds off at Raoul's call of her name, which makes him furious and breaks his heart.
By next morning he sees a letter from Christine stating a set up for where next they'd meet and for him to keep it secret and be unrecognizable by others. Raoul deduces how Christine'd gotten her letter delivered on the chance someone'd seen it, and would drop it to post, which fortunately occurred. Raoul thought about what sort of brute was controlling the innocent girl, but thoughts of she being untrustworthy also plagued him. He also admits to knowing her actual story being from hearing and obsessing over the Angel of M., since they were kids, she acting like a zombie after her pop's death, then snapping out of it in Faust.
Raoul then tortures himself about being spurned for some opera-singer, fluctuating between blaming Christine and not. As he finishes putting on his costume, he feels a fool, only comforted by how unrecognizable he looked. He succeeds in meeting her, she leading him elsewhere before speaking, changing his mind on feeling upset with her, his romantic side taking over. 1 costumed man was "Red Death" seizing the hand of anyone who tried to touch him, an example being made of 1 forward fella, as Raoul passes him, recognizing his ID, but Christine moving him along.
The 2 end up in a box, Christine having felt like they were being followed a couple times on the way, then seeing 1 pursuer coming back, Raoul stopping her before she shut the door, recognizing Red Death, again. She resists though, and gets the door closed, she alluding to Raoul and her lurv, but he not buying it, and becoming more upset with the idea of she lying to keep him there. She then states of not returning to stage or city after this, Raoul feeling sorry for himself, and asking where she'd be going to make her new heaven or hell, Christine deciding not to divulge, since he'd obv. lost loyalty for her. Raoul then decides to soberly q what her true intentions were by telling the story she had to Valerius, and what this all meant.
Christine admits the whole set-up being tragic, this time she actually leaving, and Raoul searching for Red Death til 2 a.m., ending up in Christine's dressing room. He lucks out, since he hears someone outside, and upon hiding, sees it's Christine. What confuses him, is why she'd be feeling bad for some fool Erik. He then hears a male singing, which comes into the room, Christine greeting him as Erik, and of he being tardy.
Raoul admits the voice he heard sounded ethereally entrancing. He keeps it together enough to go out and stand behind Christine, who was walking toward a wall-full of mirror, and when she was about to pass through, he attempts to grasp her, but is pushed back, cold air hitting him, and bunches of Christine's dancing about him, she then vanishing, and only his reflection there. Upon sitting in the chair she'd recently vacated, he bawled, and wondered who Erik was. The next day, Raoul returns to Valerius', since with time, he'd only become more skeptical of his memory.
What stops him cold, is seeing a much more healthy Christine already there, mama Valerius bringing up the A of M, only to have Christine repeat she'd eventually explain, but she'd agreed to stop q'ing her for now. The 2 quibble about the terms having included Christine agreeing to stay with her, Christine avoiding answering by mentioning Raoul probably not wishing to hear it, but he interrupting with only wanting to be assured of her well-being, so of was concerned. Raoul continues speaking, but only scaring Valerius all the more, Christine soon showing off a ring, but maintaining wasn't, and never would get married, but she then declaring it wasn't any of his concern, anyways. He admits this, but declares not being convinced this other man deserved her affections.
She ofc, states it wasn't up to him, which concludes with he revealing the name he'd heard her use, and swore to bury it if she sent for him at her dressing room, which she does despite declaring how dangerous it was for him to know as much as he did, but he also agrees to let it go. Next day, she calls him, and is pleasant to him as he relates his plans, the expedition starting in nearly a month, and he still hoping she'd make a vow with him in some way, she reiterating how they'd not be tying the knot, ever. She then is tickled with the idea of becoming a fiance for a month, until they part, this all only known to themselves, but'd be a comforting thought to her from there on. The joy lasts nearly a week before Raoul gets upset and declares not going on his mission, Christine realizing her mistake by playing this game, Raoul discovering the next day from Valerius of she biffing off for a couple days.
Upon coming back to the opera, since Carlotta was indefinitely indisposed, Christine takes her place with quite a positive audience. Raoul meets her at the finish of her performance, and she ushers him to her room. He immediately emotional and pleading to not be left without her again, and the 2 comforting each other like close sibs grieving over a parent, apparently. She then ushers him out with the suspected words of meeting the next night, and she having been singing to him this night.
They passed the next days exploring the levels of the opera house, and the people she'd come to know, they all loving her. 1 day, he stubbornly inquires of the lower half of the opera, she refusing to show him, which makes him believe Erik lived down there, Christine denying this and difficultly moves him on. 1 noon day, Christine looks so crappy, Raoul is insistent she share the secret of Erik's voice, which terrifies her, the 2 again distracting 1 another in the rafters as he chases her, neither noticing someone else's shadow was mirroring when she went and paused, not making any noise. Raoul and Christine go to the roof with their game of chase, soon walking and then sitting, the shadow stalking them.
Christine confesses and allows Raoul permission later to force her to leave if needed, she recognizing the Phantom being terrible, and possibly could bring bad tidings, but she could no longer handle underground living, these types should be seen as sad charity cases, and not debils, ofc! Christine relates how she didn't wish to be summoned under and deal with the Phantom's skull tears, now she only having a day til he returned for her. Raoul decides they should run away, but Christine thought it kinder to at least perform for the Phantom once more, but'd leave with Raoul at midnight, she hearing a sigh after she had done so, herself, then Raoul hearing something, but nothing being seen, so he inquiring what she'd seen of the Phantom if it'd made her believe he was close to death. So, Christine confides how the 1st 3 months, she hadn't seen the Phantom, only interacting with his voice and training with him, which she only shares with Valerious at this time per the Phantom's behest at shocking everyone with Christine's talent.
She starts to scare herself with how quickly she excels in quality, so when she reveals to the Phantom of reuniting with Raoul, Valerius'd deduced the Phantom's envy, Christine not confronting this when the Phantom threatens to not return due to Raoul. By this time, Christine was too attached and to give up on the voice on the off-chance Raoul still knew her, wasn't enough to risk, esp. since his title made it more difficult for her to be a suitable match. So, when Christine'd gotten the chance to sing full force, she nearly had an out-of-body experience with the ecstasy she felt letting go. Christine also reminds him of their time in Perros, and how this'd been decided on through a chat with the Phantom.
Now, Christine recognizes how she'd given up her free-will to this human Phantom. Raoul q's why she hadn't dropped everything upon viewing him, she clarifying it'd been the night of Carlotta's croaking, she having thought the fallen chandelier could've hurt the Phantom, so goes to her dressing-room, and once hearing the song played at Perros walks as her mirror lengthened out til she was elsewhere, Raoul suggesting she desist hallucinating, she continuing with her being in a dark hallway, and a masked man preventing her from shouting and walking her toward a red light (district? jk) being the last she recollects before passing out from the stench of decayed body from the hand which covered her mouth. When she comes to, the Phantom is wetting her head with well water, she q'ing where "the voice" was, only receiving a sigh in answer, he then placing her on the missing horse from way back. So, whilst Christine knew the voice'd been real, she hadn't been Kosher on the validity of the Phantom, she now cringing to think she was now a captive of him.
The Phantom holds her up as the horse takes her along a winding path which eventually leads out to a lake with a boat docked at the wharf. Upon taking her across the lake in the boat and letting the horse return inside the underground passage, he sets her in a be-flowered house where he speaks to reassure her, but when she aims for his mask, states she'd be safe as long as she left it alone, he then confessing his name, and not being a genius and such. They again hear the echo of Erik's name after it's said, and Raoul moves to look, but Christine holds him back for wishing to finish the account and this being the best spot for it, so as not to upset the Phantom. Raoul senses to not run now is foolish, he becoming annoyed when she reveals she didn't hate the Phantom, but this due to how he'd been presenting himself as a fella to be pitied, even after he sings her to sleep, and she waking in a locked room with bath, and a note detailing he'd gone shopping for everything she'd require to be comfy.
He comes to her through a hidden door and as she berates him and again wishes to see his face, he calmly states this was inconceivable, giving her a half hr to dress for lunch, and setting her watch. She shuts him out, refreshes with fancy dress, then Erik states she'd be staying 5 days, and he'd only declare his lurv when she allowed him, the rest of their time would be consumed with music. As they dined, Christine learns nothing of Erik's origins or even his true name. After their meal, he offers a tour, but Christine takes her hand away from feeling the boniness, then he offers to instead show his room, which had a coffin, he stating his need to get used "to eternity" (...vamp? reminds me of Anne Rice's Eric, despite the characters not necessarily being the same).
She notes the large organ against the wall, and he admits to composing a piece which he'd rest eternal upon being finished, but won't play for her, due to what it emoted. The Phantom sings 1 of the opera tunes with her instead, and she can't resist but take the mask, the view horror-striking. The Phantom's actions toward Christine after this froths Raoul into a murderous frenzy, she repeating how he'd clutched her hair to keep her looking at him, and now he had to keep her there for good. Erik raves about when his ma'd gifted him with his 1st mask, his pop ditching before getting the chance.
He shuts himself in his room where she hears a part of his lifetime piece, it able to emote all levels of human despair, so Christine interrupts him in order to reassure she didn't cringe at his face she was only thinking of his great talent, this solidifying his lurv for her and becoming even more vice-gripping. She then devolves into lies so as to boost Erik's spirit, this whole prison stay lasting 2 weeks and she swearing to return. Raoul then requests reassurance of Christine's lurv, she stating with passion of this being their 1st and final kiss. The 2 leave with the red eyes of a bird staring at them.
The 2 don't slow til reaching the 8th floor, she recognizing the Persian, who points them in a different direction, she soon taking them to her dressing room, since Erik'd sworn not to invade this space nor her room across the lake. She also shares how he had incredible hearing, then noticing she'd lost the ring Erik'd given her to ensure her protection and stave off revenge, she parting with Raoul quickly, once he again attempts to convince her to fucking flee with him already, and she again declining! As Raoul readies for sleep cursing Erik, he sees burning eyes at the foot of his bed. He lights a candle and the eyes vanish, so upon blowing out the light, the eyes are seen again, so he looks on his balcony and beneath his bed, driven to figure out what he was seeing.
So, he shoots at it, which wakes the whole house, and having his bro thinking he was sleepwalking and talking, but upon inspection, sees blood on the balcony, the Count's butler revealing he'd shot a cat. Raoul next sounding pretty out there by saying it could've been Erik, the cat, or the ghost, one couldn't know with Erik. The 2 bros are left to dispute amongst themselves, and the butler last hears Raoul declaring he'd be leaving with Christine this night. By morning though, Raoul is given an article to read by his bro once meeting him in his quarters, it giving the media's perspective on Raoul engaging Christine, and the Count denying them, this making them look like a circus.
When the Count does verbally state similar leanings when he tells how he could find a way of hindering him, but Raoul only repeating his farewell. The Count had detailed this to the judge-lawyer. So, Raoul'd begun prepping for the escape by getting all they'd need for the trip, and wheels, not wanting to take the train, so the Phantom wouldn't locate them so easily. He takes care of it all by 9 the same night, whilst his bro and Carlotta'd parked their carriages at the opera.
A shadowy figure approaches the horses and coachman, but he doesn't interact with them. The judge'd decided it was Raoul, but the Narrator believes it to be the Phantom. Tonight's show is Faust, and Christine isn't being warmly received by the crowd. Some of them were watching the Count's box when Christine sang certain parts, since it reflected the 2.
He didn't notice this his mind being elsewhere as he stared at the stage, and Christine bewildered. She gradually declined in her assuredness, until it seemed she'd made herself ill enough to not be able to finish. Then, Carlotta enters her box, right at the spot where she'd had her croak, this prompting Christine to give it her spirit, and it showed, doing better than ever. During another scene, Raoul stands during the performance, and Christine sings to him.
After her 2nd line, the stage goes dark for a mo., and when the lights return, Christine is gone. Her vanishing soon becomes majorly reacted to men coming from backstage to examine where she'd been standing. Raoul and the Count soon rush out, everyone now speculating with each other, until Carolus Fonta announces no one knew what'd just occurred to Christine. Meanwhile, backstage there was more speculative hubalo, as Gabriel, the chorus-master, Mercier, the acting manny, and Remy, the secretary were having a private chatabout the manny's not being disturbed, and weren't answering the office door.
Remy goes back to try again, as the stage-manny comes for acting-manny, who is waiting for the cop before he did anything, stage-manny having checked where the organ was and nobody being discovered, Maclair, the gas-man missing, as well. His asst's also gone, the lights weren't being attended, at all, and the stage-manny believed Christine'd been taken, and not ditching solo. Stage-manny leaves aggravated, Remy returning with the news of Moncharmin finally yelling out the door about wanting a safety pin, and didn't listen to anything about the vanishing act, retreating back into the office. Mercier decides to try the mannys next, but Gabriel attempts and fails to dissuade him.
Remy is left wondering what'd been kept from the cops, so long, soon telling of how crazy the mannys'd been acting, Gabriel q'ing what they'd done, Remy straining to underline how the 2 mannys refused to allow anyone near them, or to touch them, and walked backwards. (1st spelling error, "...they are not made", it's mad.) When Gabriel tries to talk it off, Remy brings up how he and Mercier'd been seen walking with Ma Giry, and had locked her in an office. Mercier then returns stating having been able to share Christine's disappearance with Moncharmin, who doesn't seem concerned, and gives him the safety pin. Raoul then comes up asking where Christine was, everyone looking empathetically at him.
Raoul stresses about Christine disappearing, knowing the A of M had ore control within the opera. He repeats her name, as he thinks of how to follow her, he plaguing himself with thoughts of Erik taking out his anger on her, he sprinting to her dressing room. After discovering nothing, going to the building next door to see if anyone knew which gate came out to the lake under the opera-house, and goes back in, hoping someone'd found Christine, Mercier then pointing out Raoul to the cop, who takes everyone back to the mannys office where he'd gotten them to allow them in, Raoul being stopped with a warning from the Persian about the Phantom, he leaving quickly. What follows is the movements of Moncharmin and Richard, who had confided their blackmailing to Mercier and Remy, then allowing Ma Giry to play her part, putting it in the Phantom's box, and Richard and Moncharmin watch it through the play, no one touching it, but once looking at the cash, see it had been replaced with fakes.
They decide to wait and see next months hustle, this the 1 accompanying Christine's vanishing. (Was it supposed to be "a sweeping courtesy", and not curtsy, I wonder?) Upon calling for ma Giry again, they q her on what she knew of the Phantom, she reciting the letter he'd written to her. This included famous marriages, and how Meg, her girl'd be empress in 1885. The mannys could hardly believe she was innocent from taking the cash and planned to have her arrested.
She's so flustered and pissed, she accuses Richard of knowing where the cash went better than she would, since he'd had it when she'd put it on him, neither party having been aware at the time, but Richard obv. must've at some point after. Then, to prove how she'd tricked them, they ask her to demo, it having to do more when when she'd slipped it on Richard than the how, since she'd waited until he'd been busy, and not notice her placing it in his back pocket. Mocharmin reminds he'd also coughed up 10k francs, and he'd gotten nothing. The 2 agree to mirror their exact movements they'd done last time, which made them look nuts, since what they'd done with the people last time, weren't currently in the same spot, so it seemed they were interacting with no one.
Ofc, despite it looking odd, the mannys had a fair amount of cash on the line. So, as they go to the office with Moncharmin closely looking out, they discuss the possibility of when Moncharmin'd been nicked of his envelope whilst he was at home, and his suspicions of Richard, this leading to Moncharmin calling out the door when Remy comes by, and he's yelling for a safety pin, he planning to pin the envelope to Richard's jacket. Once done, he keeps his eyes on it as Richard considers the need to accept the ghost's reality if it vanished whilst it was only them in the room, this after a weird feeling being felt. Before they leave, at the same time as before, Moncharmin again checks for the envelope, and he can't locate it, which is when he opens the door and gives the safety pin to a bewildered Mercier.
Mifroid first q's where Christine was, Richard declaring his obliviousness about what was going on, Mifroid impressed he was the 1st to break the news to them, but also states the urgency of Christine needing to be located. Richard then enters and admits to knowing who'd taken Christine. Mifroid clears the room allowing the mannys to remain, and Raoul shares the Phantom's name, Mifroid thinking he was messing with him, which had Richard stressfully raking his moostosh off, and confesses the Phantom had stolen their cash. So, Mifroid quite worried with the company he was among, begins by q'ing Raoul and returning later to the theft.
He shares of where he'd 1st met Erik, and realizes how nuts he sounded, only wishing to be heard out. The mannys are intrigued, but Mifroid mentions how Raoul's intentions to run off with Christine had been waylaid, and now his bro's carriage wasn't outside anymore. Raoul falls into Mifroid's ploy of making him recover his bro for him, but Raoul is quickly stopped with the recognition of the Persian blocking his exit out of the building. Raoul recollects how little he knew of the Persian, other than knowing where he lived through his bro's confiding.
As the Persian warns the danger of revealing the secrets of the Phantom and how it'd also out Christine, he sharing how she and Erik were still on the premises. Raoul takes to this idea over the one Mifroid tries to have him believe, also due to the Persian not having mocked him, so bids he lead him. So after they go through different passages, the Persian learns how much Raoul gave away to Mifroid and how he hadn't made any connections, then leading Raoul back to Christine's dressing room to drop off his tall hat. The Persian's servant, Darius was napping inside before biffing off stealthily, leaving the Persian's pistols and he confessing to Raoul how he'd forgiven the Phantom's wrongs against him.
Raoul notes the same split of emotion from Christine over Erik, as well, the Persian discovering the catch which opens the mirror. It takes some time for it to catch from the wrong end, but they eventually make it through at the same time. The Persian reminds Raoul to be ready with his gun, and seeing better when the Persian messes with a dark lantern, sees all Erik'd built, the Persian relaying how he'd been known as the trap-door lover in his country. When the Persian leads him down one of the cellars, they can hear Mifroid speaking, and upon seeing the man pacing, they also see 3 dead bodies.
To keep Raoul from asking, the Persian alludes to "he" being the culprit. Mifroid was q'ing the technicians regarding the lights, and they also find what the stage-manny thought was Mauclair's dead body behind another cellar door, but he was only passed out drunk, but Mifroid allows the possibility he'd been roofied when the stage-manny claims it'd be the 1st time Mauclair'd been drunk on the job. The stage-hands move the other sleepers to the stage above, and the Persian has Raoul stand armed and ready once more. They go deeper into the cellar to reach the other cellar, Raoul glad to have a guide.
They hear the stage-manny above their heads, order the window shutters to do their shutting per Mifroid's wishes, and Raoul with the Persian walk further on to the 5th cellar, always gun at the ready inside their coat pockets. When the Persian hears someone approaching, they both lay on the ground as the man in the dark moved without light past them, and quite closely to them, as well. The Persian only states of this person taking him to the manny's office twice before. When it passes and they're next confronted by a fiery face, the Persian has them run away for not knowing if this was 1 of the Phantom's tricks, always still with their guns at the ready as they go.
When they stop again, they see the head had followed and was closer. Soon the head bids they not claw at the rats running about them, referring to himself as the rat-catcher, and passing them with the rats, Raoul now impatient to get to the lake and Christine. The Persian mentions their goal being to enter the lake house without the Phantom knowing. The Persian now plans to lead them back to the set where Joseph Buquet'd died, this their entrance to the lake house without having to cross atop it.
Upon doing so, the Persian takes out a stone from the wall similarly with the catch to Christine's room, per the narrative. Before going further, the Persian has Raoul take out his gun, like he had, as well as place his shoes outside the hole, a drop coming up, and the plan to return and pick them up. A side-note tells of their shoes not being found later, and so the Persian plans to drop himself 1st on the Phantom's house quietly. When Raoul jumps, and once more is caught by the Persian, they note the opening they'd gone through had either closed or could no longer be viewed from their vantage, as well as the possibly noose of Buquet's being nearby.
After dropping into what the Persian knew as the Phantom's torture chamber, what occurs there is told in the Persian's own notes. The Persian relates how the Phantom had refused to allow the Persian visit his house, and his 1st attempt across the lake almost killing him. The soft singing he hears from the lake, he couldn't deduce the origin, but is then grabbed as he leans closer to the water, the Phantom recognizing his cries and instead swimming him to shore. The Phantom berates his stupidity for coming uninvited, but is diverted by showing off how he sung so strangely having to do with the use of reeds.
The Persian then scolds the Phantom back by reminding he'd sworn not to murder anymore, and to explain the chandelier, the Phantom claims it hadn't been him. From then on, though the Persian cop dreads the Phantom settling at the opera for hoping the people inside were safe from him. The Persian had an aversion to the idea Erik thought he'd found someone who loved his true being, and knew how apart he felt from humans. So, when he learns how the Phantom'd tricked Christine, and how he'd confronted him when she'd fainted at the lake, the Phantom shows his fury by decking him.
The Persian next waits for the Phantom to come back out, he being accosted by him, threatening he'd regret anymore impeding of his plans, and relents to show the Persian Christine leaving and returning to his house by her own will, if he swore he'd stop getting in Erik's way. The Persian keeps his word when he sees Christine come and go, he instead waiting to see the Phantom come out the other suspected exit, which he is rewarded in viewing without being noticed. Once checking he now knew how to enter, he leaves it for safe-keeping of future necessity. He learns more of how Erik poisoned Christine's mind, and then 1 day, he planned to enter, but is stopped when hearing Erik practicing his opera, staying away for now.
The Persian then sees the engagement in the paper of Raoul and Christine, so when she vanishes, he isn't as shocked, but decides to keep his warning for the rest of the opera house to escape to himself, since he knew he wouldn't be believed. So, instead takes Raoul with him to investigate the Phantom's house, and be wary of his talent utilizing the Punjab lasso, his death of choice, for not having to be near his victim. Having Raoul keep his hand up, being the Persian's clever way of keeping him safe without telling him why, they reach Erik's house, and it's further learned Erik'd been hired when the opera house was being built. It's reiterated how when he'd been employed by the young sultana, who also enjoyed killing and torturing her subjects, why the Persian felt wary of entering the Phantom's home through his torture room.
This helps the Persian deduce why Erik'd returned for the lasso, since it was an original choice of material it'd been made from. Raoul asks why the Persian seemed stressed, he being given a hasty sign to be quiet. As the Persian clutches Raoul's arm, so he doesn't yell out to Christine, they hear the Phantom and moaning, the Persian certain they were unnoticed so far, since the Phantom definitely would've begun the torture immediately otherwise. They hear the Phantom describe Christine's 2 choices, and how the better of the 2 was the wedding over the requiem mass.
He now wishes to settle down, since he finished his musical masterpiece. Erik checks the door for it had been rung, Raoul takes the mo. to allow Christine to know he'd come, and to have her give them a sign when the Phantom came back, she worried, since Erik'd lost his mind, and threatened to kill everyone with himself if she didn't consent to marry him. She was tied up, so she couldn't tell them where the door of the torture room was, and the possible key to unlock it was in another room. The Persian q's why he'd bound her, she confessing she'd been banging her head against the wall to kill herself, which the Phantom wouldn't allow til the next night.
When Christine hears the Phantom returning, and hushes their chat, she learns Erik'd killed the visitor, he singing his requiem after Christine asks and gets released from her bondage. The Phantom abruptly stops and q's what'd been done with his bag. This leads to Christine attempting to chock it to being a curious little lady! but, the Phantom figures there must be intruders, after hearing Raoul's shout of rage, so makes the room visible to them without having to open the door, and when he has Christine check through the peep hole herself to save him the trouble, she claims to see no one, so then the subj. is turned to how well the Phantom can throw his voice.
After he demos this, Christine notes how hot it was getting, they hearing a body collapse, and get dragged off, then silence. The Persian specifies the room had 5 corners and all sides mirrored, like a funhouse, Erik making the 1st of its kind. It was made for amusement initially for the sultana, but became a room of torture, esp. with how the iron tree was rigged and the mirrors used to increase heat and light. This had him speculating how Joseph Buquet was most likely the 1st to suffer this room, he also considering where their new exit would be, and landing on discovering the hidden door Christine'd mentioned, the 2 currently absent, so Erik could stow her out of the way.
1st he had to settle Raoul, who was getting taken in by the heated condition and the chat he'd heard between Christine and Erik. The Persian explains how the room worked, and states if he kept his head and stopped yelling out and pacing, he could get them out in an hour's search. He begins and hastens to succeed for the heat increased, searching for half an hour before losing his place in order to again soothe Raoul, the 2 becoming delirious. The Persian was half sane, having been searching through the night, and by morning had laid next to Raoul, deciding to plead to Erik, but no answer being given to his yells.
Raoul is soon taken in by a water mirage, which the Persian attempts to warn him against, but he being drawn in. After hearing Erik's lion impersonation last night with horn, and now his rain stick tricking their ears, as they crawled for supplication. When burning their tongues on the glass, the Persian detects the lock on the iron tree, which opens a door in the floor, bringing cool air. The Persian discovers stairs and descends 1st, paranoid of a trick.
They discover Erik's barrels, most likely of wine, but upon opening 1, is startled to see what seems to be gunpowder. Now they realize the full implication of Erik's threat to Christine, and how her refusal coupled with how full the opera house would be by 11 this night, would certainly damage a portion of the human race. Soon, they worry what the time was, Raoul breaking the face of his watch to find out, the lights having been turned off, and the Persian's light breaking in the cellar. It was nearing 11, but they didn't know which 1, then Christine knocks and calls to Raoul, she stating how they all had 5 mins, Erik having left her to consider her answer, and gave her the key, expecting her to turn 1 of 2 figurines to tell whether she agreed to his proposal or not.
The Persian suspects these obj's had been rigged to ignite the barrels, and before Christine could move 1, Erik returns, regarding the Persian to keep quiet when he attempts to have him acknowledge knowing him. In the end, Erik's threatening to turn the grasshopper, if she didn't choose the scorpion or if she refused altogether, but she turns the scorpion. It submerges the barrels in water, as promised, and the Persian with Raoul drink from the rising flood. Soon they notice neither respond to their names from the other room when they state of the water continuing to raise in the room, a new fear now upon them.
They were soon struggling to keep their heads above water, the Persian losing consciousness as he hears the spiel of barrel sellers. This was the last of the Persian's account, so the rest of the tale is told from the Narrator's last interview with the Persian at his apartment. When the Persian'd woken, he was on a bed and Raoul on a couch, Christine and Erik watching them. The room they now occupied had the Persian believe it was designed to confuse the intruder.
Erik q's his health, notes his gaze upon the furniture, and admits it'd belonged to his ma. Erik hands the Persian a drink poured by Christine, he informing Raoul'd woken before they knew he survived at all. Raoul is asleep, and needs more rest, so when Erik leaves, and comes back saying how they'd both be escorted out by request of his hubby, another drink is given to him, and when he next wakes, it is at home, Darius filling in how he'd been propped against the door by a stranger. When he calls to learn whether Raoul'd made it, he discovers his bro hadn't, he chasing after Raoul backstage, and ending up in the lake.
So, even though the Persian wishes to supply his side to the police, Faure, he doesn't take the story seriously, so doesn't push it. As the Persian'd been finishing his written account, he's visited by the Phantom, who looks ready to fall. He claims the Count's death'd been an unfortunate accident, and the Phantom was now expiring. The Persian inquires after Christine, and Raoul, but Erik sticks on how he was dying of love!
He recounts how Christine'd saves his life this time, and had allowed him to kiss her forehead like no 1 else living would, including his ma. So, when Christine'd allowed Erik to weep with her, he gives her the wedding band she'd lost, back for herself, and Raoul. When he leaves, the Persian notes this being their final chat, 3 wks later, the news told of Erik's death. So, it can't be contested the Phantom truly existed, and Raoul, and the Count were proof.
The Narrator mentions how perhaps he may attempt to track Raoul, and Christine's traveling out of Paris, but the only actual proof, being in the hands of the Persian, per Erik's sending the items Christine'd left, letter to Raoul, and her gloves, etc. So, when the Narrator went to locate the hidden rooms, the Persian's directions were invaluable, as well as his suggestions for who else he could interview. Poligny's account before dying hadn't been much use, but the Persian speculates how he'd left the opera before truly getting sucked in. As for Moncharmin's written account, he lets go his charge for theft when they'd received an envelope with their cash, dropping their charges. This left the 2 still wondering if the other'd duped them.
All of the ways to Erik's house'd been blocked, and the Narrator's request to drain the lake having been denied, so far, but the hope being to discover the Phantom's Don Juan Triumphant. What is discovered, is the trapdoor large enough for an arm to pop out and handle a coat hanging nearby. Background of Erik's financial beginnings showed he'd left his parents young to join fairs as a living corpse, he already able to sing, so his reputation preceded him when the sultan'd heard about him. His nonexistent conscience pleased the Shah who was warring with Persia.
When he moves on to being in the services of a sultan, after building him a palace with secret passages, his life, and those who worked to build the palace would die. So, the daroga, the Persian, helps him leave by faking his death. He'd also constructed sultan-looking robots, to make him seem constantly ready. After ditching the sultan, he moves and becomes an independent contractor, building normal houses, then he's commissioned for the opera house, and decides to also construct his secret home.
Then, the Narrator weighs pity over condemning the Phantom, settling on pity. In the end, the Narrator believes the Phantom's body was in the archives of the National Academy of Music. Great story, only adds depth to the already wonderful musical. Enjoyed the deeper look inside the original recipe, quite a ride. I found it'd suck me in every chapter.
