Chapter 1
The dancers
Annie Sorelli ran into the dressing-room.One of the girls ran and closed the door,'What's the matter?' they cried.'It's the ghost!' Annie said.'In the passage.He came through the wall in front of me!I saw his face!''Everybody says they see the Opera ghost, but there isn't really a ghost. You saw a shadow on the wall.'A tall girl with black hair, laughed.'Joseph Buquet saw him two days ago.'A second girl said.Then all the girls began to talk at once.Then little Meg Giry spoke for the first time. 'Don't talk about him. He doesn't like it. My mother told me.The ghost doesn't like people talking about him, and one day Joseph Buquet is going to be sorry.''But what does your mother know? Tell us!' all the girls cried.'You know my mother is the doorkeeper for some of the boxes in the Opera House. Well, Box 5 is the ghost's box! He watches the operas from that box, and sometimes he leaves flowers for my mother!Nobody buys tickets for Box 5, but the ghost always comes to it on opera nights.'Meg said.'But how does your mother know?'One of them asked.'My mother never sees the ghost in Box 5, but she hears him! He talks to her, but there is nobody there! And he doesn't like people talking about him!'Meg said.But that evening the dancers could not stop talking about the Opera ghost.When the opera finished, the girls went back to their dressing-room.Suddenly, they heard somebody in the passage, and Madame Giry, Meg's mother, ran into the room.'Joseph Buquet is dead!'she cried.'The ghost killed him!'Meg Giry cried.
Chapter 2
The directors of the Opera House
The directors of the Opera House were very important men. It was the first week of work for the two new directors,Armand Moncharmin and Firmin Richard.The two men talked about Joseph Buquet.'It was an accident,' Monsieur Armand said angrily. 'Or Buquet killed himself.'Monsieur Firmin looked at a letter on the table next to him. 'And what are we going to do about this letter, Armand?'The two men read the letter again.'Never sell tickets for Box 5; that is my box for every opera night.Also,I need money for my work in the Opera House. I am not expensive, and I am happy to take only 20,000 francs a month.Please remember, I can be a good friend, but a bad enemy.'The letter said.'That's the best box in the Opera House, and we need the money, Firmin!'Monsieur Armand was very angry again.'We can do nothing about this letter. It's a bad joke. Somebody thinks we are fools, because we are new here. There are no ghosts in the Opera House!'Monsieur Firmin said.The two men then talked about the opera for that night. It was Faust, and usually La Carlotta sang Margarita.But today, La Carlotta was ill.'We have Christine Daaé.She can sing Margarita tonight. She has a good voice.'Monsieur Firmin said quickly,'Perhaps Daaé can sing better than La Carlotta. Who knows?'
Chapter 3
Christine Daaé
All Paris talked about the new Margarita in Faust,the girl with the voice of an angel.In Box 14, Philippe, the Comte de Chagny, turned to his younger brother and smiled.'Raoul, what did you think of Daaé tonight?'Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny.The Chagny family was old and rich.He smiled back at his brother. 'Christine is an angel, that's all. I'm going to her dressing-room to see her tonight.'Philippe laughed.'You are in love! But this is your first night in Paris, your first visit to the opera. How do you know Christine Daaé?'he said.'Four years ago, when I was on holiday by the sea, in Brittany.' Raoul said. 'I met Christine there. I was in love with her then, and I'm still in love with her today!'There were many people in Christine Daaé's dressing-room that night. But there was a doctor with Christine, and her beautiful face looked white and ill. Raoul went quickly across the room and took her hand.'Christine! What's the matter?'he said,'Don't you remember me?'Christine looked at him, and her blue eyes were afraid. She took her hand away. 'No, I don't know you. Please go away.'Before Raoul could speak, the doctor said quickly, 'Everybody, please leave the room. Mademoiselle Daaé needs to be quiet.'Soon everybody left the room. Christine Daaé was alone in her dressing-room.Outside in the passage the young Vicomte was angry and unhappy.He waited for some minutes, then, he went back to the door of her dressing-room. But he did not open the door, because just then he heard a man's voice in the room!'Christine, you must love me!' the voice said.Then Raoul heard Christine's voice.'Tonight, I gave everything to you. And now I'm so tired.' Her voice was unhappy and afraid.Raoul walked away.Christine Daaé had a lover.He waited in the shadows near her room. He wanted to see her lover—his enemy!After about ten minutes Christine came out of her room, alone.Raoul waited, but no man came out after her.Raoul went in the dressing-room.There was nobody there.
Chapter 4
The Phantom is angry
The next opera night was Friday. It was Faust again, but this time with La Carlotta singing Margarita.Monsieur Armand and Monsieur Firmin were not so happy.A second letter arrived for them.'Why don't you listen to me? I am getting angry.On Friday Daaé must sing Margarita again.Remember, I am a bad enemy.'The letter said.'Let's talk to Madame Giry, the doorkeeper of Box 5. Perhaps she can help us.'Monsieur Firmin said.But Madame Giry was not helpful.'The Opera ghost is angry with you.He is clever and dangerous, this ghost. The old directors before you, they knew that.At first they tried to stop him.Then there were many accidents in the Opera House.'Madame Giry said.'This woman is mad. Why do we listen to her? On Friday night La Carlotta is going to sing Margarita. And you and I, Firmin, are going to watch the opera from Box 5.'Monsieur Armand said.Madame Giry came nearer to the two men.'Remember Joseph Buquet? I tell you, the Opera ghost is a good friend, but a bad enemy.'she said quietly.'why did you say those words, Madame Giry?'Monsieur Firmin said slowly. 'Because the ghost says them to me. I never see him, but I often hear him. He has a very nice voice—and he doesn't shout at people.'she said.
Chapter 5
A letter for Raoul
That Wednesday a letter also arrived for the young Vicomte de Chagny.'Of course I remember you!Meet me on Thursday at three o'clock in the Tuileries Gardens.'The letter from Christine Daaé said.On Thursday Raoul was in the Tuileries Gardens by two o'clock.Then she ran through the gardens to him, and in a second she was in his arms.They walked through the gardens together and talked for a long time. They remembered their happy weeks in Brittany, four years ago.'Christine,' Raoul said quietly. 'I want to ask you a question. Who was the man in your dressing-room on Tuesday night?I listened outside the door and heard a man's voice. Who was he?''I cannot tell you his name. It's a secret,' whispered Christine. 'I never see him, I only hear his voice. But he is everywhere!That's why I didn't speak to you on Tuesday night. He is my music teacher.I sang so well on Tuesday night because of him.And he says he loves me. How can I leave him?'
Chapter 6
La Carlotta sings Margarita
On Friday La Carlotta opened her morning letters.'You are ill. You cannot sing Margarita tonight. Stay at home and don't go to the Opera House. Accidents can happen. Do you want to lose your voice—for ever?' the letter said.La Carlotta was very angry.'I, La Carlotta, I am the best opera singer in Paris. And nothing is going to stop me singing Margarita tonight!'she thought.At six o'clock that evening the dancers were in their dressing-room.Meg Giry was very quiet.'What's the matter, Meg?' Annie Sorelli asked.'It's the Opera ghost,' Meg said. 'My mother says he's angry. She's afraid that something's going to happen tonight.'An hour later Monsieur Armand and Monsieur Firmin went into Box 5 and sat down. They were not afraid of ghosts.Then La Carlotta came out onto the stage.La Carlotta sang and sang, and nothing happened. Then she began a beautiful love song.Everybody stared. What was the matter with Carlotta's voice?It was the noise of a toad! People began to talk and laugh.Then the two directors heard the voice,everywhere.'Her singing tonight is going to bring down the chandelier!'The famous chandelier, with its thousand lights, broke away from its ropes and crashed down on to the people below.That was a terrible night for the Paris Opera House. One woman was killed by the chandelier, and many people were hurt. The Opera House closed for two weeks. And La Carlotta never sang again.
Chapter 7
My angel of music
For a week Raoul saw Christine every day.Then one day there was no Christine.Where was Christine Daaé? But nobody knew.Two days before the Opera House opened again, a letter arrived for Raoul. It was from Christine.'Meet me in an hour at the top of the Opera House, on the tenth floor.'the letter said.Raoul and Christine sat in a dark corner.'Listen, Raoul,' she said quietly. 'I'm going to tell you everything. But this is our last meeting. I can never see you again.I couldn't meet you last Saturday because he came for me, and took me away. I was in my dressing-room in the Opera House and suddenly, he was there in front of me! I saw the voice for the first time!He took me through many secret doors and passages, down under the Opera House. There is a lake down there, a big lake; the waters are black and cold. He took me across the lake in a boat to his house. He lives there.And he is the Phantom of the Opera! But he's not a ghost, he's a man! His name is Erik, and he loves me, he wants me to be his wife!He said that no woman could ever love him, because of his face.Then he took off his mask, and I saw his face.He has the most terrible face! It is so ugly!He knows about you, Raoul. He knows about us. He says he's going to kill you.''Never!' said Raoul. 'I love you, Christine, and I'm going to kill this Erik!''I'm afraid, Raoul,' Christine whispered. 'I'm singing Margarita again on Saturday. What's going to happen?''After the opera on Saturday night, you and I are going away together. Come on, let's go down now. I don't like it up here.'Raoul said.They went carefully along a dark passage to some stairs, then suddenly stopped. There was a man in front of them,'No, not these stairs,' he said. 'Go to the stairs at the front. And go quickly!'Christine turned and ran. Raoul ran after her.'Who was that man?' he asked.'It's the Persian.Nobody knows his name. He's just the Persian. He's always in the Opera House. I think he knows about Erik, but he never talks about him. Perhaps he saw Erik on those stairs, and wanted to help us.' Christine answered.At one of the little back doors to the Opera House, they stopped.'On Saturday night, then. After the opera,' Raoul said. 'I'm going to take you away, and marry you.'Christine looked up into his face. 'Yes, Raoul.'
Chapter 8
Where is Christine Daaé?
On Saturday morning Comte Philippe looked across the breakfast table at his brother.'She's only a little opera singer,' Philippe said unhappily. 'And she's very young. Are you still going to love her in ten, or twenty, years' time?'Raoul drank his coffee and did not answer.There were two more unhappy faces in the Opera House, too. The directors now understood about O. G. They didn't want any more accidents.The evening began well. The chandelier was now back in place, with new ropes. All Paris was in the Opera House. Everybody wanted to hear Christine Daaé's voice again.When Christine came onto the stage, her face was white and she looked afraid.She began to sing the famous love song. Suddenly, every light in the Opera House went out.Then a woman screamed, and all the lights came on again.But Christine Daaé was no longer on the stage!Nobody could find her.The Opera House went mad. Everybody ran here and there, shouted and called. In the directors' office, people ran in and out.Then Madame Giry arrived in the office with her daughter Meg.'Monsieur, there are three people missing now!' Madame Giry said. 'Meg, tell the directors your story.''When the lights went out, we were just behind the stage. We heard a scream—I think it was Christine Daaé's voice. Then the lights came back on, but Christine wasn't there!Then we saw the Vicomte de Chagny. His face was red and he was very angry.Suddenly the Persian came up behind him and took his arm. He said something to the Vicomte and they went into Christine Daaé's dressing-room.Then we looked into Christine Daaé's dressing-room, but there was nobody there!'Meg's face was white.
Chapter 9
The house on the lake
When the lights came on, Raoul ran.In the passage outside Christine's dressing-room, a hand took his arm.Raoul turned and saw the long face of the Persian under his black hat.'Come with me,' said the Persian. They went quickly into Christine's dressing-room. The Persian closed the door and went to the big mirror on one wall.He put his hands on the big mirror.Then the mirror began to move and turn, and a big dark hole opened in it.They went down,under the Opera House.Soon they were there. In the dark, the Persian felt the wall carefully with his hands.The wall moved under his hands and a small door opened. Very quietly, they went through, and then the door closed behind them. They could not get out.'Oh no!' the Persian whispered. 'It was the wrong door! This is Erik's torture room—the room of mirrors! We are dead men.'The lights came on, and they heard a man's laugh. Erik knew they were there.And the room was hot. It got hotter and hotter and hotter.Raoul was thirsty, hot and thirsty.Water, he needed water, but the mirrors laughed at him.'Oh Christine, I'm sorry,' he thought. 'I wanted to help you, and now I'm dying...'Through a mirror in the wall Christine watched her lover in the torture room. Behind her Erik stood, with his hands on her arms.Christine could not speak. She wanted to scream, but no words came.Then she found her voice again.'How can you do this, Erik! Why don't you kill me?'she said.'Because I love you, Christine. Marry me, be my wife, and love me. Then Raoul and the Persian can live.'Slowly, Christine turned. She looked into Erik's terrible, ugly face, and spoke again, very quietly.'Yes, Erik. From this minute I am your wife.' She put her arms around Erik's neck, and kissed him—kissed him slowly and lovingly on his ugly mouth.Erik stared at her. 'You kissed me!' he whispered. 'I didn't ask you, but you kissed me—freely! Oh Christine, my angel! That was my first kiss from a woman.'Erik put his ugly face in his hands and cried.'You are free, Christine! Go away and marry your Raoul, and be happy. But remember Erik, sometimes. Go now, quickly! Take Raoul and the Persian, and go!'
Chapter 10
Madame Giry visits the Persian
For weeks, all Paris talked about that night at the opera. Everybody asked questions, but nobody knew the answers.Some weeks after that famous night Madame Giry went out one afternoon to a small house near the Rivoli Gardens.The Persian opened the door.Madame Giry looked at him. 'My friend, you know the answers. Please tell me. Are they alive or dead?''Yes,' the Persian said slowly, 'The Phantom is dead now. He did not want to live any longer. I saw his body three days ago, and because of that, I can talk to you about him. He cannot kill me now.His name was Erik. That was not his real name.He was born in France, but I knew him in Persia. He was a famous builder and I worked with him there. For a time I was his friend, but not for long. When he came to Paris, I came after him—I wanted to watch him. He was a very clever, very dangerous man.He could do many clever things with ropes, and mirrors, and secret doors.He helped to build the Opera House. He built secret passages underground, and his secret house on the lake.He could not live in the outside world, because of his terrible, ugly face.And so he lived this strange life—half-man, half-phantom. But he was a man, in the end. He wanted a woman's love...''And Christine Daaé and Vicomte Raoul? What happened to them?'Madame Giry asked.The Persian smiled. 'What happened to young Raoul and the beautiful Christine...? Who knows?'