The Singular Attitude of a Safety-Pin
scene-shifters, dancers, supers, choristers, subscribers were all
asking questions, shouting and hustling one another.
"What became of her?"
"She's run away."
"With the Vicomte de Chagny, of course!"
"No, with the count!"
"Ah, here's Carlotta! Carlotta did the trick!"
"No, it was the ghost!" And a few laughed, especially as a careful
examination of the trap-doors and boards had put the idea of an
accident out of the question.
Amid this noisy throng, three men stood talking in a low voice and with
despairing gestures. They were Gabriel, the chorus-master; Mercier,
the acting-manager; and Remy, the secretary. They retired to a corner
of the lobby by which the stage communicates with the wide passage
leading to the foyer of the ballet. Here they stood and argued behind
some enormous "properties."
"I knocked at the door," said Remy. "They did not answer. Perhaps
they are not in the office. In any case, it's impossible to find out,
for they took the keys with them."
"They" were obviously the managers, who had given orders, during the
last entr'acte, that they were not to be disturbed on any pretext
whatever. They were not in to anybody.
"All the same," exclaimed Gabriel, "a singer isn't run away with, from
the middle of the stage, every day!"
"Did you shout that to them?" asked Mercier, impatiently.
"I'll go back again," said Remy, and disappeared at a run.
Thereupon the stage-manager arrived.
"Well, M. Mercier, are you coming? What are you two doing here?
You're wanted, Mr. Acting-Manager."
