Monsieur Firmin was right．All Paris talked about the new Margarita in Faust，the girl with the beautiful voice,the girl with the voice of an angel．People loved her.They laughed and cried and called for more．Daaé was wonder ful，the best singer in the world！

　　Behind the stage Meg Giry looked at Annie Sorelli．'Chris tine Daaé never sang like that before．'she said to Annie．'Why was she so good tonight？'

　　'Perhaps she's got a new music teacher，'Annie said．

　　The noise in the Opera House went on for a long time． In Box 14，Philippe，the Comte de Chagny，turned to his younger brother and smiled．

　　'Well， Raoul， what did you think of Daaé tonight？'

　　Raoul，the Vicomte de Chagny，was twenty－one years old．He had blue eyes and black hair，and a wonderful smile．The Chagny family was old and rich，and many girls in Paris were in love with the young Vicomte．But Raoul was not interested in them．

　　He smiled back at his brother．'What can I say？ Christine is an angel， that's all． I'm going to her dressing-room to see her tonight．'

　　Philippe laughed． He was twenty years older than Raoul， and was more like a father than a brother．

　　'Ah， I understand，'he said．'You are in love！ But this is your first night in Paris， your first visit to the opera． How do you know Christine Daaé？'

　　'You remember four years ago，when I was on holiday by the sea，in Brittany？'Raoul said．'Well， I met Christine there． Iwas in love with her then，and I'm still in love with her today！'

　　The Comte de Chagny looked at his brother．'Mmm， I see，'he said slowly．'Well， Raoul， remember she is only an opera singer．We know nothing about her family．'

　　But Raoul did not listen．To him，good families were not im portant，and young men never listen to their older brothers．

　　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？ Are you ill？' He went down on the floor by her chair．'Don't you remember me Raoul de Chagny，in Brittany？'

　　Christine looked at him，and her blue eyes were afraid．She took her hand away．'No， I don't know you．Please go away．I'm not well．'

　　Raoul stood up， his face red． Before he could speak， the doc tor said quickly，' Yes， yes， please go away． Everybody， please leave the room．Mademoiselle Daaé needs to be quiet．She is very tired．'

　　He moved to the door，and soon everybody left the room.Christine Daaé was alone in her dressing－room．

　　Outside in the passage the young Vicomte was angry and unhappy．How could Christine forget him？How could she say that to him？ He waited for some minutes， then，very quietly and carefully，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．'How can you talk like that？ When I sing only for you…？ Tonight， I gave everything to you， everything． And now I'm so tired． 'Her voice was un happy and afraid．

　　'You sang like an angel，' the man's voice said．

　　Raoul walked away．So that was the answer！ Christine Daaéhad a lover．But why was her voice so unhappy？ 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， and walked away down the passage． Raoul waited， but no man came out after her． There was nobody in the passage，so Raoul went quickly up to the door of the dressing－room，opened it and went in．He closed the door quietly behind him，then called out：

　　'Where are you？ I know you're in here！Come out！'

　　There was no answer．Raoul looked everywhere-under the chairs， behind all the clothes，in all the dark corners of the room．There was nobody there．

　　3．克丽斯廷·达埃

　　菲尔曼先生说对了。整个巴黎都在谈论歌剧《浮士德》中玛格丽塔的新演唱者，那个有着美妙歌喉的姑娘，那个有着天使一般嗓音的姑娘。人们热爱她。他们更多地笑啊喊啊叫啊。达埃的演唱确实不错，她是世界上最好的歌唱家。

　　在舞台的后面梅格·吉丽看着安妮·索雷丽。“克丽斯廷·达埃以前从来没有唱得那么好，”她对安妮说，“为什么她今晚唱得这么好呢？”

　　“或许她已经有了一位新的音乐老师。”安妮说。

　　歌剧院里的喧闹声持续了很长一段时间。在14号包厢里，菲利普，这位沙尼家族的伯爵，微笑着转向他的弟弟。

　　“嘿，拉乌尔，你觉得今晚达埃表演得怎么样？”

　　拉乌尔，这位沙尼家族的子爵21岁。他蓝眼睛黑头发，有着迷人的微笑。沙尼家族古老而富有，巴黎的许多姑娘都爱上了这位年轻的子爵，但是拉乌尔对她们却并不感兴趣。

　　他对他的哥哥报以微笑。“我能说什么呢？克丽斯廷是一位天使，就这样。今晚我要去她的化妆室拜访她。”

　　菲利普笑了。他比拉乌尔大20岁，与其说是拉乌尔的兄长，倒不如说是他的父亲。

　　“啊，我明白了，”他说，“你恋爱了！但是这是你在巴黎的第一个夜晚，是你第一次来歌剧院。你是如何认识克丽斯廷·达埃的呢？”

　　“你还记得4年前，我在布列塔尼海边度假的时候吗？”拉乌尔说，“喔，我在那儿遇见了克丽斯廷。当时我就爱上了她，而且今天我还爱着她！”

　　这位沙尼家族的伯爵看着他的弟弟。“呣，我明白，”他一字一顿地说，“噢，拉乌尔，记住，她只是一个歌剧演员。我们对她的家庭一无所知。”

　　但是拉乌尔听不进去。对他来说，好的家庭并不重要，而且年轻人从来都听不进他们兄长的劝告。

　　那天晚上克丽斯廷·达埃的化妆室里有很多人。但是克丽斯廷的身边还有一位医生，而且她美丽的面容带有病色，显得苍白。拉乌尔快步穿过房间，握住她的手。

　　“克丽斯廷！怎么了？你病了吗？”他俯下身去靠近她的座椅，“你不记得我了——沙尼家族的拉乌尔，在布列塔尼？”

　　克丽斯廷看着他，她那蓝色的眼睛带着惊恐。她把她的手抽走。“不，我不认识你。请走吧。我身体不太好。”

　　拉乌尔站起来，他的脸红了。他还没来得及说话，那位医生就急忙抢着说：“对，对，请走吧。各位，请离开这房间。达埃小姐需要安静。她太累了。”

　　他走向门口，不久所有的人都离开了那个房间，只留下克丽斯廷·达埃独自在她的化妆室里。

　　在门外的走廊上年轻的子爵感到不悦和扫兴。克丽斯廷怎么会忘了他？她怎么会对他说那些话？他等了几分钟，然后，轻轻地，小心翼翼地，他又走回到她的化妆室的门口。但是他没有把门推开，因为就在这个时候他听到屋里有一个男人的声音！

　　“克丽斯廷，你必须爱我！”那个声音说。

　　接着拉乌尔听到克丽斯廷的声音。“你怎么能那样跟我说话？什么时候我只为你歌唱……？今晚，我把一切都给了你，一切。而现在我太累了。”她的声音显得愁苦而害怕。

　　“你唱得象一位天使。”那个男人的声音说。

　　拉乌尔走开了。这样看来那就是答案！克丽斯廷有一个情人。但是为什么她的声音显得如此不悦？他在她的房间附近的一处阴影里等着。他要看看她的情人——他的情敌！

　　大约过了10分钟左右，克丽斯廷从她的房间里出来了。她独自一人，从走廊上下去。拉乌尔等着，但是没有男人跟着她出来。走廊上没有人，于是拉乌尔快步来到化妆室门前，推门而入。他轻轻地把身后的门关上，然后喊道：

　　“你在哪里？我知道你在这儿！出来！”

　　没有回答。拉乌尔找遍了所有地方——椅子下面、所有的衣服背后、房间里的每一个阴暗角落。但毫无人影。