Calico Illustrated Classics: The Phantom of the Opera
He is thin His dress coat hangs on him as if he’s a skeleton said Joseph His eyes are simply two black holes They float in a dead man’s skull His skin is a nasty yellow He has no nose and barely any hair at all Since Joseph was a trustworthy man almost everyone believed him Those who didn’t at first soon realized that a ghost must be responsible for all the odd happenings at the Opera house Sorelli was thinking of Joseph’s description when Jammes said Listen I hear him A rustling sound could be heard outside the door It stopped Sorelli tried to be brave She went up to the door Who’s there Of course no one replied Little Meg Giry cried Whatever you do don’t open the door Sorelli turned the key and threw open the door She bravely poked her head into the hallway It was empty She slammed the door shut 6
There is no one there We must be brave and pull ourselves together said Sorelli There is no ghost She wasn’t sure what to believe but she knew she had to restore calm Mother says started Meg She quickly covered her mouth Mother will be angry at me I promised not to tell The others crowded around Meg They promised her secret would remain so if she told them all she knew Keeping one eye on the door Meg whispered It’s because of the private box What private box asked Sorelli The ghost’s box said Meg staring at the door It’s Box Five on the grand tier Nonsense said Sorelli The ghost cannot have a box It’s not nonsense Mother is in charge of the boxes said Meg Orders have been given at the box office that the tickets to Box Five must never be sold 8
Does the ghost really go there asked Sorelli Yes said Meg He alone has the box Another dancer nudged her way up to Meg If he’s in the box then he must be seen No said Meg No one sees him Others say you only hear him when he’s in the box Mother leaves him a program each night Sorelli raised an eyebrow I think you’re trying to scare us Meg shook her head and sobbed Please don’t tell Mother what I said She’s right Joseph’s tales are going to bring us all bad luck Just then the door flew open and a woman rushed in It’s awful She fell into a chair and sobbed Her face was white and her hands shook What’s awful asked Sorelli She rushed over to the woman with a drink of water It’s Joseph Buquet cried the woman He is dead 9
