The Phantom of the Opera by Jennifer Basset

词汇提示

1.chandelier 吊灯

原文

Chapter 6: La Carlotta sings Margarita

On Friday morning,La Carlotta had her breakfast in bed.

She drank her coffee and opened her morning letters.

One letter had no name on it.

It was very short.

"You are ill.You cannot sing Margarita to night.Stay at home and don't go to the Opera House. Accidents can happen. Do you want to lose your voice forever?"

La Carlotta was very, very angry.

She got out of bed at once and did not finish her breakfast.

"This is from Christine Daae's friends." She thought. "They want her to sing again tonight. That Daae girl is going to be sorry for this! I, La Carlotta, I am the best opera singer in Paris. And nothing is going to stop me singing Margarita tonight!"

At six o'clock, that evening the dancers were in their dressing room.

They talked and laughed and put on their red and black dresses for Faust.

But 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. "

" Oh,pooh!" the girl with black hair said. "Who's afraid of an old ghost?"

An hour later, Mr.Armand and Mr. Firmin went into Box 5 and sat down.

They were not afraid of ghosts. Of course not.

There were no ghosts in the Opera House.

Then, Mr. Armand saw flowers on the floor by the door of the box.

"Firmin,"he whispered, "did you put those flowers there?"

Mr. Firmin looked.

"No, I didn't," he whispered back, "Did you?"

"Of course not,you fool! Shh, the music's beginning."

La Carlotta did not sing for the first hour.

There were no strange voices in Box 5, and the two directors began to feel happier.

Then, La Carlotta came out onto the stage, and Mr. Firmin looked at Mr. Armand.

"Did you hear a voice just then?" he asked quietly.

"No," Mr.Armand said, but he looked behind him twice, then three times, and  suddenly felt cold.

La Carlotta sang and sang, and nothing happened.

Then she began a beautiful love song. "My love begins to -Co-ack!"

Everybody stared.

What was the matter with Carlotta's voice? What was that strange noise -Co-ack? Carlotta stopped and began the song again.

"My love begins to - Co-ack!" "I cannot forget my - Co-ack!"

It was the noise of a toad!

People began to talk and laugh.

Mr. Firmin put his head in his hands.

Then he felt Mr. Armand's hand on his arm.

There was a void in the box with them! A man's voice, laughing!

Poor Carlotta tried again, and again. "I cannot forget my - Co-ack.!"

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