My dear Managers:`Look here, I'm getting sick of him, sick of him!' shouted Richard, bringing his fists down on his officetable.So it is to be war between us?
If you still care for peace, here is my ultimatum. It consists of the four following conditions:
1. You must give me back my private box; and I wish it to be at my free disposal from henceforward.
2. The part of Margarita shall be sung this evening by Christine Daaé. Never mind about Carlotta; she will be ill.
3. I absolutely insist upon the good and loyal services of Mme. Giry, my box-keeper, whom you will reinstate in her functions forthwith.
4. Let me know by a letter handed to Mme. Giry, who will see that it reaches me, that you accept, as your predecessors did, the conditions in my memorandum-book relating to my monthly allowance. I will inform you later how you are to pay it to me.
If you refuse, you will give Faust to-night in a house with a curse upon it.
Take my advice and be warned in time. O. G.
Just then, Mercier, the acting-manager, entered.
`Lachcnel would like to see one of you gentlemen,' he said. `He says that his business is urgent and he seems quite upset.'
`Who's Lachcnel?' asked Richard.
`He's your stud-groom.'
`What do you mean? My stud-groom?'
`Yes, sir,' explained Mercier, `there are several grooms at the Opera and M. Lachcnel is at the head of them.'
`And what does this groom do?'
`He has the chief management of the stable.'
`What stable?'
`Why, yours, sir, the stable of the Opera.'
`Is there a stable at the Opera? Upon my word, I didn't know. Where is it?'
`In the cellars, on the Rotunda side. It's a very important department; we have twelve horses.'
`Twelve horses! And what for, in Heaven's name?'
`Why, we want trained horses for the processions in the Juive, The Profeta and so on; horses `used to the boards.' It is the grooms' business to teach them. M. Lachcnel is very clever at it. He used to manage Franconi's stables.'