Monsieur Poligny went to his desk and returned with a copy of the memorandum book, which contains the managers’ rules for the Paris Opera. It looked exactly like the one we had except that at the end there was a passage in red ink and in a strange handwriting. This passage was as follows: “An allowance of 20000 francs per month is to be made to the Opera ghost.” “Is that all? Doesn’t he want anything else?” asked Monsieur Richard with great coolness.
“Yes, he does,” replied Poligny. “Box Five will be for the use of the Opera ghost for every performance.”
We rose from our chairs, shook their hands, and thanked them for the charming joke.
Monsieur Poligny asked, “Have you considered what the loss of Box Five meant to us? We did not sell it once. We really can’t work to keep ghosts! We prefer to leave!”
Monsieur Richard said, “It seems to me that you were much too kind to the ghost. If I had such a trouble-making ghost, I would not hesitate to have him put in prison!”
“But how?” they cried together. “We have never seen him!”
“But when he comes to his box?”
“We have never seen him in his box.”
“Then sell it.”
“Sell the Opera ghost’s box! Well, gentlemen, try it.”
Then, we all four left the office. Richard and I had never laughed so much in our lives.
Monsieur Poligny went to his desk and returned with a copy of the memorandum book, which contains the managers’ rules for the Paris Opera. It looked exactly like the one we had except that at the end there was a passage in red ink and in a strange handwriting. This passage was as follows: “An allowance of 20000 francs per month is to be made to the Opera ghost.” “Is that all? Doesn’t he want anything else?” asked Monsieur Richard with great coolness.
“Yes, he does,” replied Poligny. “Box Five will be for the use of the Opera ghost for every performance.”
We rose from our chairs, shook their hands, and thanked them for the charming joke.
Monsieur Poligny asked, “Have you considered what the loss of Box Five meant to us? We did not sell it once. We really can’t work to keep ghosts! We prefer to leave!”
Monsieur Richard said, “It seems to me that you were much too kind to the ghost. If I had such a trouble-making ghost, I would not hesitate to have him put in prison!”
“But how?” they cried together. “We have never seen him!”
“But when he comes to his box?”
“We have never seen him in his box.”
“Then sell it.”
“Sell the Opera ghost’s box! Well, gentlemen, try it.”
Then, we all four left the office. Richard and I had never laughed so much in our lives.
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