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2 The directors of the Opera House
2．歌劇院的經理們
The Opera House was famous， and the directors of the Opera House were very important men．
歌劇院很著名，而歌劇院的經理們也都是些非常顯要的人物。
It was the first week of work for the two new directors， Monsieur Ar mand Moncharmin and Monsieur Firmin Richard．
這是兩位新經理阿爾芒·蒙沙曼先生和菲爾曼·理查德先生上任的第一個星期。
In the direc tors' office the next day，the two men talked about Joseph Bu quet．
第二天，在經理辦公室里，這兩位先生談起了約瑟夫·比凱的事。
'It was an accident，' Monsieur Armand said angrily．'Or Buquet killed himself．'
“這是個意外事故，”阿爾芒先生氣憤地說，“要不然比凱就是自殺的?！?/div>
'An accident？…Killed himself？' Monsieur Firmin said．'Which story do you want，my friend？ Or do you want the sto ry of the ghost？'
“意外事故？……自殺？”菲爾曼先生說，“你想要聽一類故事，我的朋友？或者說你想聽一個關于幽靈的故事？”
'Don't talk to me about ghosts！'Monsieur Armand said．'
“不要跟我談關于幽靈的事！”阿爾芒先生說，
We have 1，500 people working for us in this Opera House，and everybody is talking about the ghost． They're all mad! I don't want to hear about the ghost， OK？'
“這個歌劇院里有1，500人在為我們工作，而每個人都在談論關于幽靈的事。他們都瘋了！我不想聽到關于幽靈的事，行不行？”
Monsieur Firmin looked at a letter on the table next to him．And what are we going to do about this letter，Armand？'
菲爾曼先生看著他臨近的桌子上一封給他的信。“那對于這封信我們該做些什么，阿爾芒？”
'Do？' cried Monsieur Armand．'Why， do nothing， of course！ What can we do？'The two men read the letter again．It wasn't very long．
“做些什么？”阿爾芒先生叫道，“為什么，什么也不做，當然！我們又能做些什么呢？”兩位先生又讀了一遍這封信。信并不很長。
To the new directors
致新任經理們
Because you are new in the Opera House，I am writing to tell you some important things．Never sell tickets for Box 5；that is my box for every opera night．
因為你們是歌劇院的新任經理，所以我寫信告訴你們一些重要的事情。不要出售5號包廂的票；那是我觀看每一場晚場歌劇的包廂。
Madame Giry， the door keeper， knows all about it． Also，I need money for my work in the Opera House．
吉麗夫人，那位看門人，知道這一切。除此之外，我還需要在歌劇院工作的錢。
I am not expensive，and I am happy to take only20，000 francs a month． That is all． But please remem ber， I can be a good friend， but a bad enemy．
我要價并不高，一個月拿兩萬法郎我就感到滿足了。就這些。但是請記住，我會是一個好朋友，也會是一個死對頭。
'Don't sell tickets for Box 5! 20，000 francs a month!'Monsieur Armand was very angry again．
“不要出售5號包廂的票！兩萬法郎一個月！”阿爾芒先生又來氣了，
'That's the best box in the Opera House， and we need the money， Firmin！ And who is this O．G，eh？Tell me that！'
“那是歌劇院最好的包廂，而且我們需要錢，菲爾曼！誰是這個O．G．啊？告訴我！”
'Opera Ghost，of course，'Monsieur tirmin said．'But you're right， Armand. We can do nothing about this letter．
“自然是歌劇院的幽靈，”菲爾曼先生說，“但你是對的，阿爾芒。我絕對不能按照信上說的那么做。
It's a joke， a bad joke. Somebody thinks we are fools， because we are new here．There are no ghosts in the Opera House！'
這是一個玩笑，一個惡毒的玩笑。一些人認為我們是傻瓜，因為我們是新來的。歌劇院里根本就沒有幽靈！”
The two men then talked about the opera for that night． It was Faust，and usually La Carlotta sang Margarita．
然后這兩位先生就談論起當晚的歌劇來。當晚的歌劇是《浮士德》，通常由拉·卡洛塔演唱瑪格麗塔。
La Carlotta was Spanish，and the best singer in Paris．But today，La Carlot ta was ill．
拉·卡洛塔是西班牙人，是巴黎最好的歌唱家。但是今天，拉·卡洛塔卻病了。
'Everybody in Paris is going to be at the opera tonight，'said Monsieur Armand，'and cur best singer is ill．
“今晚巴黎的每個人都會到歌劇院來，”阿爾芒先生說，“而我們最好的歌唱家卻病了。
Suddenly！ She writes a letter to us just this morning-she is ill， she cannot sing tonight！'
她今天上午方才突然寫信給我們——她病了，她今晚不能演唱了！”
'Don't get angry again， Armand，' Monsieur Firmin said quickly.
“不要再生氣了，阿爾芒，”菲爾曼先生急忙說，
'We have Christine Daa， that young singer from Nor way．She can sing Margarita tonight．She has a good voice．'
“我們有克麗斯廷·達埃，那個年輕的挪威歌唱家。她今晚可以演唱瑪格麗塔那個角色。她有一副好嗓子?！?/div>
'But she's so young， and nobody knows her！Nobody wants to listen to a new singer．'
“但是她太年輕了，而且沒有人知道她！沒有人想聽一位新歌唱家的演唱。”
'Wait and see．Perhaps Daaé can sing better than La Carlot ta．Who knows？'
“等著瞧吧。也許達埃還會比拉·卡洛塔唱得更好。誰知道呢？”
