The Ghost: A Modern Fantasy

llivan had not exaggerated his own importance. They did look after me. They looked after me with such respectful diligence that I might have been excused for supposing that they

into the mirror that hung on the crimson partition of the box to make sure

of white arms and shoulders which rivalled the glitter of the vast crystal chandelier. The wide floor of serried stalls (those stalls of which one pair at least had gone for six pound ten) added their more

o recapture London. On ordinary nights, for the inhabitants of boxes, the Opera is a social observance, an exhibition of jewels, something between an F.O. reception and a conversazione with music in the distance. But to-night the habitués c

there existed nothing save the voluptuous music, to which I abandoned myself as to the fascination of a dream. But not for long. Just as the curtain rose, the door behind me gave a click, and Sullivan entered in all his magnificence. I

is Carl," Sull

sank down into a chair, loosing my hand swiftly. I was going to say that she loosed my hand as if it had been the tail of a snake that she had picked up in mistake for something else. But that would leave

ear. "Nerves, you know. Women are like that. Wait till y

n a moment the music had

a loveliness of that imperious, absolute, dazzling kind which banishes from the hearts of men all moral conceptions, all considerations of right and wrong, and leaves therein nothing but worship and desire. Her acting, as she replied by gesture to the question of the king, was perfect in its realization of the simplicity of Elsa. Nevertheless

stasy, she began her opening song, "In Lichter Waffen Scheine," her face was upon the instant forgotten. She became a Voice-pure, m

Alresca, and that I mention him now merely as the man who happened to hold Rosa's hand, shows with what absolute sovereignty Rosa had dominated the scene. For as Rosa was among sopranos, so was Alresca among tenors-

ta Rosa smiled at him; he gave he

and I was rather surprised to find that she showed not a trace of the nervous excitement which had marked her entrance into the box. She sat t

this music," she said to me. She spoke well, perhaps ra

. Smith," I replied, blushing for the

I shouldn't at all like it if I mightn't call you Carl. Carl is

nt desire to give me fair opportunity of a tête-à-tête with his dark and languorous lady. Unfortunately, I was

Smart," he sai

meeting! And so you are a doctor! You don't know how y

said. At any rate, I k

he sm

ic-loathe it. But it's Sullivan's trad

towards the splendid an

idn't 'loathe' that first act. I never heard anythin

emed to come into her eyes. And after a pause

love with h

continued t

help it?"

and her left hand hung

he was excited again, that was evident. The nervous mood had overtaken her. The long pendent lobes of her ears crimsoned, and her o

questione

ponded with fierce emphasis. "And as for Rosa in particular-as f

ldered. I began to wish that Sul

m wrong," s

llent imitation of the woman of fashion, while I tried to be

she asked vivaciously in anoth

raid I

ve you be

inburgh," I said

. Of course, it will be largely theatrical,-Sullivan has to mix a good deal with that class, you know; it's his business,-but there will be

d have thought you wouldn't ask

or a fact she declined Lady Casterby's invitation to meet a Serene

the usual preliminaries, and the orchestr

any crystal-gazing?"

floor of the house

ok my

ecoming excited again. "At my reception there will

g over the front of the b

herself to en

ng with him a short, slight, bald-headed man of about fifty. T

ou my cousin, Carl Foster. Ca

t me I could somehow feel that here was an intelligence somewhat out of the common. At first he said little, and that lit

d square chin showed the stiffest determination. He looked fatigued, weary, and harassed; yet it did not appear that he complained of his lot; rather accepted it w

-night?" Sullivan asked. "Suffering

alousy. There is one thing about Alresca that makes me sometimes think he is not an artist at all-he is incapable of being j

what i

actually suggested that I should change the bill to-night! That showed me that something really was the matter, because he's the most modest and courteous man I

there is a misfortune coming to me. I feel it.' That's just what he said-'There's a misfortune coming to me. I feel it.' He's superstitious. They all are. Naturally, I set to work

struck into th

th Rosa, is he?" she

f course he isn't, my

if angry, and Sullivan made a comi

an persisted, waitin

miration of a man like Alresca. Besides, so far as I know, they've seen very little of each other. They're too expensive to sing together often. There's only myself and Conried of New York who would dream of puttin

Sullivan slowly, "whether she has refused him

" Sullivan smiled. "How fo

isdained to rep

" she added, "he has b

he company of these celebrities, I ventured to inquire what Lord Clarenceux, whose riche

shortly afterwards. It was a terrible shock for her. Indeed, I have always thought that the shock had something to do with her

?" said Sullivan. "I only know the beginning of it, an

estly. "But perhaps

ssible. She was nineteen. Of course, I knew instantly that I had met with the chance of my life. In my time I have discovered eleven stars, but this was a sun. I engaged her at once, and s

would think it over. She wouldn't sign a contract. I was annoyed. My motto is, 'Never be annoyed,' but I was. Next to herself, she owed everything to

through them their mistresses can be approached when all other avenues are closed. I can talk doggily to poodles in five languages, and in the art of administering sugar to the bird I am, I venture to think, unrivalled. But Rosa had no pets. And after a week's negotiation, I was compelled to own myself beaten. It was a disadvantage to me th

inwardly workin

you make it up?" Su

had come suddenly into the

now. New York and Chicago are all very well for money, but if they don't sing in London people ask 'em why. I wanted to jump at the offer, but I pretended not to be eager. Up till then she had confined herself to French operas; so I said that London wouldn't stand an exclusively French repertoire from any one, and w

did she m

politeness. And I under

glish, I supp

e that. No. That is another of her mysteries. No one knows where she emerged from. She speaks English and French with absolute perfection. Her It

and mysterious enough, and awkward enough. But, thank goodness, she isn't polite-at least, those at the Diana aren't. You can speak

op now, Sullivan," his wif

a neighboring hill. The music of the two processions was heard approaching from the distance. Then, to the too familiar strains of the wedding march, the ladies began to enter on the right, and the gentlemen on the

Where's Alresca?" It w

ght," Sir Cyril said

violently with apprehension under my shirt-front. Where was Alresca? It was surely impossible that he should fail to appear! But he ou

aid to

of thing. Naturally sli

d not control

ely clutching at the velvet-c

right," I repe

even the impassive Sir Cyril seemed likely to be disturbed, and you could hear murmurs of apprehensio

which is Lohengrin's cue. They hung on it for a second, and then the conductor dropped his baton. A bell rang. The curtain descended. The lights were turned up, and

me," he said. "Alresca was not mistake

nor was unimpaired, this unprecedented calamity had completely robbed

official with a blazing diamond i

is it,

o Monsieur Alresca, Sir Cyr

? No! I was so timid, I was so unaccustomed to being a doctor, that I dared not for the life of me utter a

octor," sai

I bl

rom his condition of suspended activity. "I ne

I answered as b