‘Quick! Quick! Close the door! It’s him!’

「快點快點！把門關上，他來了！」

Annie Sorelli ran into the dressing-room, her face white.

安妮梭兒莉臉色蒼白，跑進化妝間，

One of the girls ran and closed the door, and then they all turned to Annie Sorelli.

其中一個女孩跑去把門關上，接著所有女孩都轉向梭兒莉大喊：

‘Who? Where? What’s the matter?’ they cried.

「是誰？在哪裡？發生什麼事了？」

‘It’s the ghost!’ Annie said.

梭兒莉說：「是劇院之鬼！」

‘In the passage. I saw him. He came through the wall in front of me!

我在走廊看到他經過前面的牆壁！

And... and I saw his face!’

我還看到他的臉！

Most of the girls were afraid, but one of them, a tall girl with black hair, laughed.

大部分女孩都很害怕，但其中一個黑髮高個兒女孩反而笑了：

‘Pooh!’ she said.

「哼！

‘Everybody says they see the Opera ghost, but there isn’t really a ghost.

大家都說看過劇院之鬼，可是鬼其實不存在，

You saw a shadow on the wall.’

你在牆壁上看的只是影子。」

But she did not open the door, or look into the passage.

不過黑髮女孩也沒去打開門看看走廊，

‘Lots of people see him,’ a second girl said.

另一個女孩說：「很多人看過他。」

‘Joseph Buquet saw him two days ago. Don’t you remember?’

「喬瑟夫布克兩天前就看過，你不記得嗎？」

Then all the girls began to talk at once.

接著女孩們紛紛開始討論。

‘Joseph says the ghost is tall and he wears a black evening coat.’

「喬瑟夫說那個鬼很高，穿著黑色晚禮服，

‘He has the head of a dead man, with a yellow face and no nose...’

容貌像死人，臉色蠟黃、沒有鼻子和

‘... And no eyes - only black holes!’

眼睛，只有兩個窟窿！」

Then little Meg Giry spoke for the first time.

小梅格吉莉第一次說話：

‘Don’t talk about him. He doesn’t like it. My mother told me.’

「別講他了，我母親說他不喜歡這樣。」

‘Your mother?’ the girl with black hair said.

「你母親？」黑髮女孩問道。

‘What does your mother know about the ghost?’

「她知道劇院之鬼嗎？」

‘She says that Joseph Buquet is a fool.

「她說喬瑟夫布克很笨，

The ghost doesn’t like people talking about him, and one day Joseph Buquet is going to be sorry, very sorry.’

劇院之鬼不喜歡別人談論他，所以布克總有一天會後悔的。」

‘But what does your mother know? Tell us, tell us!’ all the girls cried.

「你母親還知道什麼？告訴我們！」女孩們大喊。

‘Oh dear!’ said Meg.

梅格說：「噢天啊！

‘But please don’t say a word to anyone.

好吧我告訴你們，但請別跟任何人說，

You know my mother is the doorkeeper for some of the boxes in the Opera House.

你們知道我母親負責看館劇院的某些包廂，

Well, Box 5 is the ghost’s box!

其中五號包廂是給劇院之鬼專用！

He watches the operas from that box, and sometimes he leaves flowers for my mother!’

他都在那裡看歌劇，有時候會留一朵花給我母親！」

‘The ghost has a box! And leaves flowers in it!’

「劇院之鬼竟然有個專屬包廂，還會送花！」

‘Oh, Meg, your mother’s telling you stories!

「梅格，你母親只是跟你編故事吧？

How can the ghost have a box?’

劇院之鬼怎麼可能有包廂呢？」

‘It’s true, it’s true, I tell you!’ Meg said.

梅格說：「是真的！我跟你們保證！」

‘Nobody buys tickets for Box 5, but the ghost always comes to it on opera nights.’

「沒人會買五號包廂的票，但只要晚上有歌劇表演，劇院之鬼就會到那邊看。」

‘So somebody does come there?’

「所以會有人去五號包廂嗎？」

‘Why, no!... The ghost comes, but there is nobody there.’

「不是，那邊沒人，只有劇院之鬼。」

The dancers looked at Meg.

舞伶們看著梅格，

‘But how does your mother know?’ one of them asked.

「但你母親怎麼知道的？」其中一個女孩問，

‘There’s no man in a black evening coat, with a yellow face. That’s all wrong.

「劇院沒有穿晚禮服的黃臉男人，都是錯誤傳言，

My mother never sees the ghost in Box 5, but she hears him!

我母親從沒在五號包廂看到劇院之鬼，可是能聽到聲音！

He talks to her, but there is nobody there!

劇院之鬼會跟她說話，可是那裡明明都沒有人！

And he doesn’t like people talking about him!’

他也不喜歡別人談論他！」

But that evening the dancers could not stop talking about the Opera ghost.

可是那天晚上舞伶們不斷討論劇院之鬼，根本停不下來，

They talked before the opera, all through the opera, and after the opera.

歌劇表演前、歌劇上演時在後台、還有表演完後她們都在講，

But they talked very quietly, and they looked behind them before they spoke.

不過她們非常小聲地討論，開口前也會先看看身後有無可疑人物。

When the opera finished, the girls went back to their dressing-room.

表演結束後，女孩們回到化妝間，

Suddenly, they heard somebody in the passage, and Madame Giry, Meg’s mother, ran into the room.

忽然走廊傳來聲音，吉利夫人─梅格的母親─跑進化妝間，

She was a fat, motherly woman, with a red, happy face.

她身材圓胖、面容和善，向來有著紅潤臉色與快活神情，

But tonight her face was white.

然而今晚卻臉色慘白，

‘Oh girls.’ she cried. ‘Joseph Buquet is dead!

她大喊：「女孩們，喬瑟夫布克死了！

You know he works a long way down, on the fourth floor under the stage.

你們都知道他在舞台地下四樓工作，離地面很遠，

The other stage workers found his dead body there an hour ago - with a rope around his neck!’

一個小時前，其他舞台工人發現他的屍體，脖子被繩子勒住，

‘It’s the ghost!’ cried Meg Giry. ‘The ghost killed him!’

梅格尖叫：「是劇院之鬼！一定是他殺死布克的！」

Chapter 2; The directors of the Opera House

第二章：歌劇院經理。

The Opera House was famous, and the directors of the Opera House were very important men.

巴黎歌劇院很有名，劇院經理也是顯要人物，

It was the first week of work for the two new directors, Monsieur Armand Moncharmin and Monsieur Firmin Richard.

艾蒙與費曼先生剛接管巴黎歌劇院一個星期，

In the directors’ office the next day, the two men talked about Joseph Buquet.

隔天兩位經理在辦公室談論布克事件，

‘It was an accident,’ Monsieur Armand said angrily.

孟夏曼生氣地說：「這只是場意外，

‘Or Buquet killed himself.’

或是布克自殺。」

‘An accident?... Killed himself?’ Monsieur Firmin said.

費曼先生說：「意外？自殺？

‘Which story do you want, my friend? Or do you want the story of the ghost?’

朋友，你希望是什麼原因？還是你希望是劇院之鬼造成的？」

‘Don’t talk to me about ghosts!’ Monsieur Armand said.

艾蒙說：「別講劇院之鬼的事情！」

‘We have 1,500 people working for us in this Opera House, and everybody is talking about the ghost.

「可是劇院一千五百位員工都在談論劇院之鬼。」

They’re all mad! I don’t want to hear about the ghost, OK?’

「他們都瘋了！別讓我聽到『劇院之鬼』這四個字，可以嗎？」

Monsieur Firmin looked at a letter on the table next to him.

費曼先生看著身旁桌上的信，

‘And what are we going to do about this letter, Armand?’

「艾蒙，那這封信我們要怎麼處理？」

‘Do?’ cried Monsieur Armand.

艾蒙叫道：「處理？

‘Why, do nothing, of course! What can we do?’

當然是什麼都別做，不然還能做什麼？」

The two men read the letter again. It wasn’t very long.

經理們又把信看了一次，內容不長，

To the new directors.

「致新經理們，

Because you are new in the Opera House, I am writing to tell you some important things.

你們剛接管巴黎歌劇院，所以我要告訴你們重要的事情：

Never sell tickets for Box 5; that is my box for every opera night.

絕對不要出售五號包廂的票，如果晚上有歌劇演出，要特別留給我，

Madame Giry, the doorkeeper, knows all about it.

吉莉夫人─包廂的看門人─對這件事很清楚，

Also, I need money for my work in the Opera House.

我在歌劇院工作也需要薪水，

I am not expensive, and I am happy to take only 20,000 francs a month.

我要求不高，一個月兩萬法郎就夠了，

That is all. But please remember, I can be a good friend, but a bad enemy. O.G.

這是我的所有請求，請記住我可以是你們的朋友、也能是敵人，劇鬼敬上」

‘Don’t sell tickets for Box 5! 20,000 francs a month!’

「別賣五號包廂的票！一個月兩萬法郎！」

Monsieur Armand was very angry again.

艾蒙先生再度勃然大怒，

‘That’s the best box in the Opera House, and we need the money, Firmin!

「那可是巴黎歌劇院最好的包廂，我們需要收入，費曼！

And who is this O.G., eh? Tell me that!’

而且劇鬼是什麼？告訴我！」

‘Opera ghost, of course,’ Monsieur Firmin said.

費曼先生說：「當然是劇院之鬼。

‘But you’re right, Armand. We can do nothing about this letter.

但艾蒙你是對的，我們沒辦法做什麼，

It’s a joke, a bad joke.

這只是個討人厭的玩笑，

Somebody thinks we are fools, because we are new here.

有些人覺得我們是傻瓜，只因為我們才剛來這裡，

There are no ghosts in the Opera House!’

巴黎歌劇院才沒有鬼！」

The two men then talked about the opera for that night.

接著經理們開始討論當天晚上的歌劇─《浮士德》，

It was Faust, and usually La Carlotta sang Margarita.

瑪格莉塔通常由名伶卡洛塔扮演，

La Carlotta was Spanish, and the best singer in Paris.

卡洛塔是西班牙人，也是巴黎最好的歌唱家，

But today, La Carlotta was ill.

但今天卡洛塔病了，

‘Everybody in Paris is going to be at the opera tonight,’ said Monsieur Armand,

艾蒙說：「所有巴黎人今晚都會來看這場歌劇，

‘and our best singer is ill.

可是我們最好的歌手卻生病了，

Suddenly! She writes a letter to us just this morning - she is ill, she cannot sing tonight!’

多突然啊！她早上才寄信給我們說她生病了，今晚無法演出！」

‘Don’t get angry again, Armand,’ Monsieur Firmin said quickly.

費曼立刻說：「艾蒙，別生氣了，

‘We have Christine Daae, that young singer from Norway.

我們還有克莉絲汀黛也─來自挪威的年輕歌手，

She can sing Margarita tonight. She has a good voice.’

她歌喉好，可以演出瑪格麗塔。」

‘But she’s so young, and nobody knows her!

「可是她太年輕，而且沒沒無聞！

Nobody wants to listen to a new singer.’

沒人會想聽新進歌手唱歌。」

‘Wait and see. Perhaps Daae can sing better than La Carlotta. Who knows?’

「試試看吧！也許她唱得比卡洛塔好，誰知道呢？」

Chapter 3; Christine Daae

第三章：克莉絲汀黛也。

Monsieur Firmin was right.

費曼先生說對了，

All Paris talked about the new Margarita in Faust, the girl with the beautiful voice,

全巴黎都在討論瑪格莉特的新演員，

the girl with the voice of an angel. People loved her.

他們非常喜歡那個女孩，認為她的歌聲彷彿天使，

They laughed and cried and called for more.

他們笑得很開心，同時大喊想聽克莉絲汀唱更多曲子，

Daae was wonderful, the best singer in the world!

「克莉絲汀好厲害，真是世界上最棒的歌手！」

Behind the stage Meg Giry looked at Annie Sorelli.

梅格在後台對梭兒莉說，

‘Christine Daae never sang like that before,’ she said to Annie.

「她以前從來沒唱得這麼好，

‘Why was she so good tonight?’

為什麼今晚如此傑出？」

‘Perhaps she’s got a new music teacher,’ Annie said.

梭兒莉說：「也許她有一個新的音樂老師。」

The noise in the Opera House went on for a long time.

巴黎歌劇院的喧鬧聲持續很久。

In Box 14, Philippe, the Comte de Chagny, turned to his younger brother and smiled.

在 14 號包廂，菲利浦夏尼伯爵向他的弟弟微笑：

‘Well, Raoul, what did you think of Daae tonight?’

「勞爾，你覺得黛也小姐表現怎樣？」

Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, was twenty-one years old.

勞爾夏尼子爵二十一歲，

He had blue eyes and black hair, and a wonderful smile.

黑髮藍眼，微笑很好看。

The Chagny family was old and rich, and many girls in Paris were in love with the young Vicomte.

夏尼家族歷史悠久也很富有，許多巴黎女孩都喜歡年輕的勞爾夏尼子爵，

But Raoul was not interested in them.

可是勞爾對她們不感興趣。

He smiled back at his brother.

勞爾也向哥哥微笑：

‘What can I say? Christine is an angel, that’s all.

「我能說什麼呢？克莉絲汀真是個天使，就這樣。

I’m going to her dressing-room to see her tonight.’

我今晚要去她的化妝間看她。」

Philippe laughed. He was twenty years older than Raoul, and was more like a father than a brother.

菲利浦笑了，他比勞爾年長二十歲，所以更像他的父親而不是兄長。

‘Ah, I understand,’ he said.

他說：「我了解了，

‘You are in love! But this is your first night in Paris, your first visit to the opera.

你一定是戀愛了，可是這是你到首次來巴黎的第一天晚上，

How do you know Christine Daae?’

你怎麼會認識克莉絲汀黛也？」

‘You remember four years ago, when I was on holiday by the sea, in Brittany?’ Raoul said.

勞爾說：「你記得四年前我到布列塔尼海邊度假嗎？

‘Well, I met Christine there.

我就是在那裡認識克莉絲汀的，

I was in love with her then, and I’m still in love with her today!’

當時我就喜歡上她了，現在還是！」

The Comte de Chagny looked at his brother.

菲利浦伯爵看著他的弟弟，

‘Mmm, I see,’ he said slowly.

慢條斯理地說：「我懂了，

‘Well, Raoul, remember she is only an opera singer.

不過勞爾，要記住她只是個歌劇歌手，

We know nothing about her family.’

我們對她出身一無所知。」

But Raoul did not listen.

但是勞爾沒有聽進去，

To him, good families were not important, and young men never listen to their older brothers.

對他來說，家庭背景不重要，很多年輕人也都不聽從兄長的話。

There were many people in Christine Daae’s dressing-room that night.

那天晚上有許多人在克莉絲汀黛也的化妝間，

But there was a doctor with Christine, and her beautiful face looked white and ill.

有個醫生待在他身旁，她美麗的臉龐蒼白虛弱。

Raoul went quickly across the room and took her hand.

勞爾快速穿過房間來到她身旁、提起她的手，

‘Christine! What’s the matter? Are you ill?’

「克莉絲汀！妳怎麼了！你生病了嗎？」

He went down on the floor by her chair.

勞爾在她的椅子旁跪了下來，

‘Don’t you remember me - Raoul de Chagny, in Brittany?’

「你不記得我了嗎？我是勞爾夏尼，在布列塔尼認識的！」

Christine looked at him, and her blue eyes were afraid.

克莉絲汀看著她，藍色的眼眸流露恐懼，

She took her hand away.

她把手抽開，

‘No, I don’t know you. Please go away. I’m not well.’

「我不認識你，請你走開！我不舒服。」

Raoul stood up, his face red.

勞爾臉紅地站了起來，

Before he could speak, the doctor said quickly,

在他開口之前，醫生馬上說：

‘Yes, yes, please go away. Everybody, please leave the room.

「對，請你離開，其他人也是，都離開這裡，

Mademoiselle Daae needs to be quiet. She is very tired.’

黛也小姐非常疲累，需要安靜的空間。」

He moved to the door, and soon everybody left the room.

勞爾向門口走去，很快地所有人都走了，

Christine Daae was alone in her dressing-room.

現在化妝間裡只有克莉絲汀一個人。

Outside in the passage the young Vicomte was angry and unhappy.

勞爾走到外面走廊，非常生氣不滿，

How could Christine forget him? How could she say that to him?

克莉絲汀怎麼會忘了他？怎能對他說那些話？

He waited for some minutes, then, very quietly and carefully,

他等了幾分鐘後，小心安靜地

he went back to the door of her dressing-room.

回到克莉絲汀的化妝間門口，

But he did not open the door, because just then he heard a man’s voice in the room!

但他沒開門，因為他聽到裡面傳來男人的聲音！

‘Christine, you must love me!’ the voice said.

那個聲音說：「克莉絲汀，你必須愛我！」

Then Raoul heard Christine’s voice.

接著勞爾聽到克莉絲汀的聲音，

‘How can you talk like that? When I sing only for you...?

「您怎麼這樣說？我只為您而唱！

Tonight, I gave everything to you, everything. And now I’m so tired.’

今晚我已經獻出一切給您，現在我好累。」

Her voice was unhappy and afraid.

她的聲音沒有一點喜悅，而且很害怕。

‘You sang like an angel,’ the man’s voice said.

男人的聲音回答：「你的歌聲彷彿天使。」

Raoul walked away.

勞爾離開門口，

So that was the answer! Christine Daae had a lover.

所以這就是原因，克莉絲汀有愛人了！

But why was her voice so unhappy?

可是為什麼她聽起來很哀傷？

He waited in the shadows near her room.

勞爾在化妝間附近的陰暗處等待，

He wanted to see her lover - his enemy!

他要看到克莉絲汀愛人─他的情敵─的真面目！

After about ten minutes Christine came out of her room, alone, and walked away down the passage.

十分鐘後克莉絲汀獨自走出房間，穿過走廊，

Raoul waited, but no man came out after her.

勞爾等待著，可是沒有男人跟著她出來，

There was nobody in the passage, so Raoul went quickly up to the door of the dressing-room, opened it and went in.

走廊上也沒有人，所以他快速跑到化妝間門口開門進去，

He closed the door quietly behind him, then called out

勞爾把身後的門小心關上，在化妝間大叫：

‘Where are you? I know you’re in here! Come out!’

「你在哪裡？我知道你在這裡！快出來！」

There was no answer.

沒有人回答。

Raoul looked everywhere - under the chairs, behind all the clothes, in all the dark corners of the room.

勞爾四處尋找─椅子下、衣服後面、和化妝間所有陰暗角落，

There was nobody there.

但還是沒找到任何人。

Chapter 4; The Phantom is angry

第四章：憤怒的劇院之鬼。

That was Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning Monsieur Armand and Monsieur Firmin were happy men.

克莉絲汀當時於星期二晚上演出，隔天早上艾蒙與費曼先生都很樂不可支，

Paris liked the new Margarita - everything in life was good.

因為全巴黎都喜歡這位新的瑪格麗塔演員，一切都很順利，

The next opera night was Friday.

下一場歌劇在星期五，

It was Faust again, but this time with La Carlotta singing Margarita.

劇碼仍是《浮士德》，但這次由卡洛塔演出瑪格麗塔。

By Wednesday afternoon they were not so happy.

然而到了星期三下午經理們就笑不出來了，

A second letter arrived for them - from O.G.

因為他們收到劇院之鬼寄來的第二封信。

Why don’t you listen to me? I am getting angry.

「為什麼你們不聽我的話？我越來越生氣了，

Leave Box 5 free for me. And where are my 20,000 francs?

請把五號包廂留給我，而且我的兩萬法郎薪水在哪？

On Friday Daae must sing Margarita again.

你們星期五一定要讓克莉絲汀黛也再次演出瑪格麗塔，

She is now the best singer in Paris.

她是現在巴黎最好的歌唱家，

La Carlotta cannot sing - she has a very ugly voice, like a toad.

卡洛塔根本就不會唱歌，聲音就像蟾蜍叫聲一樣難聽，

Remember, I am a bad enemy. O. G.

請記住我現在是你們的可怕敵人，劇院之鬼敬上。」

‘So, Firmin, is this still a joke?’ Monsieur Armand shouted.

「所以費曼，這還只是開玩笑嗎？」艾蒙先生喊道。

‘What are we going to do now, eh? Is O.G. the director here, or are we?’

「現在要怎麼辦？劇院經理到底是劇院之鬼還是我們？」

‘Don’t shout, Armand,’ said Monsieur Firmin tiredly.

費曼先生疲累地說：「別叫了，艾蒙。

‘I don’t know the answers.

我不知道怎麼辦，

Let’s talk to Madame Giry, the doorkeeper of Box 5.

來問問五號包廂的看門人吉莉夫人，

Perhaps she can help us.’

也許她可以幫我們。」

But Madame Giry was not helpful.

然而吉莉夫人沒能提供多大幫助，

Madame Giry was not afraid of ghosts, and she was not afraid of directors of Opera Houses.

吉莉夫人並不怕鬼，也不怕劇院的經理，

‘People say that you’re a friend of the Opera ghost, Madame Giry,’ Monsieur Armand began.

艾蒙首先開口：「大家都說你是劇院之鬼的朋友，

‘Tell us about him. Some people say he has no head.’

請告訴我們有關他的事情，有人說他沒有頭，是真的嗎？」

‘And some people say he has no body,’ said Monsieur Firmin.

費曼先生說：「有人說他沒有身體。

‘What do you say, Madame Giry?’

「吉莉夫人，到底是怎樣呢？」

Madame Giry looked at the two men and laughed.

吉莉夫人看著兩個經理大笑，

‘I say that the directors of the Opera House are fools!’

「巴黎歌劇院經理真是傻瓜！」

‘What!’ Monsieur Armand shouted.

艾蒙先生大叫：「什麼！」

He stood up, and his race was red and angry. ‘Listen to me, woman-’

他站了起來，氣得脹紅了臉，「女士，聽我說...」

Oh, sit down, Armand, and listen,’ said Monsieur Firmin.

費曼先生說：「噢！艾蒙你坐下來聽吧！」

‘Why do you say that, Madame Giry?’

「為什麼你會這麼說？吉莉夫人？」

Because, Monsieur, the Opera ghost is angry with you.

「先生，因為劇院之鬼對你們很生氣，

When the ghost wants something, he must have it.

他想要什麼我們就必須滿足他，

He is clever and dangerous, this ghost.

他很聰明也很危險，

The old directors before you, they knew that, oh yes.

前任任經理也知道這些，

At first they tried to stop him.

一開始他們試圖阻止劇院之鬼，

Then there were many accidents in the Opera House, many strange accidents.

可是後來在歌劇院發生許多奇怪的意外，

And when did these accidents happen?

這些意外何時發生的？

When the ghost was angry!

那就是劇院之鬼發怒的時候！

So, the old directors learnt very quickly.

所以前任經理很快就學乖了，

The ghost wants Box 5? He can have it every night.

劇院之鬼想要五號包廂？好，他每天晚上都可以用，

The ghost wants money? Let’s give the money to him at once.

他想要錢？好，我們馬上給他，

Oh yes, the old directors understood very well.’

對，前任經理非常了解劇院之鬼的可怕。」

‘But we are the directors, not the Opera ghost!’ Monsieur Armand shouted.

「但歌劇院的經理是我們，不是劇院之鬼！」艾蒙先生叫道，

He turned to Monsieur Firmin.

他轉向費曼先生，

‘This woman is mad. Why do we listen to her?

「這個女人瘋了，為什麼我們聽她的？

On Friday night La Carlotta is going to sing Margarita.

星期五晚上卡洛塔照例演出瑪格麗塔，

And you and I, Firmin, are going to watch the opera from Box 5.’

我們要在五號包廂看這場歌劇。」

‘Well, we can try that, Armand. But we don’t want any accidents.’

好吧！艾蒙，可以試試看，可是我不希望發生任何意外。」

Madame Giry came nearer to the two men.

吉莉夫人來到經理們身旁，

‘Listen to me,’ she said quietly.

小聲地說：「你們必須聽我的，

‘Remember Joseph Buquet?

還記得喬瑟夫布克嗎？

I tell you, the Opera ghost is a good friend, but a bad enemy.’

我告訴你們：劇院之鬼可以是你們的好朋友，也可以是可怕的敵人。」

The two men stared at her.

經理們瞪著她，

‘Those words,’ Monsieur Firmin said slowly, ‘why did you say those words, Madame Giry?’

「這些話，」費曼先生慢慢地說：「吉莉夫人，為什麼你要說這些？」

‘Because the ghost says them to me. I never see him, but I often hear him.

「是劇院之鬼向我說這些話的，我沒看過他，但是可以聽到他的聲音，