Angel of Music

Chapter Ten: Notes

It was once again daylight. The sun beamed brightly down upon the Opera Populaire. Its golden colour illuminated throughout the street. It was another bright and sunny day in France.

People were scattered all around the outside of the opera. People were going about their morning business. One man was pushing his way through the crowd towards the Opera Populaire. His name was Lumier.

Pushing past the queue that was waiting outside the opera, he took a swift exit. He made his way through the Opera through the grand entrance. As he entered two men dressed in red and gold robes, with fancy white wigs took Lumier hat and coat.

"'Mystery after gala night,' it says, 'Mystery of soprano's flight'," Lumier quotes to all of the staff, who listen intensely.

"Mystified all the papers say, we are mystified we suspect foul play!" He quotes yet again, as he begins to walk towards the grand staircase.

"Bad news on soprano scene first Grimhilde, now Elsa! Still, at least the seats get sold. Gossip's worth its weight in gold," Lumiere came to the top of the staircase by this point and he watched the two cleaners bow to him in a respectful manner.

"What a way to run a business! Spare me these unending trials! Half your cast disappears, but the crowd still cheers! Opera! To hell with Gluck and Handel -It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles!" Lumier stated as he viciously ripped his own gloves off his hands. He was not pleased.

Cogsworth bursts in, frantically saying, "damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable!"

Lumier quickly made his way to his scared friend. Trying to calm him.

Both men were both dressed in a white undershirt with a waistcoat with bowties with an overcoat and pants. Both were dressed well for the occasion.

"Cogsworth, please don't shout," Lumier whispered, whilst grabbing his friend to a more secluded area.

"It's publicity! And the take is vast! Free publicity!" Lumier informed his friend as he continued to walk.

"But we have no cast!" Cogsworth yelled, reminding Lumier of their terrible predicament.

"Cogsworth, have you seen the queue?" He asked his business partner with a calm tone. Turning to look out of the window to see his partners observation, he turned away from Lumier.

Lumier watched his friend turn and noticed the letter he held. A white envelope with the seal of a skull. He knew who that was from.

"Ah, it seems you've got one too," Lumier said as he eyes the letter. Cogsworth scoffed before he placed the letter close enough to read.

"Dear Cogsworth, just a brief reminder: my salary has not been paid. Send it care of the ghost, by a return of post. P.T.O.: No-one likes a debtor, so it's better if my orders are obeyed!" Cogsworth recited his letter. He was not pleased with the letter.

"Dear Lumier what a charming gala! Elsa was in a word, sublime. We were hardly bereft when Grimhilde left -on that note, the diva is a disaster must you cast her when she's seasons past prime!" Lumier spoke harshly as he quoted the letter that he had received. He too was not pleased, not pleased at all.

Both men glanced at each other with the same emotion in their eyes. Anger.

"Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a puerile brain!" Both men stated in rather annoyed tones. As they spoke they moved towards a balcony that allowed them to see their grand entrance and all the cleaners doing their work.