Beauty Of Music

Chapter 2

Meanwhile inside, the woman who had accompanied Monsieur Cholet was making her way down a back staircase and as she was going down, she looked over the bannister to see a short middle-aged man in a dark suit with dark hair and moustache.

"What are you waiting for?" she said.

"Madame, Madame one of the stagehands said I shouldn't go down there" the man replied in a nervous tone.

The 'Madame' then snatched a metal key the man was holding in his right hand.

"You're listening to a stagehand? Maybe you don't want to work for me any more at all" she said in an almost threatening tone as she walked around him and stopped at a door under the stairs.

"No, no I-I do" said the man almost begging as he followed her.

"So, you want an inventory of what?" the man stuttered.

"Of everything you can find down there. All costumes, all sets. I want to know exactly what it is we are inheriting" said the 'Madame' as she opened the door and gestured for the man to go in.

Once the door was closed behind him, the man looked to his left and saw a staircase leading down to the Cellars of the Opera House. He could not see the bottom for it was pitched black and there was a slight cold breeze. He took slow nervous steps down and when he finally reached the bottom, he began his task.

XXX

After taking some time to rest Christine and Catherine decided it was time to move on and head back home. But before they could leave the premises, they heard knocking on glass and when they turned, they saw the man in the red uniform standing inside a small office.

"Maybe the new manager will help you, but I can't promise you anything" he said then he led the sisters inside.

XXX

The man had walked so far down the cellars that he soon lost his way and had come across an area with ropes and gears everywhere he looked. As he maneuverer his way through the gears suddenly began to move which gave him a shock and he desperately wanted to leave but everywhere he looked he could not find a way out. He caught a glimpse of movement above him and when he looked up he saw a dark figure standing on the upper level and when the figure turned to face him it had the head of a skull and in reaction the man screamed and fell backwards down an opening in the floor, disappearing down into the darkness.

XXX

In the auditorium of the Opera House all the employees had gathered for a meeting and standing on the stage was Monsieur Carriere, Monsieur Cholet with his lady companion, the Maestro, and the stage manager.

"That's him, the new director" the man in the red uniform whispered to the Daae sisters motioning towards Monsieur Cholet.

Catherine was sitting on his right while Christine was on his left.

"The truth is my friends; it was time for me to leave" said Monsieur Carriere and in response everyone whispered amongst themselves their disapproval.

"I've been around far too long. All Paris must know by now the Opera is under new management and of course that means a new managing director. And I would like to present him to you" he continued.

Everyone gave Monsieur Cholet an appraised look and some whispered amongst each other on what they thought of him.

"He bought his way in" whispered a middle-aged woman in a dark brown dress with her hair tied in a bun.

"How else?" whispered a young man with dark hair, a moustache and wore white dress shirt and black trousers.

"Monsieur Alan Cholet" said Monsieur Carriere then gave a polite applause. A few employees followed suit while others were reluctant until Monsieur Carriere gestured with his eyes and they complied.