“A ghost,” he said, “who, on the same evening, carries off an opera-singer and steals twenty-thousand francs is a ghost who must have his hands very full! If you don’t mind, we will take the questions in order. The singer first, the twenty-thousand francs after. Come, M. de Chagny, let us try to talk seriously. You believe that Mlle. Christine Daaé has been carried off by an individual called Erik. Do you know this person? Have you seen him?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“In a churchyard.”

M. Mifroid gave a start, began to scrutinize Raoul again and said:

“Of course!⁠ ⁠… That’s where ghosts usually hang out!⁠ ⁠… And what were you doing in that churchyard?”