nicipal guard twice, this evening, to
clear Box Five on the grand tier, once at the beginning and once in the
middle of the second act. The occupants, who arrived as the curtain
rose on the second act, created a regular scandal by their laughter and
their ridiculous observations. There were cries of "Hush!" all around
them and the whole house was beginning to protest, when the box-keeper
came to fetch me. I entered the box and said what I thought necessary.
The people did not seem to me to be in their right mind; and they made
stupid remarks. I said that, if the noise was repeated, I should be
compelled to clear the box. The moment I left, I heard the laughing
again, with fresh protests from the house. I returned with a municipal
guard, who turned them out. They protested, still laughing, saying
they would not go unless they had their money back. At last, they
became quiet and I allowed them to enter the box again. The laughter
at once recommenced; and, this time, I had them turned out definitely.

"Send for the inspector," said Richard to his secretary, who had
already read the report and marked it with blue pencil.

M. Remy, the secretary, had foreseen the order and called the inspector
at once.

"Tell us what happened," said Richard bluntly.

The inspector began to splutter and referred to the report.

"Well, but what were those people laughing at?" asked Moncharmin.

"They must have been dining, sir, and seemed more inclined to lark
about than to listen to good music. The moment they entered the box,
they came out again and called the box-keeper, who asked them what they
wanted. They said, 'Look in the box: there's no one there, is there?'
'No,' said the woman. 'Well,' said they, 'when we went in, we heard a
voice saying THAT THE BOX WAS TAKEN!'"

M. Moncharmin could not help smiling as he looked at M. Richard; but M.
Richard did not smile. He himself had done too much in that way in his
time not to recognize, in the inspector's story, all the marks of one
of those practical jokes which begin by amusing and end by enraging the
victims. The inspector, to curry favor with M. Moncharmin, who was
smiling, thought it best to give a smile too. A most unfortunate
smile! M. Richard glared at his subordinate, who thenceforth made it
his business to display a face of utter consternation.

"However, when the people arrived," roared Richard, "there was no one
in the box, was there?"

"Not a soul, sir,