The next day Raoul was still doubting what he'd seen and heard in Christine's dressing room. "Did I really hear a man singing?" he asked himself. "I'm sure I did, but there was no one there other than Christine . . . and then she vanished through the mirror!"
He decided to pay a call on Mama Valerius in the hope that Christine had contacted her. When Raoul arrived at the old woman's apartment, he was astonished to find Christine herself. She was seated by the bed of Mama Valerius, who was sitting up and knitting. The color had returned to Christine's cheeks, and there were no longer shadows under her eyes. Without showing any emotion, Christine rose and held out her hands to Raoul. But he was so flabbergasted by her reappearance that he was speechless.
Mama Valerius laughed. "Don't you recognize our Christine? Her Angel of Music has returned her to us after two long weeks."
"Mama, you know there's no such thing as the Angel of Music!" Christine scolded.
Raoul sensed that Christine didn't want Mama Valerius to talk about the angel in front of him, but Mama Valerius didn't take the hint.
"But, child, he's been giving you lessons—"
"Mama, I've promised to explain everything someday. Until that day comes, please promise you won't ask any more questions."
"I will, provided you promise never to leave me again. Can you do that, Christine?"
The younger woman glanced nervously at Raoul and sat down. "Mama, none of this can be of interest to Monsieur de Chagny."
"On the contrary, mademoiselle, I am very interested," Raoul said, taking a seat in a chair next to her. "After what happened last night, I'm delighted—and surprised—to find you here. As an old friend, I'm concerned that your secrecy may prove fatal to you."
Mama Valerius gasped and dropped a knitting needle. "Is Christine in danger?" Without waiting for an answer, she said, "Christine, you must tell me everything right now! And what is this danger, Monsieur de Chagny?"
"There is a terrible mystery surrounding Christine and the opera house, a mystery more frightening than any ghost. I believe an imposter is pretending to be the Angel of Music to take advantage of Christine."
Christine put a protective arm around Mama Valerius. "Don't believe him!"
"You must promise never to leave me again." Mama Valerius patted Christine's arm, but the young woman remained silent.
"That's the only thing that can reassure the two of us," Raoul added. "We won't question you about the past, if you remain under our protection in the future."
But Christine refused to make any promises. "You have no right to control my actions, Monsieur de Chagny. As for the past two weeks, there's only one person who could question me about that: my husband. Well, I have no husband, and I never intend to marry, so I don't have to listen to anybody, especially you!"
As she gestured wildly, Raoul was alarmed to notice a plain gold ring on her left hand.
Raoul tried to grab her hand. "You have no husband, and yet you wear a wedding ring!"
"That's a present!" Christine blushed as she hid her hand behind her back.
"Since you have no husband, that ring can only have been given by someone who hopes to be your husband! Are you engaged?" Raoul asked.
"That's none of your business," Christine said. "As far as I'm concerned—"
"I beg your pardon, mademoiselle." Raoul interrupted for fear she was about to banish him forever. "I have sometimes doubted the evidence I've seen with my own eyes."
"Well, what did you think you saw?" Christine was angry now.
"I saw your joy at the sound of a man's voice coming from a wall in your dressing room. Your joy," Raoul repeated for emphasis. "You've spoken about the Angel of Music and then tell us today that there is no such thing. In that case, why did you look as radiant as if you were really hearing angels? Why did you follow the voice through the mirror?"
"What is he talking about?" Mama Valerius looked concerned.
Christine stayed silent while Raoul went on. "You're under a very dangerous spell. I myself was so enchanted by the voice that you vanished before my eyes. Tell us the name of the man behind the voice—the man who dares to put a ring on your finger!"
"I'll never tell you!" Christine said.
Hearing the way that Christine talked to Raoul, Mama Valerius suddenly took her side. "Monsieur de Chagny, if Christine loves that man, what business is it of yours?"
Tears filled Raoul's eyes. "Alas, madame, I believe that Christine really does love him, even though he is not worthy of her love. She may not want to identify him, but at least I know his first name is Erik."
Startled by this revelation, Christine turned white. "What? Who told you that?"
"You did."
"I never said his name," Christine insisted. "What are you talking about?"
"You were pitying him last night. When you entered your dressing room, you said, 'Poor Erik.' Well, poor Raoul overheard you."
Christine was furious now. "This is the second time you've stood outside my dressing room—my private dressing room—and listened through the door."
"I wasn't outside in the passage, Christine. I was in your dressing room behind the curtain."
"Oh, you miserable man!" Christine moaned while her face showed every sign of unspeakable terror. "You're going to get yourself killed."
"If that's what happens, so be it, but I must protect you from this evil man." Raoul said these words with so much love and despair that Christine could not hold back a sob. She took his hands and looked at him with all the affection she felt for him.
"Raoul, forget the man's voice and his name. You must never try to solve any mystery connected to that voice."
"Is the mystery so very terrible?"
"There is no more awful mystery on earth. Promise me that you will make no attempt to learn anything more about the voice or the man. And promise me that you will never come to my dressing room unless I invite you."
Raoul feared that Christine would never extend that invitation. "Do you promise to send for me, Christine?"
"I promise."
But that was not enough for Raoul. "When?" he demanded.
"Tomorrow," Christine replied.
"Then I will do as you ask." Raoul kissed Christine's hands and said farewell to Mama Valerius.
Outside on the sidewalk, he muttered Erik's name and vowed to be patient.