The Phantom of the Opera · Chapter
XVIII: The Commissary, the Viscount and the Persian explained
The commissary of police, M.
What happens
The commissary of police, M. Mifroid, arrives at the managers' office to investigate the disappearance of Christine Daaé during the performance. Raoul de Chagny insists she was carried off by an angel, whom he identifies as Erik, the Opera Ghost. The managers reveal that the ghost has also stolen twenty thousand francs. Raoul's story is met with skepticism, but he is determined to find Christine. After learning that his brother, the Comte de Chagny, may have taken her, Raoul rushes out, only to be stopped by the Persian, who knows Erik's secrets.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Secrecy
Raoul's secret plan to elope with Christine is revealed, and the Persian's hidden knowledge of Erik's secrets underscores the theme of concealed truths.
Isolation and Otherness
Raoul's story about the ghost and the Angel of Music is met with disbelief, isolating him as the only one who knows the truth about Erik.
Characters to notice
- Raoul de Chagny
Insists Christine was taken by the Angel of Music (Erik), reveals his plan to elope with her, and rushes out after learning his brother may have taken her.
- Christine Daaé
Disappeared during the Prison Act of the performance; the central figure of the investigation.
- Erik
Identified by Raoul as the Angel of Music and the Opera Ghost; accused of carrying off Christine.
- The Persian
Appears at the end of the chapter to stop Raoul, revealing he knows Erik's secrets.
- M. Mifroid
The commissary of police leading the investigation; skeptical of Raoul's story but uses Raoul's pursuit of his brother as a police tactic.
Key passages
“I say that these gentlemen have heard of him.”
Raoul claims the managers are aware of the Opera ghost.
Raoul insists the managers know about Erik, linking the ghost to the Angel of Music.
“This, gentlemen, is the art of the police, which is believed to be so complicated and which, nevertheless, appears so simple as soon as you see that it consists in getting your work done by people who have nothing to do with the police.”
Mifroid explains that effective police work often relies on using uninvolved individuals to gather information.
Mifroid's lecture on police methods highlights his manipulative yet pragmatic approach to solving the case.