The Mystery of Joseph Buquet's Death

The subplot of the chief scene-shifter's strange death and its connection to the ghost.

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The Ghost's Description

The Ghost's Description Joseph Buquet's Encounter Joseph Buquet, the chief scene-shifter, claims to have seen the Opera ghost. He describes a skeletal figure in a dress-coat with a death's head and yellow skin. His description spreads among the ballet girls, fueling the ghost legend. The Warning Little Giry, the daughter of the box-keeper, warns that the ghost does not like being talked about. She says her mother said so. The ballet girls are superstitious and frightened. The Ominous Portent Buquet's loose tongue is seen as a challenge to the ghost. The girls begin to fear for him, and their fears are soon realized.

The Hanging Body

The Hanging Body The Discovery During the gala, Joseph Buquet is found hanging in the third cellar, between a farmhouse and a scene from Roi de Lahore. The rope has disappeared, and the inquest rules it a suicide. The ballet girls immediately blame the ghost. The Managers' Reaction The managers, Debienne and Poligny, are shaken. They recall that the ghost had warned them through Buquet's death. The incident reinforces their belief in the ghost's power and contributes to their decision to retire. The Persian's Theory Later, the Persian reveals that Buquet likely stumbled upon the secret entrance to the torture chamber and was killed by Erik. The Punjab lasso found in the chamber is the same rope used to hang him. The ghost's murder of Buquet is one of his crimes.

before the gala

the night of the gala