"He says that his business is urgent and he seems quite upset." "Who's Lachenel ?" asked Richard.
"He's your stud-groom." "What do you mean?
My stud-groom ?" "Yes, sir," explained Mercier, "there are several grooms at the Opera and M.Lachenel is at the head of them." "And what does this groom do ?" "He has the chief management of the stable." "What stable ?" "Why, yours, sir, the stable of the Opera." "Is there a stable at the Opera?
Upon my word, I didn't know.

Where is it ?" "In the cellars, on the Rotunda side.

It's a very important department; we have twelve horses." "Twelve horses! And what for, in Heaven's name ?" "Why, we want trained horses for the processions in the Juive, The Profeta and so on; horses 'used to the boards.' It is the grooms' business to teach them.

M.Lachenel is very clever at it.

He used to manage Franconi's stables." "Very well ...