Simon Hawke - The Pimpernel Plot

Ffoulkes laughed and they parted company. As they posted to Paris in great haste, Finn’s depression over Marguerite vanished completely, giving way to professional concern.

“What do you want to bet that Mongoose tries it again this time?” said Finn.

“If he does, it’ll mean one of two things,” said Lucas.

“Since he can’t fool Fitzroy into keeping him briefed anymore, he’ll have to have some sort of pipeline into the TIA team for information.”

“Possible, I suppose, but highly unlikely,” Finn said.

“I agree. The other alternative is that he’s been watching us very, very closely because there’s just no other way he’d know what we were planning.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Finn said. “It’s occurred to me that he might have infiltrated us. For all we know, he could be one of the boys in the league, since we have no idea what he looks like now. Come to think of it, we never knew what he really looked like, did we? He’s changed his appearance so many damn times, I wonder if he knows what he really looks like anymore. I’ve cut down the odds as much as I could when I planned this operation. No one knew in advance what they’d have to do.”

“That still leaves room for error,” Lucas said.

“Yes, and doubt. Still, it’s about as tight as it could be, I think. We know for sure that Ffoulkes is okay because he took delivery of Leforte from Mongoose and Dewhurst was with him the night I met Mongoose in the maze, which also eliminates Dewhurst. Besides, Briggs was with Dewhurst when Leforte was snatched. That still leaves the others. Wilberforce and Barrett have orders not to leave each other’s sight. Rodney Moore is with the Byrne brothers, so no one will be alone. At least, no one should be alone except for Andy Ffoulkes. Have I left anything out?”

“No, that covers it. If anyone is where they shouldn’t be we’ve got ourselves a suspect. If they all alibi each other, then that scratches all of them and we can concentrate on the ones who remained behind on this trip. It’s slow, but it’s steady. It might work.”

“It had better work,” said Finn. “Well, you going to take the first shift or shall I?”

“You go ahead and sleep,” said Lucas. “I’ll wake you at the first change of horses.”

They reached Paris without incident the next night and Finn paid the driver a handsome bonus, as promised, for keeping up a breakneck pace all the way. The exhausted driver took the money as though it were contaminated, coming from English hands, but it was quite a large sum and he did not complain.

The first thing they did upon entering the city was to check in at the safehouse with Fitzroy, who had established new quarters for himself near the Place de la Revolution. Even though they had traveled with all possible speed, they were running short of time, according to their schedule. Fitzroy confirmed that Alan Wilberforce and John Barrett had taken up their station in the tiny apartment near the West Barricade.

“The marquis should be there right now,” Fitzroy said. “You still have some time, but you cut it pretty close.”

“That was the plan,” said Finn. “I want no problems or mistakes this time.”

“I see,” Fitzroy said. “I trust that there will be none. I’ve obtained the disguise you asked for. We still have a little time left. While you’re getting prepared, we can go over the plan.”

The streets were nearly empty as they neared their destination. It was very late and only a few people were about. Finn and Lucas had both changed their clothing. They appeared to be ordinary citizens and Finn had added a dark wig, whiskers, and a moustache, along with some additional facial makeup, so that he could meet with Wilberforce and Barrett and not be recognized as Percy Blakeney.

“If Wilberforce and Barrett do their part right, it should all go smoothly,” Lucas said. “Unless one of them is Mongoose.”

“We’ll know soon enough,” said Finn. “Just don’t turn your back on either of them. One more time. You three start shooting your pistols at…?”

“Three on the dot,” said Lucas.

“Good. I’ll wait until I hear the ruckus, then I’ll make my move with the marquis. As soon as the guards get drawn away, I’m going for the gate. They’ll probably leave a couple of men on the gate unless we get real lucky, but they’ll be tired after a full shift and shouldn’t pose a problem. I just hope to hell the horses are where Fitzroy said they would be.”

“We’ve gone over it with him twice,” said Lucas. “They’ll be there. I just hope the marquis doesn’t panic on us.”

“If he does, I’ll put him to sleep for a little while,” said Finn. “I’ll get him to Cap Gris Nez if I have to carry him.”

They turned down a narrow side street and walked halfway down the block until they came to the house where Wilberforce and Barrett were waiting with the marquis. The room was on the second floor. The windows were covered, as per instructions.

“Wait down here,” said Finn. “I’ll send the boys down to you. I’ll give you a five-minute head start, then I’ll follow with the marquis.”

Finn entered the building and slowly climbed the steps to the second floor, being careful not to make any noise. He came to the door of the apartment where the marquis was being hidden and softly knocked three times. The door opened just a crack.

“I come from the Pimpernel,” Finn whispered.

He was admitted and he entered quickly. Just as quickly Barrett shut the door behind him, lowering the hammer slowly on the pistol he held in his right hand.

“What is it?” Barrett said in a low, urgent voice. “Has anything gone wrong?”

Finn tensed. There was no one in the room except himself the tall and slender Barrett, and the shorter, more heavily built Wilberforce. Both men were staring at him anxiously. There was no sign of the marquis.

“What do you mean?” said Finn, disguising his voice. “Where is the marquis?”

Barrett looked alarmed and he exchanged a quick glance with Wilberforce. “Why, he has gone with the boy, as the Pimpernel instructed,” he said.

“The boy! What boy?”

“The little street urchin,” said Wilberforce looking concerned. “Jean, I think his name was. He brought the woman’s clothing for the marquis and they went out together, posing as mother and son.”

“What’s the matter?” Barrett said. “Something’s gone wrong, hasn’t it?”

“No, no,” Finn said, recovering quickly, “nothing has gone wrong. I just didn’t know that the Pimpernel would use the boy, that’s all.”

They looked relieved. “Well, Alan and I were both a bit surprised that the Pimpernel would use a child,” said Barrett, “but he did seem like a capable young chap and I must admit it was a stroke of genius, using a little boy. Who would suspect a mother and her son?”

“Who, indeed?” said Finn. “I hadn’t known the plan. I was only told the part I was to play.”

“The Pimpernel likes doing things that way,” said Barrett. “Less chance for the plan being discovered, what? Young Jean said we would be contacted regarding any change in plan or instructions for our departure. I expect that’s your job, eh?”

“Right, that’s what I came for,” Finn said. “You are to stay the night. Make your way out of the city tomorrow afternoon.

You are English gentlemen who had heard about the goings-on here and came to see how the Revolution had changed things for yourselves. You’ve had a perfectly marvelous time and now you’re on your way home to tell your friends all about it. If you’re asked about the Scarlet Pimpernel, you are to over-whelm them with questions in return. Everyone in London wants to know about the Pimpernel and who would know better than the soldiers at the gates? They should grow quite disgusted with you and pass you through without further inquiry.”