Chapter
12:
Side by Side the French
Ambassador
Marguerite did return as she regrettably said she would, but that
did not assure any good fortune. For days, weeks, and months on end,
we battled constantly through her small remarks and my flippant
attitude. In public, we tried to appear as something we swore we
would never be: a man with his most prized possession on his arm.
Even during night after sleepless night we remained separated as I
had taken to the rooms of another wing, leaving her alone after the
hour of nine or ten. The dream we always thought we would have had
certainly become the mother of all nightmares.
But the thing that had shocked me the most was something that
usually would not have lingered in a troubled marriage. I was still
unimaginably in love with my wife, and that was the most tragic thing
of all. I could not trust the woman as I had once thought I could but
I refused to let the last thread connecting my life with hers snap.
Marguerite was the air that my heart used to breathe, and should that
air be denied passage, it would surely break and kill me along with
it. There was simply no life without that woman, and therefore no
reason to keep it going should I lose her.
But the woes of the human race are not enough to stop that of
time, and by July's arrival, I was certain that any chances of the
estrangement ending its course were beyond hopeless. We had each had
our own lives squared away, she continuing her reign as the most
petted woman in England and my secret one as the Scarlet Pimpernel,
which was more busy than usual.
Since my wife had been the cause of all the madness of the league,
I was working extra hard with them in order to go about the duties we
had sworn to do, and the only way was to get right inside the Palais
de Justice alongside the government officials. For this, 'Citizen
Grappin' was created, born, and hired.
By now if you had not guessed, Grappin was in reality only myself
in one of my best disguises. On the first day of his creation, I had
applied him for a job at the Palais, and having really no one else to
employ, the officials took me in immediately. After all, according to
them, I was nothing more than a poor Belgian looking for money and
willing to get it in any way possible. What harm could the harmless
little old foreign man have caused? A whole lot more than they
think!
The humorous situation was that the man I assigned as an assistant
to was none other than my dearest friend, Citizen Chauvelin! This is
going to be rather interesting I thought as I was readied alongside
Robespierre himself to meet my 'chief', and when the man in black
entered the room, I could hardly keep from laughing.
"You sent for me, Citizen Robespierre?" he said for the first time
revealing to me that he was actually frightened of someone.
Remaining the impassive demon he was, the man in question turned
quite an angered look on his employee. "For once in the last few
months you have said something sensible, Chauvelin, for you are
correct. As you know, I have been thoroughly disappointed in your
failing to discover who this menace, the Scarlet Pimpernel, is
without his alias."
That is absolutely true! Lud love me, Chauvelin was so nervous
that I could see the little Frenchman swallow hard before finding his
words. "I would have done much better Citizen Robespierre, I assure
you of that; however how shall I find one Englishman amongst millions
so easily? The slippery phantom is always on his guard in Paris, and
succeeds in putting every obstacle in my way. He will never be found
if that continues."
And I intend to keep it that way! "I expected you, Chauvelin, to
think more clearly so that you can overcome those obstacles!"
Robespierre shouted slamming his fist down onto his desk. Then
breathing in heavily, he indicated me. "For that reason, I introduce
you to your new assistant in this little quest; Citizen Chauvelin, I
present to you Citizen Grappin of Belgium."
I saw through my mask the look that I always expected to see
appear on Chauvelin's face. "Citizen Robespierre, you need not make
such a hasty decision like that; I am quite capable of catching the
Scarlet Pimpernel on my own."
Then why pray tell am I standing here with my head still intact,
and you are being threatened to lose yours? "Oh it truly is an honor,
Citizen Chauvelin! I have heard a great many past accomplishments you
have made!" I replied in a husky Belgian sounding voice. "A real
dedicated man you are! To be by your side when you catch that ghost
will certainly be in my history books!"
As I took his hand and shook it roughly, he growled a curse and
pulled it away. "If it is Citizen Robespierre's request than it
unfortunately shall be done."
And with a slight bow to the old goon in charge, he exited the
room dejectedly as I was beckoned to follow. Once outside, he ordered
myself and all of his own soldiers to line up. As I watched him pace
up and down the long lines, I had to admit he had a good talent for
keeping them at attention.
"Sons of the Republic," he began, his angered mood shining through
his harsh toned words. "I find it extremely hard to believe that such
a strong country as our beloved France has the most incompetent group
of children the world has ever seen. Our revolution is slowly
slipping through our fingers as this meddlesome group of stupid
aristos continues to prevail in the goals that they have set
themselves to do, and you are allowing them to do so! Now I shall
make myself clear for the last time! Any soldier who brings me at
least some clue as to their leader, the Scarlet Pimpernel's identity
shall be rewarded handsomely. However, should any of you fools among
us allow him, his followers, or any of the émigrés to
escape from under your nose, I will personally execute you myself!
This Pimpernel must be found, and whether he is brought to me dead or
alive, it matters not! I want to hear one day that the Scarlet
Pimpernel surrendered his head to Madame Guillotine, and it shall be
done! Now go about your orders for I do not expect them to be
disobeyed!"
As the soldiers marched away quickly, Chauvelin turned to me. "As
for you, Grappin, these rules apply to you as well. Do not make a
fool out of me, foreigner; I am warning you."
I already have a few times before, you damn Frenchie! "I shall
carry out any orders as any one of your native patriots would,
Citizen Chauvelin." I replied my voice still disguised and my hand
raising into a salute.
"Very wise decision, citizen. I myself shall be hunting down the
man, but you see I plan on doing that solo by catching the fox right
in his own rich backyard."
"How are you going to do that, citizen?"
"I have friends in high places; very intimate friends who will be
more than willing to assist me with a good persuasion or two."
What is that supposed to mean? No one would give me away that
easily! No one even knows who I am! "Just who exactly are those
friends pray tell? I am always intrigued to hear these wonderful
schemes of yours!"
"Well it is only one friend actually; one that has always been
rather close to my heart. Aside from the fact that she married that
idiot Blakeney, Marguerite St Just has never left me down, and now
that she and her husband have grown apart, she can be depended on, of
that I am certain."
Sink me good news certainly travels fast! I thought with all the
sarcasm I could come up with. "Marguerite St Just? That really would
be a wonder now wouldn't it? I hear the lady has the reputation of
being 'the cleverest woman in Europe'. 'Twould be rather difficult to
persuade her don't you think?" I asked praying that I was right.
"Grappin, if there is one thing a depressed woman can become, it
is naïve, even Marguerite. The lady will be clay in my hands,
and all I have to find is the right key inside her mind. Once that
happens, the Pimpernel is as good as caught. Now go stand somewhere
until I need you which fortunately will not be soon!"
Doing as he said gladly, for I so wanted to get away from him, I
ran quickly to the riverbank to think. Marguerite had sat here with
me once…Lord would these tortuous memories never leave me in
peace?! I had been hard enough not to worry without her invading my
mind, especially now that Chauvelin was going to England to enlist
her aid in trying to find the Scarlet Pimpernel. Yes Marguerite was
open to persuasion, but would that risk everything I had set out to
do? No I knew for certain that she had more sense than that; our
safety was assured!
…Wasn't it?