takes decisions we use the English voting system. It has the advantage of being secret. According to Vicomte de Leaume, that reduces tensions within the group. And the plan to launch a series of assassinations was blackballed - two white balls, three black.’ ‘And who voted in favour of the plan?’
‘Honoré de Nolant, since he was the one who proposed it. I don’t know who the other one was.’
‘Apart from you five, did any of the other members know about the plan?’
‘Not as far as I am aware, no. That’s not how we work. The committee does not inform the ordinary members of the projects it’s discussing, to limit the risk of leaks. Our leader is a cautious man. I’ve already explained all this to Monsieur Natai ...’
‘Tell me about your emblem, the lily and the sword.’
‘It’s the heraldic interpretation of the name of our organisation. Initially, our emblem was the traditional fleur-de-lis. Then Vicomte de Leaume decided to replace it with a fleur-de-lis in the shape of a spear. More warlike ...’
‘I’ve seen one. A cockade with a medallion and crossed arms.’
‘You have? Where did you see it?’
Varencourt seemed surprised. But on the other hand, he was a gambler. He must be used to dissembling. As Margont did not
reply, he explained, ‘Vicomte de Leaume had some copies made and distributed them to the members of the committee.’
‘I want you to give me one.’
‘I don’t have any. I didn’t accept them. At the time, I was not acting as a police informer and I didn’t want to have anything like that about me.'
Was Varencourt telling the truth? Margont hid his irritation. He was finding it very hard to find any chink in Varencourt’s armour. He would be able to begin to check what the man was telling him once he had been admitted to the group. Perhaps then he would find some hold over him.
Meanwhile Varencourt was saying suavely, ‘At the moment, for reasons of security, the symbol is known only to the members of the committee. And to the people I have passed it on to, namely the personal police of Joseph Bonaparte, I mean, Joseph I of Spain. And I have also explained that to Monsieur Natai ...’
‘I haven’t had time yet to study all the information you’ve passed
Varencourt was worried.
‘I see ...Then why are we seeing each other now? What was the hurry for the meeting?’
‘Well ... because you have to get me admitted to the Swords of the King ...’
Varencourt’s eyes widened and he almost choked. The news was as hard to swallow as the doctored wine.
‘You’re joking!’
‘No! Don’t tell me you weren’t informed?’
‘Informed ofwhat?’
They both mentally cursed Joseph and Talleyrand.
‘You’re not serious, are you?’ demanded Varencourt. ‘I refuse to lead you into the lion’s mouth! You will be unmasked and we will both be killed.’
‘My dear Charles, you refuse to take me and I refuse to go. The problem is that, in spite of that, it will happen. I have no choice and neither do you. These are the orders of our two friends, to whom we owe the pleasure of this enjoyable meeting.’
‘We have to change their minds! They have no idea. Why do they need you to ... when they already have me ...? Oh, I see, they don’t trust me. It’s just that, you see, it’s virtually impossible to become a member...’
‘You’re going to have to get me in right at the top, on the committee.’
‘Damn it, listen to yourself! It’s impossible. You would have had to be a member for at least two months. They would have had to investigate you and you would have had to prove your loyalty.’
‘I don’t doubt it. I’ve already thought of a way round that. If I were indispensable, they would accept me immediately, and at the highest level, what’s more.’
‘I have to admit, I like your thinking. Do you play cards?’
‘No! And now’s not the time to talk about that sort of thing.’
‘It’s always time for gaming! Life’s a game. At
‘Honoré de Nolant, since he was the one who proposed it. I don’t know who the other one was.’
‘Apart from you five, did any of the other members know about the plan?’
‘Not as far as I am aware, no. That’s not how we work. The committee does not inform the ordinary members of the projects it’s discussing, to limit the risk of leaks. Our leader is a cautious man. I’ve already explained all this to Monsieur Natai ...’
‘Tell me about your emblem, the lily and the sword.’
‘It’s the heraldic interpretation of the name of our organisation. Initially, our emblem was the traditional fleur-de-lis. Then Vicomte de Leaume decided to replace it with a fleur-de-lis in the shape of a spear. More warlike ...’
‘I’ve seen one. A cockade with a medallion and crossed arms.’
‘You have? Where did you see it?’
Varencourt seemed surprised. But on the other hand, he was a gambler. He must be used to dissembling. As Margont did not
reply, he explained, ‘Vicomte de Leaume had some copies made and distributed them to the members of the committee.’
‘I want you to give me one.’
‘I don’t have any. I didn’t accept them. At the time, I was not acting as a police informer and I didn’t want to have anything like that about me.'
Was Varencourt telling the truth? Margont hid his irritation. He was finding it very hard to find any chink in Varencourt’s armour. He would be able to begin to check what the man was telling him once he had been admitted to the group. Perhaps then he would find some hold over him.
Meanwhile Varencourt was saying suavely, ‘At the moment, for reasons of security, the symbol is known only to the members of the committee. And to the people I have passed it on to, namely the personal police of Joseph Bonaparte, I mean, Joseph I of Spain. And I have also explained that to Monsieur Natai ...’
‘I haven’t had time yet to study all the information you’ve passed
Varencourt was worried.
‘I see ...Then why are we seeing each other now? What was the hurry for the meeting?’
‘Well ... because you have to get me admitted to the Swords of the King ...’
Varencourt’s eyes widened and he almost choked. The news was as hard to swallow as the doctored wine.
‘You’re joking!’
‘No! Don’t tell me you weren’t informed?’
‘Informed ofwhat?’
They both mentally cursed Joseph and Talleyrand.
‘You’re not serious, are you?’ demanded Varencourt. ‘I refuse to lead you into the lion’s mouth! You will be unmasked and we will both be killed.’
‘My dear Charles, you refuse to take me and I refuse to go. The problem is that, in spite of that, it will happen. I have no choice and neither do you. These are the orders of our two friends, to whom we owe the pleasure of this enjoyable meeting.’
‘We have to change their minds! They have no idea. Why do they need you to ... when they already have me ...? Oh, I see, they don’t trust me. It’s just that, you see, it’s virtually impossible to become a member...’
‘You’re going to have to get me in right at the top, on the committee.’
‘Damn it, listen to yourself! It’s impossible. You would have had to be a member for at least two months. They would have had to investigate you and you would have had to prove your loyalty.’
‘I don’t doubt it. I’ve already thought of a way round that. If I were indispensable, they would accept me immediately, and at the highest level, what’s more.’
‘I have to admit, I like your thinking. Do you play cards?’
‘No! And now’s not the time to talk about that sort of thing.’
‘It’s always time for gaming! Life’s a game. At
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