where I can be contacted and a few details about me. You’re supposed to know me, so learn the notes by heart and then destroy them. You’ll see that we’ve met several times at various gaming tables in Palais-Royal. I’ve lost against you, owe you money and have signed an acknowledgement of debt. We have a meeting to discuss this and that’s how we discover our common interest - the royalist cause. Happy reading I’ll wait for you to contact me so that you can introduce me to you friends. But don’t leave it too long ...’
CHAPTER 7
MARGONT left the cafe and wandered about the streets, hoping to throw off any spies that Varencourt, the Swords of the King or Joseph might have set on him. He couldn’t be too careful. But the more he complicated his route, the more he had the feeling he was being followed. He started to see figures in every dark recess. At this rate suspicion would soon drive him mad.
He finally made it to Pont d’lena. The bridge had been built by order of Napoleon, who named it after one of his stunning victories against the Prussians in 1806. Old Marshal Blucher, who had commanded the Prussians troops, told anyone who would listen that as soon as he had taken Paris he would blow it up.
Margont pulled his collar up against the cold and moved away from the oil lamps like a wary insect fleeing the light. He went over to the greyish green waters of the Seine. A few weeks ago enemy shakos had suddenly appeared in the water, carried along by the current. Passers-by would stop, incredulous at the sight of the
thousands of hats covering the surface and floating dreamily past. A few days after the appearance of the shakos, Parisians learnt that after Napoleon’s defeat of the Austrians, Hungarians and Wurtembergers at Montereau, he had ordered his soldiers to fling the shakos of the dead and the prisoners into the Yonne. He thought that when the people of Paris saw them floating in the Seine, they would understand that a great victory had been won. But it would take much more than that to save France, and Margont imagined the Seine disappearing abruptly under a ground swell of three hundred and fifty thousand shakos.
He jumped when Lefine joined him. ‘Were you there when I met him?’ Margont immediately asked.
‘Of course, as agreed.’
‘Where were you hiding?’
‘Here and there. I was mingling with the customers. I don’t like the look of that Varencourt. He was too much at ease. Here we are with the world collapsing around us and he seemed not to have a care in the world. I almost envy him ... In any case, he didn’t spot
me. And I didn’t see anyone watching you furtively. At one point you made him very angry, and that was definitely genuine!’
‘Joseph had “forgotten” to tell him that he would have to help me become a member of the Swords of the King. Where did he go after he left me?’
‘Rue Saint-Denis, his personal address, according to the file we have on him. But he’s very difficult to follow. He’s always on his guard. What are you going to do now?’
‘Co home. To my new home. And you’re going to go and meet Monsieur Natai to tell him two things. That you’re the man I’ve chosen to help me — you’ll have to tell him where you can be contacted. Secondly, tell him that I need access to a printing works by tomorrow evening! He’ll pass all that on to Joseph.’
Margont told Lefine how to find Monsieur Natai, explained his idea and hurried on, not giving his friend any chance to comment. ‘Next, get someone to spy on Charles de Varencourt. I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone. Don’t tell him anything, just pay him to watch our man. Joseph will reimburse you through
Monsieur Natai. Do the same for all the members of the committee — their addresses are in the police reports. I will spend my time fine-tuning my act while I wait for Varencourt to give me the sign. If you need me, you know where 111 be. Have you had time to find
CHAPTER 7
MARGONT left the cafe and wandered about the streets, hoping to throw off any spies that Varencourt, the Swords of the King or Joseph might have set on him. He couldn’t be too careful. But the more he complicated his route, the more he had the feeling he was being followed. He started to see figures in every dark recess. At this rate suspicion would soon drive him mad.
He finally made it to Pont d’lena. The bridge had been built by order of Napoleon, who named it after one of his stunning victories against the Prussians in 1806. Old Marshal Blucher, who had commanded the Prussians troops, told anyone who would listen that as soon as he had taken Paris he would blow it up.
Margont pulled his collar up against the cold and moved away from the oil lamps like a wary insect fleeing the light. He went over to the greyish green waters of the Seine. A few weeks ago enemy shakos had suddenly appeared in the water, carried along by the current. Passers-by would stop, incredulous at the sight of the
thousands of hats covering the surface and floating dreamily past. A few days after the appearance of the shakos, Parisians learnt that after Napoleon’s defeat of the Austrians, Hungarians and Wurtembergers at Montereau, he had ordered his soldiers to fling the shakos of the dead and the prisoners into the Yonne. He thought that when the people of Paris saw them floating in the Seine, they would understand that a great victory had been won. But it would take much more than that to save France, and Margont imagined the Seine disappearing abruptly under a ground swell of three hundred and fifty thousand shakos.
He jumped when Lefine joined him. ‘Were you there when I met him?’ Margont immediately asked.
‘Of course, as agreed.’
‘Where were you hiding?’
‘Here and there. I was mingling with the customers. I don’t like the look of that Varencourt. He was too much at ease. Here we are with the world collapsing around us and he seemed not to have a care in the world. I almost envy him ... In any case, he didn’t spot
me. And I didn’t see anyone watching you furtively. At one point you made him very angry, and that was definitely genuine!’
‘Joseph had “forgotten” to tell him that he would have to help me become a member of the Swords of the King. Where did he go after he left me?’
‘Rue Saint-Denis, his personal address, according to the file we have on him. But he’s very difficult to follow. He’s always on his guard. What are you going to do now?’
‘Co home. To my new home. And you’re going to go and meet Monsieur Natai to tell him two things. That you’re the man I’ve chosen to help me — you’ll have to tell him where you can be contacted. Secondly, tell him that I need access to a printing works by tomorrow evening! He’ll pass all that on to Joseph.’
Margont told Lefine how to find Monsieur Natai, explained his idea and hurried on, not giving his friend any chance to comment. ‘Next, get someone to spy on Charles de Varencourt. I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone. Don’t tell him anything, just pay him to watch our man. Joseph will reimburse you through
Monsieur Natai. Do the same for all the members of the committee — their addresses are in the police reports. I will spend my time fine-tuning my act while I wait for Varencourt to give me the sign. If you need me, you know where 111 be. Have you had time to find
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