My father smiled at me. ‘I guessed who it was,’ he said. ‘I could tell by your face.’
I was surprised and a little horrified that I should show my feelings so clearly.
‘Yes,’ he went on indulgently, ‘there is a shine in your eyes … a softness. That is what makes me think that you and he.
‘Oh please, Father,’ I said, ‘I have no intention of marrying … not yet in any case.’
He sighed. ‘You know I would not stand in your way.’
‘I know. But let us hear what Dickon has to say.’
Dickon was clearly very proud of himself but then that was habitual with him; but on this occasion he was more than usually self-congratulatory.
My father sent for wine and we settled down in his little sitting-room to hear what Dickon had to say.
‘You are going to be amazed,’ he said, ‘but I am not entirely surprised. I always thought it had worked out a little too neatly to be genuine.’
‘Dickon,’ I cried, ‘you are keeping us in suspense to shock and surprise us and show us what a clever creature you are. Please tell us.’
‘Let us start at the beginning. In the first place the Duc de Soissonson has no cousin whose boys require a tutor.’
‘That’s impossible!’ cried my father. ‘He was here himself and told us so.’
Dickon smiled slyly. ‘I repeat, he has no relations whose boys require a tutor.’
‘Are you suggesting that the man who came here calling himself the Duc de Soissonson was not the Duc at all?’ I asked.
‘Absurd!’ cried my father. ‘I know him well.’
‘Not well enough,’ retorted Dickon. ‘It was indeed the mighty Duc who came here, but there are certain aspects of his character which have escaped your notice. He is a crony of the Duc d’Orléans.’
‘What of that?’
‘My dear Comte, have you never heard what goes on at the Palais Royal? The Queen’s chief enemy is Orléans. Who knows what his motives are! Does he want to topple the monarchy and set himself up as ruler? If he did he would be the leader of the people—my Lord Equality. There is much intrigue at the Palais Royal. These men are the traitors to their own class and are more to be feared—or as much as—the mob.’
‘Tell us what you are suggesting,’ said my father. ‘The Duc recommended Blanchard to us because … ’
‘Because,’ finished Dickon, ‘he wanted one of his men in your castle.’
‘A spy!’ I cried. ‘Léon Blanchard … a spy!’
‘Difficult as it is to believe of such a paragon … yes.’
‘But why here? We are remote from all this trouble.’
‘Armand was not. He had his little Band, didn’t he? Mind you, I don’t think Orléans or Soissonson could be very alarmed about that. But they are acting with caution and they could not allow such meetings to go unnoticed.’
‘This is a monstrous suggestion,’ said my father. ‘What proof have you?’
‘Only that Blanchard’s story was false. He was not a part-time tutor. When he was not here he was carrying on the work his fellow conspirators had designed for him.’
‘But he was an excellent tutor.’
‘Of course he was. He is a clever man … cleverer perhaps than Soissonson and Orléans himself. But he was not a Duc, was he? Therefore he takes orders until the time comes when he will be one of those to give them himself.’
‘He has promised to come back.’
‘We shall see if he does,’ said Dickon. ‘My bet is that he will never return to this château.’
‘And my son Armand … ’ said the Comte.
‘It seems most likely that he was murdered.’
‘No!’
‘Monsieur le Comte, we are living in dangerous times. What seems like melodrama in one age is commonplace in another. Blanchard knew there was to be a meeting that day.’
‘Blanchard spent the whole day in the château. He could not have been involved in murder.’
‘Not in the act of carrying it out, but he could have given the information as to where Armand would be. My theory is that your son was set upon and killed, and his murderers made it appear an accident and that he had been drowned in the river and carried away by it.’
‘It is a fantastic story.’
‘Fantastic things are happening in this country now.’
‘I really cannot believe it,’ said my father.
‘Then,’ retorted Dickon, ‘you must disbelieve.’
‘If Blanchard comes back he will be able to refute this story.’
‘But he has not come back, has he?’
‘It might be that his mother is still very ill and he must stay with her.’
‘Where does he say he has gone to?’
‘A place I never heard of. What was it, Lottie? Paraville. It is a good many leagues south. I trust he comes back soon. I should like to hear from his own lips that this is just wild conjecture.’
‘How do you explain Soissonson’s lack of relatives with children?’
‘Soissonson is vague. It might have been some connection … not exactly related.’
‘He doesn’t appear to have anyone, and he is hand in glove with Orléans who is doing his best to bring this country to revolution.’
‘My dear young man,’ said the Comte, ‘you have worked so hard and I know it is for our good. You must forgive me if I tell you I find it hard to believe that Soissonson would have a hand in murdering the son of an old friend.’
‘When revolution comes old friends become new enemies.’
‘You are very kind to take such an interest in our affairs,’ said my father. ‘I trust you will be staying with us for some little time.’
‘Thank you, but no,’ answered Dickon. ‘I must return to England in a few days.’
He was really quite angry with my father. He had been so excited when he arrived with his news—which I had to admit, like my father, I did not believe—that he found the reception of it a somewhat bitter anticlimax.
He was quite subdued when he dined with us and afterwards when he suggested a walk on the ramparts, I readily agreed because I was sorry for the reception he had had.
He said: ‘The sooner you leave this place the better. People are half asleep. They cannot see what is going on around them and when it is thrust under their noses they turn away and call it melodrama. I tell you this, Lottie: these people deserve what is coming to them. Don’t be as foolish as they are. Come back with me … now. This is no place to be in, I do assure you.’
‘Dickon,’ I said, ‘how can you be sure?’
‘You should go to Paris. You should see the crowds every night at the Palais Royal. The gardens are full of them. They are preaching to the people … and who is behind all this? Orléans … men like Soissonson. Traitors to their own class … and therefore the most dangerous traitors. It is all as clear as crystal. Did it not strike you as fortuitous that Soissonson should arrive just at the time when you needed a tutor and provide one?’
‘But he was such a good tutor!’
‘Of course he was. These people know what they are doing. They are not half asleep. He comes because rumour has reached Orléans and his gang that bands are being formed throughout the country. I take it they have disbanded this little one. You might say that Armand was ineffectual, and I agree wholeheartedly with that, but men such as Orleans are too thorough to allow even the inefficient blunderers to have a little success. I see it all clearly. Blanchard comes to spy out the land. He even joins the band.’
‘He did not want to at first. He had to be persuaded.’
‘Of course he had to be persuaded! He wouldn’t appear eager. His was a secret mission.’
‘It’s too wild.’
‘And what of Armand?’
I was silent and he went on: ‘Yes. Poor foolish Armand, he will never inherit his father’s estates now. I’ll warrant they’ll be for you.’