Voices in a Haunted Room

My mother said, “I am going to the mercer’s just along the street. I have left a parcel there. My daughter will wait for me here.”

“I will take the utmost care of her hi your absence, my lady.”

I laughed. “Oh dear. Is it so dangerous?”

He lifted his shoulders. “Not exactly dangerous, but with a beautiful lady, gallants can be tiresome. I will guard her with my life.”

“I hope that won’t be necessary,” said my mother with a smile.

I I looked about the room as I finished my chocolate. A man came in and sat down. As soon as he did so I had a strange sensation. I fancied I had seen him before, but for a few moments I was at a loss. It must have been a long time ago. It would have been in France. But who? Where? My mind went back to the chateau. That was it.

I had it. It was the tutor who had come long ago to teach Chariot and Louis Charles.

Or if it was not, it was someone very like him.

I had been young at the time but this man had created quite a stir. I remembered he had left suddenly to go and look after his aged mother. And much later, when my mother had gone back to France and was in such acute danger, she had discovered that he had been a spy in the chateau, and it was due to him that the Comte’s son, Armand, had been taken to the Bastille.

I must have been staring at him for he was looking at me now. Clearly he did not recognize me. I had been a small child when he was at the chateau. It was coming back vividly to me now. There could be no doubt. He was the spy-tutor and his name was ... I racked my brains. Then it came to me in a flash. Leon Blanchard. I felt very uneasy. He had been a revolutionary. An agitator. Then what could he possibly be doing in Benbow’s Coffee House?

My heart gave a lurch, for someone else had come in. I almost cried out. It was Alberic.

He went straight to the table at which Leon Blanchard was sitting. He sat down and said something. For a few seconds they talked and then Alberic looked up and saw me.

I called: “Alberic ...”

He rose. “Miss-Claudine...” he stammered. He was obviously shaken. “I-I-am doing a commission here for Mademoiselle d’Aubigne. Are-are you alone?”

“No, my mother is here. She will come in a few minutes.”

Leon Blanchard had risen. He moved towards the door.

“I must go,” said Alberic. “Good day, Miss Claudine.”

He followed Leon Blanchard out of the coffee house. They had not been gone more than a minute or so and I was still sitting there in a state of bewilderment when my mother came in clutching the ribbons. “I have just seen something rather strange,” I blurted out. “Alberic came in here.

He was meeting a man. I thought I recognized him. I’m almost sure. It was Leon Blanchard, the tutor. Alberic left in a great hurry. They both did.”

My mother turned pale.

“God help us,” she murmured under her breath. Then she said: “Leon Blanchard ... and Alberic. That can mean only one thing. I think we should go back without delay.

Dickon must know of this at once.

By great good fortune, Dickon and Jonathan were in the house, though just about to go out.

Breathlessly my mother explained what had happened.

Dickon was dumbfounded.

Jonathan looked at me incredulously. “Are you sure ... ?”

“Sure it was Alberic, of course,” I replied. “He spoke to me. The other one ...

Well, I was puzzling over him and then it suddenly came to me.”

“It makes sense,” said Dickon. “And there isn’t a moment to lose. Now ... how best to act.” He looked at Jonathan and went on: “They’ll both go into hiding. Alberic must have had a shock to see Claudine, and Blanchard will be afraid that she has recognized him. He was obviously scared of being seen by Lottie. Then there would have been no doubt. It may be that Alberic will try to get to France.”

“Taking information with him, no doubt. He must be stopped.”

“And what of Billy Grafter in our own household ... recommended by Alberic. We’ve had them both under our roof. That explains the visit by the Cardews. We know what they got away with. God, how careless we’ve been.”

“No use going over that now,” said Jonathan. “How best to act is the point.”

“You should leave for Eversleigh right away. Alberic may have certain things to clear up there. He may even have left something in Enderby. He’ll have to warn Grafter.

There’s a possibility that he’ll have to go back to do that. On the other hand he may stay in hiding here in London.” He was thoughtful for a second. “Yes, Jonathan, you go back to Eversleigh. I shall have to stay here for a while. We’ve got to find him. If we can, it might lead a trail to the rest of them. I’d like to get Blanchard.

But there is a possibility that Alberic will try for France. He is thoroughly identified now. What fools we were to be deluded by that old emigre story. How soon can you leave?”

“In half an hour.”

“And er-take Claudine with you.”

“But why?” I asked.