Part 7 (1/2)

'Their war with the Spanish Low Countries is a just one and merits our aid,' de Coligny continued, ignoring the remark.

'My dear Admiral, didn't our brother-in-law, King Henri of Navarre, who stands beside you, raise an English army to aid the Sea Beggars?' the Duke of Anjou asked sarcastically. 'And wasn't it thrashed by the Spanish last month at Mons?'

It was a mercenary force, sire, privately raised because of your reluctance to see justice done.' Navarre was unperturbed. 'Their hearts were not in the fight.'

'G.o.d's right and G.o.d's might will always be with the one truth faith,' the Abbot intervened.

'We talk of unjust territorial claims by the Spanish against the Dutch.' De Coligny shook his head sadly. 'All you can see is Protestant against Catholic, a continuing religious war.'

'I hate Spaniards as much as I love tennis,' the King spluttered from the throne.

'Then, my Liege, lend our force of arms to the Dutch, to the Sea Beggars,' de Coligny cried.

'Your Majesty, the Treasury could not support a French intervention,' Tavannes protested to the Queen Mother.

'I need some fresh air,' the King said.

'My Lords, your opinions will be taken carefully into consideration.' With that Catherine, the Queen Mother, ended the audience.

Henri, Duke of Anjou, speculated on how much longer his elder brother had to live and how best he could diminish the Huguenot influence over his mother. The Abbot of Amboise now knew the lie of the land and the three devoted secretaries, Duval, Lerans and Muss, had not missed a word.

Within an hour the dog cart with Lerans was racing through the tunnels towards the cave and an impatient, anxious Doctor.

8.

The Escape Despite Lerans's a.s.surances, Steven was worried about the Doctor. If he were not pretending to be the Abbot, then where was he? He had been gone for a day and although Steven thought that it was possible for the Doctor to be still with Preslin he didn't think it probable. He decided that there was only one solution to go to Preslin's home and find out for himself. But when he tried to leave the Admiral's house he was politely restrained and told that he required the signed permission of either Lerans or Muss.

Angrily he demanded to see one or the other but was told that Muss was with the Admiral and could not be disturbed and Lerans had gone to the King of Navarre's residence.

As he stormed back to his room he met Anne in a corridor beside the pantry. He drew her to one side and discreetly asked if she knew a way out of the house without being observed.

'I haven't been here long enough to know anything like that, sir,' she replied.

'Isn't there some way through the kitchens?' Steven persisted.

Anne thought for a moment before replying. 'Not really, sir,' she said, 'unless you talk about putting out the rubbish.'

'How do you do that?' Steven asked.

'By the tunnel from the scullery. It leads to the other side of the wall but it's ever so scary,' she replied.

Steven smiled. 'Will you show it to me?' he asked.

Being mid-afternoon, the kitchens were deserted while everyone took a siesta so Steven and Anne reached the scullery without being seen. She pointed to a small door in the wall.

'That's it, through there,' she said.

'Thank you, Anne, and not a word to anyone.' Steven smiled and put his forefinger to his lips.

'Make sure you leave the outside door open because you can't get back if you don't,' Anne advised as she lit a taper and handed it to Steven.

'Bye bye,' he said and touched her cheek with his hand.

'Where are you going?' she asked suddenly.

'Montparna.s.se, to find a friend,' Steven replied.

Anne let out a little squeal. 'Oh, my aunt and my brother live near there. Take me with you, sir.'

'How can I, Anne, when you're here for safekeeping?'

Steven asked.

Anne looked at Steven for a moment before replying.

'I'll tell them where you've gone,' she said.

Steven was astounded. 'There's a name for people who do that, young lady.'

Anne smiled. 'Yes, I know,' she admitted.

'It'll be dangerous,' Steven reminded her.

'I'll be safe with you,' she replied beguilingly.

Steven sighed. 'This is against my better judgement but come along if you must,' he said and opened the door to the tunnel which was about thirty metres long.

'They say there are lots of these but much bigger under Paris,' Anne announced as they bent down to make their way along it. Halfway along a tunnel led off to the right.

'Where does that one go?' Steven asked as they pa.s.sed it.

'I don't know and I don't want to,' Anne's reply was a frightened whisper which made Steven chuckle. They came to the door at the far end which opened inwards. He extinguished the taper before peering outside. It was a small three-sided enclosure, like a stable with a wicker gate closing off the fourth side. He stepped out and Anne followed him, shutting the door behind them. Steven opened the wicker gate and looked up and down the street at the back of the house. There were no sentinels in sight and they hurried away in search of a carriage to take them to Montparna.s.se.

As the Doctor changed into his Abbot's habit, Lerans explained the plan to him.

'You'll be taken to the entrance in Notre Dame,' he began.

'There's one in the Cathedral?' The Doctor was surprised.