Part 11 (1/2)

Steven turned the name over in his head before replying. 'Yes, Nicholas, that's it Maurevert.'

Muss pointed at Steven: 'And Duval said it was on for tomorrow?'

'Yes,' Steven replied.

Muss's fist crashed down on the table. 'Dear G.o.d,' he cried, 'they mean to a.s.sa.s.sinate him.'

'Who?' a bewildered Steven asked.

'The Admiral, Admiral de Coligny,' Muss replied.

13.

The Phoenix Muss took Steven down to the cellars of the house and, lighting a burning brand, he led the way into the tunnels.

'For us, there's no such thing as the curfew,' he told Steven as they hurried towards the home of King Henri of Navarre.

'And the Doctor is in one of these,' Steven said.

'A cave in a tunnel, though not this one,' Muss replied and explained about the network under Paris which the Huguenots used.

They entered the house through the cellars and were informed that Lcrans was dining with the newly-weds, Henri and Marguerite.

'Pray, interrupt them,' Muss said. 'I must talk to Viscount Lerans immediately. It's a matter of the utmost urgency.' They were ushered into an ante-room where Lerans joined them moments later, still wiping his mouth with a napkin.

'What's amiss, Nicholas?' he asked and Muss repeated all that Steven had told him.

Lerans looked at Steven. 'You are absolutely certain that was the name Maurevert?'

'As certain as I can be,' Steven replied. 'I've already told Nicholas my mind was elsewhere.' He looked from one to the other. 'But who is this Maurevert?' he asked.

'He's well-known as a professional a.s.sa.s.sin who'll kill Catholic or Huguenot alike as long as he is paid handsomely,' Lerans explained, 'and the Queen Mother's privy purse can well afford his fee.'

'So now we know who Bondot is.' Muss closed his eyes.

'But when and where tomorrow? Someone must know.'

'Not true, Nicholas,' Lerans shook his head. 'Bondot chooses his own time and place: that's the way he works.'

'But he'll need to know tomorrow's itinerary for the Admiral,' Muss pointed out.

'Have you told de Coligny about this yet?' Lerans asked.

'No, Gaston, I haven't, it can wait until morning.' Muss opened his eyes with a slow smile: 'By which time I shall have prepared a second schedule for the Admiral's day.'

'We need a third, Nicholas,' said Lerans. A glint came into his eyes as he turned to Steven. 'Who does Duval think you are?' he asked.

'I have no idea,' Steven confessed. 'I've only met the man three, no, four times including this evening, but he's convinced I am someone else.'

Lerans pulled the bell cord and waited in silence until a liveried servant entered the room. 'Give my humble excuses to their Majesties, but I am unavoidably detained,'

he said and then added as an afterthought, 'Fetch a pitcher of good burgundy and three goblets.'

The servant bowed and left the room as Lerans turned back to Steven: 'Now sit down and tell us everything you remember about your encounters with Duval.'

The pitcher was empty by the time Steven finished and Lerans called for another, then topped up their gla.s.ses.

'Duval must be convinced you are a secret agent for the Abbot,' he stated and looked to Muss for confirmation.

'Don't you agree, Nicholas?'

'Yes, I do and I see what you're driving at,' Muss replied. 'The third itinerary, a totally false one, is given surreptiously by Steven to Duval for Marshall Tavannes at the aftermath of the stake tomorrow morning.'

'Precisely,' Lerans said, 'the first itinerary is posted publicly on the gates, the second is the one the Admiral will actually follow and the third is to fox Maurevert, alias Bondot.' He stood up and looked at Steven. 'If de Coligny dies tomorrow there will be civil war.' Then he chuckled grimly. 'Odd, isn't it, Nicholas, that we entrust the future of France to two strangers of whom we knew nothing forty-eight hours ago.'

'Of whom we still know very little,' Muss replied reflectively.

Steven drained his gla.s.s. 'I'll do as you ask but immediately afterwards I wish to be reunited with the Doctor.'

Muss and Lerans exchanged a glance. 'For averting a bloodbath that would be the least we could do,' Lerans said.

The morning of the 22 August, 1572 was like a pageant in Paris because word of the destruction of the 'satanic abode'

at the stake had spread quickly throughout the city. The sun shone down from a cloudless sky and the streets from the Louvre to the Bastille were lined with crowds as the procession of clerics and dignitaries, including Steven and Duval, Lerans and Moss, made its way towards the square to await the King's arrival with his Court at nine o'clock.

All around the Bastille was packed with the curious, but the area directly in front of the wooden doors and on either side was kept clear by halberdiers. The dignitaries dismounted and their horses were led away.

Steven gave Lerans and Muss a sideways glance and Lerans's nod was almost imperceptible. Then Steven moved towards Duval who was talking to a secretary from the Duke of Anjou's retinue but when Steven caught Duval's eye the conversation ended and Duval came over cautiously to him. Steven offered to shake hands and the folded piece of parchment was neatly transferred from one palm to the other.

'Tavannes,' Steven murmured and turned away.

Cheering could be heard in the distance as the royal entourage approached the Bastille. Both Huguenots and Catholics were represented as Admiral de Coligny rode side by side with Marshall Tavannes and Henri of Navarre with the Duke of Anjou. Behind them came the royal carriage with the King and the Abbot of Amboise and it stopped about twenty metres in front of the doors.

'Your Majesty, the power of the Lord shall be revealed,'