He pushed again, harder.
The statue swung to the side at a right angle, revealing a deep cavity measuring a good two feet square.
“I can’t see. Light the lantern.”
Juliette’s hands were trembling as she obeyed him. She drew closer to the sphinx, blocking the light with her body as she held the lantern directly over the dark cavity.
She heard Jean Marc mutter a curse but she was too shocked to speak.
The cache was empty.
Jean Marc smiled and waved at the guard at the front gate as the wagon passed under the Sun King’s golden emblem.
He snapped the whip and the horses picked up speed. As the wagon began to rumble through the streets of the town Jean Marc’s smile vanished. “So where is it?”
“I don’t know. She said it was at the Belvedere.”
“Then you’re evidently mistaken about her trusting you. She sent you on a fool’s errand.”
“I don’t think so.”
Jean Marc shot her an impatient glance. “The Wind Dancer wasn’t there, Juliette.”
“But I’m certain she didn’t realize it wasn’t still where she put—” Juliette stopped, her eyes widening as she remembered the queen’s exact wording. “But she didn’t put it in the cache herself.”
“No?”
Juliette shook her head. “She said, ‘I had it hidden in the Belvedere.’ Someone else must have hidden it for her.”
“And then taken it out unbeknownst to her. Who?”
“Someone she trusted.” Juliette shrugged. “It could have been anyone. The queen’s never been overly shrewd and trusted almost everyone at court. Her ladies-in-waiting, a servant, her family. We’ll have to ask her.”
“And how do you propose to do that?”
“I’ll go back to the Temple.”
“No.” Jean Marc’s tone was sharp as a scythe. “You most certainly will not.”
“But I’ll have to ask—” She stopped. “But François said he wouldn’t help me another time. I suppose you’re right. I won’t be able to visit her again, but there must be another way to find out.” She frowned. “William Darrell quite likely has access to Her Majesty.”
“Who in perdition is William Darrell?”
“I’m not sure. The name sounds English, doesn’t it? The queen told me to give him the money I received from you. If he’s trying to help her escape, he must be able to get a message to her.”
“Perhaps. Did she tell you where to reach him?”
Juliette nodded. “I’m to ask for him at a café on the Pont Neuf. I’ll go there tomorrow.”
Jean Marc smiled sardonically. “In your chimneysweep disguise?”
“Of course not. That wouldn’t be at all suitable. I’ll have to think of something else.”
“I’m the one who’ll go.”
Juliette shook her head. “I won’t tell you where he can be found unless you promise to let me go too.”
“This place is no doubt a hotbed of royalist sympathizerswith every agent of the Commune sniffing about.”
