“Quick, Catherine.” François moved swiftly out of the shadows of the alcove of the back door of the house across the alley from Robespierre’s residence. He ran toward the wagon and in another moment he had unwrapped Louis Charles from his shroud of linens and blankets.
“Is he all right?” Catherine appeared beside him, her gaze fixed worriedly on the boy’s still body. “Oh, dear, how pale he is.”
Louis Charles opened his eyes and drew a deep breath. “Stinks.”
Catherine laughed shakily in relief as she helped the boy to an upright position in the cart. “You’re in an alley. Of course it stinks.”
“No, all these dirty sheets stink.” Louis Charles wrinkled his nose in distaste. “It was most unpleasant lying here covered with all this dirty linen all the way from the Temple. No more laundry wagons, Catherine.”
“No more laundry wagons,” Catherine agreed as she reached over and hugged him. “We have a carriage waiting two streets from here.” She helped him down from the wagon. “Can you walk?”
“Of course. I wish you’d been there to see how well I did. It was just like one ofMaman’stheatricals.” Louis Charles clutched his throat and croaked melodramatically. “I remembered everything you told me to do. I was so good, Citizeness Simon thought I was really ill. You should have been there to see me.”
“No, I shouldn’t. I was terribly afraid just knowing what was happening.” She draped the cloak she was carrying about the boy’s shoulders. “You did wonderfully well without us, Louis Charles.”
“The stuff didn’t taste good.” Louis Charles grimaced. “What was it?”
“Olive oil and bitters. Jean Marc had a taste of it earlier today and he was in complete agreement with you.” François put a tricorned hat on the child’s head. “Keep your head down and the hat shadowing your face.”
Louis Charles nodded as he fell into step with them.
“I saw Dupree get into a carriage. He’s going to Clairemont just as I told you he would.” Nana joined them as they reached the end of the alley, her gaze anxiously searching Louis Charles’s face. “He looks well enough.”
“This is Nana Sarpelier, Louis Charles,” François said. “You owe her a great debt. She substituted the olive oil for the poison Dupree had planned on giving you and tricked him into helping us.”
“Merci, Mademoiselle,” Louis Charles said gravely. “Though I wish you’d put honey instead of bitters in the olive oil.”
Nana laughed. “I thought it better if it tasted bitter in case Dupree became suspicious and tasted it. You’re very welcome, Your Majesty. It was a great pleasure helping you.” Nana’s face hardened. “Anything I could do to harm thatcanaillewas a pleasure.”
François stared into Nana’s eyes. “Such vehemence. I wonder if you’ve been entirely honest with us regarding the ease of your task in dealing with Dupree these last weeks.”
Nana forced a smile. “I told you he did me no harm. I just don’t like thecanaille.”She pulled up the hood to shadow her face. “Now take the boy to Monsieur Radon’s house and let me get on with my task.”
“You’ll join us at Monsieur Radon’s?” Catherine asked as she took Louis Charles by the hand and started down the street.
“If I can. If not, I’ll meet you at the Café du Chat tomorrow.”
François shook his head. “I want you at Monsieur Radon’s by midnight, Nana.”
“Oh, very well.” Nana watched them until theydisappeared around the corner and then briskly proceeded to Robespierre’s lodgings.
She deliberately tousled her hair before pounding with both hands on the door. “Open the door!” She pounded again, her voice sounding frantic. “Citizen Robespierre! You must hear me.”
The door jerked open and icy green eyes glared into her own. “What is this? Is a man not entitled to peace at his evening meal?”
“Citizen Robespierre?” Nana’s gaze desperately searched his face. “Thank God I’ve found you. All of Paris knows of you, Citizen, but no one knows where you live. I’ve been sent from place to place until I’m nearly mad.”
Robespierre drew his small frame up like a bristling porcupine. “There are reasons why I can’t be bothered by all and sundry. If you have a relative condemned to the guillotine, then he must be guilty. The tribunal is always just.”
“I know. That is why I have come to you. You are an admirer of virtue and justice and I could not bear to see you made a victim.” She gazed into his eyes. “I’m Nana Sarpelier and I’ve come to tell you of a terrible plot threatening not only the republic but yourself. You must hear me out.”
Robespierre gazed at her without expression for a moment. He stepped aside. “Come in, Citizeness.”
8:10P.M.
Anne Dupree lifted the golden Pegasus from the chest and set it on the table. “You’ve done very well, Raoul.” She stepped back and tilted her head to gaze at it appraisingly. “It’s magnificent.”
Dupree sipped his wine and basked in her pleasure.
