Wallace…”
“Ah, he is clever, our little Dubois. He would say that to throw you off the trail.”
Stephano sat for a moment thinking this through, trying to sort out the tangle in which no one was who he-or she-claimed to be. “If this Dubois knows where you have Alcazar, why doesn’t he try to abduct him again?”
“He will-tonight,” said Russo. “He wouldn’t dare attempt to drag a lady out of a respectable house on a well- traveled street during the day. The neighbors would call the constables, all very messy.”
“How many men does Dubois have?”
Russo shrugged. “Ten or so. Maybe more.”
“Ten!” Stephano repeated and then he laughed. “You have a high opinion of me and my comrades, Monsieur. We are good, but not that good.”
“I’m not permitted to handle firearms,” said Rodrigo by way of explanation.
“I suggest you enlist the aid of the Constabulary,” said Russo. “Show them this document. I will leave it with you.” He handed over the letter sealed with the King’s Rose.
“You could show them the document,” said Stephano. “Commandeer a vessel and tell them to sail you and Alcazar to wherever you want to go. You’re on the king’s business.”
Russo quirked an eyebrow and smiled and adjusted his cravat. He appeared slightly embarrassed.
“He can’t,” said Rodrigo in sudden understanding. “Because the king doesn’t know it’s his business. His Majesty doesn’t know Alcazar was kidnapped.”
“His Majesty has so many cares,” said Russo gravely. “Your mother believes we should not add to them. This letter will be enough to convince the head of the Constabulary that you require his assistance. That and the name of Lord Captain de Guichen, son of the Countess de Marjolaine.”
“You mean my mother’s name will convince them to act,” said Stephano coldly.
“Your mother is held in high esteem throughout the world, Captain,” said Russo.
Stephano was about to make some scathing remark when the door opened and Miri walked out onto deck. She came over to Stephano and dug her nails into his shoulder, his sore shoulder.
“I don’t trust this man,” she said coolly. “He knows too much about us.”
“I agree,” said Stephano. He eyed Russo. “I want to see Alcazar.”
“Out of the question,” said Russo shortly.
“I see Alcazar or no deal,” said Stephano.
Russo fixed Stephano with a cold and glittering gaze. “You are being asked to perform this service by your king, Captain.”
“Piss on my king!” said Stephano angrily. “Do we have a deal or not, Monsieur?”
“Dubois knows you-”
“He knows you and you came here without being seen. At least, I assume you weren’t followed.”
Russo gave a faint smile. “No, Captain, I was not followed.” He sat frowning, his hand absently tapping the king’s letter. Then he said abruptly, “Very well. I will take you to Alcazar.”
“You’re certain he’s a man? Not a woman?” Rodrigo asked plaintively. “A lovely woman, if a trifle on the hefty side?”
“Quite certain,” said Russo.
Rodrigo gave a heartfelt sigh. This was too much for Dag, who burst out with a roar of laughter.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
To the unrefined or underbred, the visiting card is but a trifling and insignificant bit of paper; but to the cultured disciple of social law, it conveys a subtle and unmistakable intelligence.
HENRY WALLACE, ALIAS MONSIEUR RUSSO, smiled inwardly as he watched the captain’s team, the so- called Cadre of the Lost, make their plans to foil Dubois and prepare to accompany Sir Henry to meet Alcazar. Henry had not been pleased when the captain had set the condition that he must meet the journeyman, but for his own plan to escape Westfirth to succeed, Henry had been forced to give way. The meeting with Alcazar would do no harm and might prove to do some good. Henry was already considering how he might use this to his advantage.
The main danger had been that Stephano would recognize the name Dubois and know him to be the grand bishop’s agent, not Wallace’s agent as Sir Henry had claimed. But Dubois was a common name in Rosia, like the name “Smith” in Freya. Henry could always claim that his Dubois was not the grand bishop’s Dubois. His fears on this score were allayed. Stephano did not appear to have heard of any Dubois.
Lounging on deck, Henry watched Dag swiftly and expertly load a variety weapons. He watched Miri and the beautiful Gythe emerge from the hold wearing gray robes and white wimples, becoming Sisters of Mercy. He saw Miri tuck her corset gun into her stocking. The only weak link in the captain’s chain appeared to be Rodrigo de Villeneuve, who was coming along simply because he was bored and had nothing else to do until the tailor’s shop opened. Wallace made a mental note.
At last they were ready or so it seemed until Dag bent down to pick up the cat. He placed Doctor Ellington on his shoulder.
“Uh, Dag,” said Stephano, glancing sidelong at an amused Sir Henry, “you might want to have the Doctor remain aboard the boat.”
“I’m not leaving him behind to be poisoned again, sir,” Dag said stiffly.
“What do you mean by that?” Miri demanded, eyes blazing. “Are you accusing me-”
“No,” said Stephano quickly. “He’s not. We should be leaving.”
“We are going to stop by the tailor’s, aren’t we?” Rodrigo asked. “My new clothes-”
“Yes, yes, Rigo, not now!” Stephano herded everyone down the gangplank.
“Interesting associates you have, Captain,” Henry remarked.
“They get the job done,” Stephano replied shortly.
The Cadre split up. The “Sisters of Mercy” went off in one direction, while Henry led Stephano, Dag, and Rodrigo along a circuitous route that eventually took them up onto the rooftops, among the chimney pots of the building next door to the boarding house. He indicated that they were to jump from this roof to the next.
“Dubois and his agents will be watching the doors,” Henry said by way of explanation. “We can enter unobserved.”
Rodrigo stated that he would go first. He made the jump with ease.
“I have done a bit of roof-leaping once or twice before,” Rodrigo confided. “Comes in handy when a jealous husband is breathing down your neck.”
Dag, on the other hand, stood glowering down at the ground that was about four stories beneath them.
“I’m not built for jumping, Captain,” Dag said flatly.
Henry pictured the big man in his leather armor and helm attempting to scale the four-foot gap between buildings-with the added impediment of a cat on his shoulders.
“Dubois doesn’t know me, sir,” Dag added. “I could walk in the front door, take a look, see if I notice anything.”
This made sense and Henry agreed.
“Room number 116. Ground floor in the rear. We’ll meet you there.”
Dag and the Doctor departed, heading back down to street level. Henry and Stephano jumped the gap. Once on the roof, they entered through an access door, hurried down a dark staircase and into a hall. The boarding house catered to single men, no families allowed, this being stipulated by the building’s owner, who happened to be Sir Henry Wallace. Single men went to work during the day and tended to mind their own business at night.
“Quiet place,” said Stephano.
“I am fond of quiet, Captain,” said Henry.
