“Al-Masloub,” Burton whispered.
“What?”
“Al-Masloub.”
“What's he sayin’?” Spencer asked.
“Something in Arabic. Al-Masloub,” Swinburne replied.
“What's a bloomin’ Al-Masloub?”
“I don't know, Herbert.”
“He's been mumbling it over and over,” Lushington revealed. “Hasn't said another blessed word. Place in Arabia, perhaps?”
Spencer crossed to the colonel and began to pull at the cords that held the man's wrists.
Swinburne stared helplessly at the king's agent.
“What's happened to him?” he cried, aghast at his friend's vacant eyes. He took Burton by the shoulders and shook him. “Pull yourself together, Richard! You're safe now!”
“It's no use,” Lushington offered. “I'm afraid he's utterly loopy.”
“Al-Masloub,” Burton whispered.
Swinburne sat back on his heels. He turned to Herbert Spencer. A tear trickled down his cheek.
“What'll we do, Herbert? I can't get any sense out of him. I don't know what this Al-Masloub thing is!”
“First things first, lad. We should get him home.”
Burton suddenly sat up, threw his head back, and screamed. Then, a far more horrifying sound-he gave a mindless giggle. “Al-Masloub,” he moaned quietly. His eyes moved aimlessly. His mouth hung slackly. He slowly toppled onto his side.
Swinburne looked at him and sucked in a juddery breath. He couldn't help but think that the enemy had won. London, the heart of the Empire, was in chaos, and Burton, the only man who could possibly save it, looked like he might return to Bedlam-permanently!
M idmorning the following Saturday-two days after Burton's rescue-an extraordinary carriage thundered into Montagu Place. It was a huge box constructed from iron plate and mounted on six thick wheels. There were no windows in it-just a two-inch-high horizontal slot in each of its sides-and its doors looked better suited to bank vaults than to a conveyance. The driver, rather than being situated on top in the normal manner, was seated inside a wedge-shaped cabin at its front. He, like the passenger, was entirely hidden from prying eyes. From the four corners of the vehicle, crenellated metal bartizans projected, and in each one stood a soldier with a rifle in his hands.
It was nothing less than a small metal castle drawn by two large steam-horses. Accompanied by four outriders from the King's Cavalry, it rumbled, creaked, sizzled, and moaned to a standstill before number
14.
Inside the house, Mrs. Angell, all petticoats and pinafore, tore into the study and shrieked: “The king's here! The king's here!” She jabbed her finger at the window. “Lord Almighty! His Majesty King Albert himself has come to the house!”
Algernon Swinburne, who'd been sitting in quiet conversation with Herbert Spencer and Detective Inspector Trounce, looked up wearily. There were dark circles under his eyes.
“That's very unlikely, Mrs. A,” he said.
“It's impossible,” Trounce put in. “My dear woman, the king, God bless him, is under siege in Buckingham Palace. He can't get out and no one can get in, and it'll stay that way until our riffraff revolutionaries calm down and stop demanding that we become a damned republic! Pardon my language.”
Spencer grunted and murmured: “The republican form of government is the highest blinkin’ form of government, but, because of this, it requires the highest type of human nature-a type nowhere at present existin’ in London, that's for bloomin’ certain!”
“Stop your blessed chinwagging and look out of the window!” the housekeeper cried.
Trounce raised his eyebrows.
Swinburne sighed, stood, and crossed the room. He stepped past Admiral Lord Nelson, who was standing in his customary position, and peered out of the window. The doorbell jangled.
Mrs. Angell lifted her pinafore and slapped it over her mouth to stifle a squeal.
“My hat!” the poet exclaimed, staring out at the mighty armoured carriage.
“What shall I do? What shall I do?” the old woman panicked.
“Bed-wetter,” Pox the parakeet opined, with a cheery whistle.
“Calm yourself, Mother. Stay here. I'll go,” Swinburne answered. He left the room.
Trounce and Spencer stood and brushed down their clothing. Mrs. Angell bustled anxiously around the room, straightening pictures, adjusting ornaments and curios, dusting and fussing at top speed.
“Nelson!” she barked. “Put these gentlemen's glasses away in the bureau and wipe the tabletop, then come here so I can give you a quick polish.”
The clockwork man saluted and moved to obey.
“I'm sure that ain't necess-” Spencer began.
“Quiet!” Trounce whispered. “Never interrupt her when there's housework involved! You'll get your head bitten off!”
Multiple footsteps sounded on the stairs. Swinburne entered, followed by Damien Burke and Gregory Hare, who were both back in their usual outlandish and outdated clothes. Palmerston's men each had their left arm in a sling.
They stood aside.
A tall man stepped into the room between them. He was dressed in a dark blue velvet suit with a long black cape draped over his shoulders. A black veil hung from the brim of his top hat, concealing his face completely.
“Your Highness,” Mrs. Angell said, lowering herself into a deep curtsy.
“Hardly that, madam,” the visitor replied, pulling off his hat and veil. “I am Henry John Temple, the Third Viscount Palmerston.”
“Oh! It's only the prime minister!” the housekeeper exclaimed. She clutched at a chair and hauled herself back upright.
“Sorry to disappoint,” Palmerston muttered ruefully.
“No!” Mrs. Angell gulped. “I mean-that is to say-ooh er!” She turned a deep shade of red.
“Gentlemen, good lady,” Swinburne announced, “some of you have met, some of you haven't, so a quick who's who: this is Mrs. Iris Angell, Sir Richard's esteemed housekeeper; Detective Inspector William Trounce, one of Scotland Yard's finest; Mr. Herbert Spencer, our friendly neighbourhood philosopher; Lord Admiral Nelson, Richard's rather extraordinary valet; and Mr. Damien Burke and Mr. Gregory Hare, agents for the prime minister!”
A loud warble interrupted him: “Cross-eyed nitwits!”
“My apologies-and that is Pox, Sir Richard's newly acquired parakeet.”
Palmerston looked disdainfully at the colourful little bird, gazed in awe at the clockwork man, then turned to Swinburne and said: “You sent me a message. You said Captain Burton is out of action. Explain. Where is he?”
“Ah,” the poet answered. “You'd better come upstairs, Prime Minister. If the rest of you wouldn't mind waiting here, I'm sure Mrs. Angell will see to it that you're supplied with whatever refreshments take your fancy.”
“Of course, sir,” the housekeeper simpered, curtseying again in the prime minister's direction. She winced and held her hip.
Swinburne glanced at her and, despite his fatigue, managed a cheeky wink.
He ushered Lord Palmerston from the room and up two flights of stairs to the library. As they approached the door, Palmerston asked: “Is that music I hear?”
“Yes,” Swinburne said, laying his fingers on the door handle. “We rescued Richard two days ago. He was practically catatonic and repeated just one thing, over and over: Al-Masloub.”
