The Pimpernel Plot (TimeWars 3)

“No, I’m not sure I understand what I just said, either,” said Delaney.

“Never mind,” said Cobra. “It doesn’t really matter. There’s nothing I can do about it anyway. I’m way out of line in telling you as much as I have already. You could do a great deal of damage to the agency with what you know now.”

“What about the damage the agency has done?” said Finn.

“In spite of what you may want to believe,” said Cobra, “the agency is the only thing keeping-”

“Let’s not get into this, all right?” said Lucas. “We’ve got enough problems. The question is, what do we do about St. Just, now that he’s been compromised?”

“We get him out,” said Cobra, “and we take the Comte de Tournay on this trip, as well.”

“When did you have time to locate him?” said Finn.

“I didn’t. The local section chief did.”

“How many people does the TIA have back here, anyway?” said Finn.

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Where are St. Just and the Comte de Tournay now?” said Lucas.

“At this moment, they should be somewhere between Paris and Cap Gris Nez,” said Cobra. “They’re going by road because by the time they get there, Ffoulkes should arrive in time to receive them. You don’t want them rescued before the Pimpernel could have had time in which to do it, do you? He’s due to arrive in Calais tomorrow, right? By then, the section chief’s people should have them here and if Ffoulkes is surprised at the speed with which you got them out, you can tell him that the Pimpernel’s agents in Paris were in on it. It’ll almost be the truth.”

“So what’s our next move going to be?” said Andre, who had been silently smoking a pipe all th

rough the discussion, having developed a liking for it.

“First of all, is Pierre Lafitte going to be safe alone at Richmond?” said Cobra.

“He’ll be fine,” said Andre. “I’ve got him in the gamekeeper’s cottage.”

“What did you tell the gamekeeper?” Cobra said, surprised.

“The truth,” said Andre.

“The truth?” they all asked, in unison.

“Well, something fairly close to it, anyway,” she said. “I told him that I was having an affair with Andrew Ffoulkes, that Ffoulkes was a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel and that the league had kidnapped the boy because he’s the son of a French spy we wanted to put pressure on. Ffoulkes needed a safe place to keep the boy for a week or so and I thought I could help.”

“And he bought that?” Cobra said, incredulously.

“Why not? Who’d make up a lie like that?”

“Amazing.”

“What’s amazing is that in all the excitement, I actually forgot about that kid,” said Finn.

“Believe it or not, so did I,” said Lucas. “This mission has me going in so many directions at the same time, I can’t even keep track of what’s happening anymore.”

“Well, in that case, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s almost over,” Cobra said. “The Scarlet Pimpernel ended his career after rescuing the Comte de Tournay and St. Just. It was a brief career, but a flamboyant one.”

“You mean that’s it?” said Finn. “It’s over?”

“Not quite,” said Cobra. “This will be your last trip to France, but there’s still the matter of Percy Blakeney to consider. Chances are there’s going to be a relocation and you’ll be relieved, but that can’t happen until the adjustment has been reported as complete and I can’t clock to Plus Time to do that so long as Mongoose is at liberty. You’re just going to have to stay here until he’s found and apprehended.”

“Hold on,” said Finn. “Maybe you can’t clock forward, but any one of the agency people here can.”

“True, but with Mongoose still loose and Darrow’s people hunting him, I’m not in a position to spare anybody. I’m not even completely certain which of the agency people back here I can trust.”