By great good fortune, Dickon and Jonathan were in the house, though just about to go out.
Breathlessly my mother explained what had happened.
Dickon was dumbfounded.
Jonathan looked at me incredulously. “Are you sure…?”
“Sure it was Alberic, of course,” I replied. “He spoke to me. The other one… Well, I was puzzling over him and then it suddenly came to me.”
“It makes sense,” said Dickon. “And there isn’t a moment to lose. Now… how best to act.” He looked at Jonathan and went on: “They’ll both go into hiding. Alberic must have had a shock to see Claudine, and Blanchard will be afraid that she has recognized him. He was obviously scared of being seen by Lottie. Then there would have been no doubt. It may be that Alberic will try to get to France.”
“Taking information with him, no doubt. He must be stopped.”
“And what of Billy Grafter in our own household… recommended by Alberic. We’ve had them both under our roof. That explains the visit by the Cardews. We know what they got away with. God, how careless we’ve been.”
“No use going over that now,” said Jonathan. “How best to act is the point.”
“You should leave for Eversleigh right away. Alberic may have certain things to clear up there. He may even have left something in Enderby. He’ll have to warn Grafter. There’s a possibility that he’ll have to go back to do that. On the other hand he may stay in hiding here in London.” He was thoughtful for a second. “Yes, Jonathan, you go back to Eversleigh. I shall have to stay here for a while. We’ve got to find him. If we can, it might lead a trail to the rest of them. I’d like to get Blanchard. But there is a possibility that Alberic will try for France. He is thoroughly identified now. What fools we were to be deluded by that old émigré story. How soon can you leave?”
“In half an hour.”
“And er—take Claudine with you.”
“But why?” I asked.
“I don’t know how long I shall be here. Lottie naturally will stay with me. It would arouse comment if you stayed on with us after David is back at Eversleigh. No, this is the best. There’s no time for discussion. We have to act quickly. I’ll take care of these things, and if he’s not here we’ll scent him out. He’s got to be stopped getting back to France.”
Jonathan said crisply: “I’ll see that the horses are made ready. Claudine, be ready in half an hour.”
I was bewildered. My mother came to my room to help me prepare.
“It seems so… dramatic,” I said.
“It is. I accept it. I was caught up in France, remember. That man Blanchard went round the country inciting the French to revolution. He and his kind were responsible for my mother’s death. I narrowly escaped through Dickon’s courage and resourcefulness. What happened in France must not happen in England, and that is what men like Blanchard and Alberic are trying to bring about. We have to help. We have to do all we can, and if we don’t always understand at the time, we have to wait for explanations later.”
I could not believe that only yesterday I had been sitting on a riverbank watching the water flow by, philosophically talking to Jonathan.
The horses were waiting for us. “You should get a good way by tonight,” said Dickon. “Then go to an inn and rest for a few hours, but be off with the dawn, and you might with luck reach Eversleigh by early afternoon. He can’t get there much before you.”
We went through the city, past the Tower—grey, gloomy and menacing; then we were away. Jonathan looked different, very determined. It was fortunate that I was a good rider. The bantering mood of yesterday was gone and in its place was one of intense seriousness. He was going to get Alberic… if that young man had decided to return to Enderby.
All through the afternoon we rode, stopping only to slake our thirst and eat a little cold lamb and bread. Then we were off again.
It was about ten o’clock that night when we pulled up at an inn. Our horses were flagging and I wondered if Jonathan was as tired as I was.
They had only one room. At any other time I should have protested, but we had to eat and sleep if we were going to make the long journey next day.
We ate in the inn parlour. As it was late, there was only cold food—mutton pie—and ale to drink. It was enough, and I was almost asleep over it.
There was only one bed in the room. I took off my boots and fully dressed lay down on it and was immediately fast asleep.
I was awakened by a light kiss on my forehead. Jonathan was standing over me.
“Wake up,” he said. “Time to be off.”
Then I remembered where I was and sprang up.
“We won’t stop for food,” he said. “We’ll try to snatch something on the way.”
We went out to the stables; our horses had been fed and watered and were rested. They were as frisky as ever.
As we rode out, Jonathan laughed heartily. I asked what was so amusing.
“It has just occurred to me. I have often thought of spending a night with you… to find you lying there beside me when I awoke. I’ve imagined that often enough, and when it does happen, all we did was sleep. It’s funny, you must admit. Come on. With luck we’ll make it by early afternoon.”
The journey was long and arduous. Twice we stopped for light refreshment but mainly to rest the horses. It must have been two o’clock in the afternoon when we reached Eversleigh.
“First,” said Jonathan, “we’ll go to the stables and get fresh horses. These have done enough. Then we’ll go to Enderby. I want you to find out whether Alberic is back. It will come better from you. Don’t let them know we want to see him urgently. There may be others of his friends in the neighbourhood. We don’t want them warned.”
“Don’t you think he would have got away by now?”
“He might. But he hasn’t had much time. He couldn’t have beaten us here by much, even if he left immediately after seeing you in the coffee house. Come on.”
We went through the gate and into the stables.
One of the grooms came out to greet us.
“We want fresh horses, Jacob,” said Jonathan. “Quickly, these are tired. We have to go out immediately.”
“Yes, sir. You’ve come back and, master…”
“Never mind now. Get the horses and see to these two… They’ve had a pretty long ride.”
“Shall I tell the household you’ve returned?”
“Do that. Is Billy Grafter about?”
“I’ll see, sir.”
“If he’s there, make sure he doesn’t go away. I want to talk to him seriously… but not now.”
“Right, sir.”
“Make sure you have him ready for me. Lock him in one of the rooms so that he doesn’t stray.”
All the servants at Eversleigh had learned to obey Dickon without question, and I could see the same applied to Jonathan.
Twenty minutes later I rang the bell at Enderby and one of the servants opened the door.
“Oh, Mabel,” I said. “I’m not calling to see my aunt. I just wanted a word with Alberic.”
“You’ve just missed him, Mrs. Frenshaw.”
“Missed him! He’s back from London then?”
“Only just a little while ago. He’s been in and out again.”
“Where did he go?”
“That I don’t know, Madam.”
“All right. Thank you very much.”
I hurried back to Jonathan. As I mounted my horse I said: “He’s been… and he’s gone.”
“That could mean he is trying to get to France. You stay behind. Make sure you hold Grafter till I return.”
“I’m coming with you,” I said.
He was off and I was beside him.
I shouted: “How will you find him? He could be anywhere along the coast.”
“We’ll go where you found him.”
“It’s a lonely spot.”
“Isn’t there a dilapidated boathouse somewhere?”