The Heart's Wager by Gayle Wilson

Author:Gayle Wilson [Wilson, Gayle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The plan they finally devised was simple. Devon would enter the prison posing as a doctor and, using Jean’s directions, go to the cell where Dominic had been held. They hoped that his assurance in finding the place would, in itself, be convincing as to his right to be there.

“The passage from this entrance leads straight to the few remaining cells. It’s a busy corridor, used by people in the building who have no connection to the prison. You’ll probably be challenged somewhere between your entry into the building and the cell. The more unconcerned you are about answering those questions in any detail, the better. Your attitude should be, how dare these peasants ask a man of my learning and position his business. Use Fouché’s name. You have nothing to lose by showing them contempt. If they doubt you enough to check, it’s already too late.”

“I can’t believe you think you can just walk in,” Julie argued as she had for the last twenty minutes. They planned no diversion, no attempt to occupy the guards’ attention. A straight bluff that, gambler though she was, she couldn’t believe would succeed.

“This isn’t the Conciergerie. There,” Jean said, shaking his head, “there is a real prison. With a lot of experience at keeping its prisoners and foiling escapes. This would never work in that atmosphere. Luxembourg, however, was designed as a royal residence. With the requisite dungeons, to be sure, but the main building itself hasn’t been used as a prison in nearly ten years. You’re lucky that Fouché wants to keep his affairs secret. We may have a chance at the Luxembourg.”

If Jean had been reluctant before, it seemed that once the decision to lend his aid was made, he entered into the planning with every appearance of enthusiasm.

“The key is your ability to overpower the guard who is stationed outside that cell. The door is solid, except for the high grill. If you can get him inside, where you’ll be hidden from sight. And if you can manage—” Jean began, and then halted. Having made his evaluation of the Englishman’s fighting skills, based on the success of his own surprise assault, he seemed doubtful that Devon would be able to carry off this vital aspect of the scheme.

He looked up from the rough plan of the prison rooms in the Palais du Luxembourg to find a pair of amused blue eyes. A quick drop of lashes hid the expression, but Devon’s voice when he answered the implied doubt was calm and absolutely sure.

“He’ll come into the cell, and he’ll remain there when we leave. Avon dresses in the doctor’s clothes and exits, following the route by which I entered. You’ll be waiting outside in the hired carriage to drive him to the Gypsy’s encampment. In the meantime I change into the clothing concealed in the false bottom of the satchel I’ll carry, and leaving the guard unconscious in the cell, make my way out some other entrance as unobtrusively as possible.

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