Napoleon's Police

by Michele McGrath

  “We searched Caroline’s.”

  “Only when the place was empty. Would you have done so if she had been present, barring the door?”

  I grimaced. “Probably not. I can’t imagine her letting me without a fight and that would be hair-raising.” I had the authorisation to investigate fully, but I doubted I would have put it to the test, unless I had more proof. All we really had still was suspicion.

  “So the sisters’ best defence is to stay in their own rooms, which should prevent or postpone any search until it is too late to matter. We have both Pauline and Caroline away from their own hôtels, so it is unlikely to be there. Élisa is in her salon but her sister stayed in her boudoir. Doesn’t that seem a little odd to you?”

  I nodded. “If I were sick enough to need to lie down, I would have remained at my own home, not gone visiting, even to my sister’s house.”

  “So would I. The fact is that the only place that has not been left empty and unguarded is Élisa’s bedroom.”

  “Perhaps your little maid can give us more information about what is happening here, Jean.”

  “I’ve arranged to meet her again later on, so we will see.”

  “Well done.”

  “Necessary if my plan is to succeed. There are more festivities this evening, which the Princesses are expected to attend. If one of them remains at home on guard duty, it will probably confirm the location of the crown at that moment, especially if it is Élisa not Caroline who stays. Then we shall break in and take it.”

  Chapter 11

  9 Frimaire, Year XIII

  (Friday, November 30, 1804)

  “As simple as that? I hoped you were joking earlier. Who did you say is to do the breaking in?” I gasped.

  “You and me, Soldier, who else? It’s not as if we haven’t done this type of thing before, since I became respectable and started working for the Police.”

  “Speak for yourself. I have never broken into a princess’s bedroom!”

  “Not a princess’s maybe, but you do remember Madame Duclos?” We had met the lady when we went looking for evidence of the missing Englishman several months ago.

  “Far too well. I’m still bearing the scars.”

  Lefebvre laughed. “It has to be us. Fournier doesn’t run fast enough if we have to get out in a hurry.”

  “What about my lame leg?”

  “What about it? You ran at such a high speed when Monsieur Duclos was firing his pistols after you, I couldn’t catch you up, lame leg and all.”

  “Just as well he was such a bad shot. It’s not an experience I’m eager to repeat!”

  “Before you do such a rash thing, you should inform the minister or even the Emperor.” Fournier is always cautious, but his caution has saved us before.

  I wondered about going to the bureau and reporting our progress before Lefebvre made his suggestion. Then I decided that Fouché would not condone our actions in advance although he would no doubt support them later, if they were successful. If not, we would almost certainly end up in gaol or worse. Lefebvre, though, was not to be diverted.

  “If we do that, what are the odds that they might be alerted and the crown moved somewhere else?”

  “Don’t you trust Fouché to keep his mouth shut?”

  “Not if he thinks his reputation is at stake. The Ministry leaks like a sieve as you know. One little slip is all it takes and the whole plan would be ruined. Anyway, reporting our intentions would take time. Far better to take a chance, so surprise is on our side.”

  “Do you want someone to put a bullet or a sword through your guts?” Fournier asked him. “Any man finding an intruder in his wife’s bedroom would be justified in acting first and asking questions later. No one would believe you came there in the Emperor’s name.”

  “Have faith, Fournier, have faith. We’ll find a way to get in and escape unscathed, I promise you.” Lefebvre was grinning.

  Fournier made a noise that sounded like “Pshaw!”

  “If we are going to do this, then we will need to have weapons in case it comes to a fight,” I said.

  “For God’s sake don’t kill anyone,” Fournier pleaded, “I don’t want to watch you both go to the guillotine. Burglary is bad enough; murder wouldn’t be condoned, especially if you murder someone important such as the Emperor’s brother-in-law.”

  “I’ve no intentions of killing anyone. It’s useful to have something to defend yourself with if someone attacks you. We may have to fight to escape or to keep hold of the crown if we find it,” I pointed out.

  “And Duval here is such a fine swordsman,” Lefebvre reminded Fournier with a grin, “he would never kill the wrong person.” Lefebvre prefers to knock his man out rather than use a sword. Too dandified a procedure for his taste. He can fence if he has to, but he is a hacker without finesse or any love for the art.

  “I must find a weapon. My swordstick is still at Caroline’s or in the alley where we were attacked. If it does come to fighting I want more than a dagger on me.”

  “If Fournier will keep watch on Élisa’s for a while, I will see if I can find out what’s happening at Pauline’s and Caroline’s. Then I also have some things to fetch to enable us to get into Élisa’s later on.”

  Fournier agreed to stay, although he did not look happy. He said he’d warn us if trouble brewed or attempt to divert it if he could.

  As we walked away together, I asked Lebebvre,

  “Can we can do such a thing?”

  “This won’t be the first time I’ve robbed a woman’s room while she lay in bed snoring. What do you say, Soldier? Are you game to give it a try?”

  I nodded. “We’re running out of time and I can’t think of anything better. Tonight?”

  “As soon as I’ve found out from Margot that the Princess is keeping to her room and preferably is sound asleep. I also want to make sure that no one else is staying at home feigning illness. I would hate to rob the wrong Princess!” He laughed. I had the strong feeling that Lefebvre relished the excuse to return to his old ways.

  “Me too! Where are you off to first?” I asked him.

  “To pick up the tools of my old trade and find out if they are in working order.” Lefebvre grinned. “I never leave anything to chance. I haven’t used my equipment for some time so I must make sure that everything is as I left it. I’ll be as quick as I can, visit the other hôtels and then come back and relieve Fournier.”

  “Always the thief!” I snorted.

  “Always the soldier!” Lefebvre grinned. “Meet me back at Élisa’s. Your job is the weapons. Bring something for me that you think I can use. Nothing fancy, I don’t want one of these sissy foils you like so much.”

  “Will a cavalry sabre do you?”

  “I thought you didn’t want anybody murdered? No, fetch me a cosh or a stick, but no pistols for either of us. They make loud noises. I always jump, to say nothing of rousing the household. I want to be in and out quietly.”

  “Like a ghost in the night.” I laughed although I did not feel merry. “I’ll do my utmost to meet your needs, oh master!”

  I went back home and recovered my sword. I own several because fencing is one way of exercising my injured leg. It has always been something I enjoy. I dreaded the thought of meeting Eugénie, for she would be sure to question me about needing another weapon. She would wonder where my sword stick had got to and why I was wearing different clothes. I have never lied to her and I did not want to start now. She would be so frightened if she found out what we intended to do tonight. As it was, our apartment was empty when I arrived. Undoubtedly Eugénie was at Leroy’s with all the other embroiderers, or shopping. Aimée would be with her grandmother, who lived nearby and often looked after her. I had no intention of disturbing them but in case anyone had seen me going into the house, I scribbled a note for Eugénie. I said I had been here but I had to go out again straight away.

  I changed my clothes for darker and rougher ones, more suitable to our enterprise. A white sh
irt is too easily seen on a dark night if there is the faintest glimmer of light around. I made a careful choice among my weapons. For this night’s work, I chose a small-sword. If I had to use it at all, I thought I would need a thrusting blade rather than a cutting one. I always excelled with small-swords, the first weapon I ever fought with in earnest after I joined the army. Practice fighting is a very different thing from a battle where your life is at stake. I found a stout stick for Lefebvre and took that as well. A couple of knives completed my preparations since I did not possess a cosh. I looked at my apartment, with a fervent prayer that I would be home again soon and went out hurriedly before anyone came to stop me.

  I returned to the Hôtel Baciocchi and for the rest of the day, the three of us took turns to watch the place. Fournier reported that both Caroline and Pauline had left Élisa’s just after we had gone. They drove away in a carriage together, with the maximum fuss. I wondered if they were deliberately drawing attention to their departure. I also wondered what would happen when Caroline found out that her hôtel had been searched in her absence. I expected some kind of outcry but nothing occurred. No doubt she did not know where Lefebvre and I were now, so we were spared her displeasure.

  Lefebvre returned after making checks at both Pauline’s and Caroline’s as promised. He had seen Pauline arrive and go into her house. He spoke to the servants but had little to report. Nothing was happening there and he had not found the opportunity to arrange for anyone to keep him informed.

  “That’s unlike you, mon brave,” Fournier said.

  “I might have done better if I’d had more time.” Lefebvre shrugged. “I had to decide whether to stay there in the hopes I could find someone to tell me more or return to Caroline’s. I decided that would be more promising and I was right. Caroline’s hôtel was in a flurry. I could hear her shouting even from the street. My contact among the servants, a lackey I had bribed, was obviously afraid to talk to me. He took one look at me and hurried back inside. I did not dare press him or go after him, so I came here. I’ll go back later when hopefully things are calmer to check where the Princesses are.”

  “At the ball with a bit of luck. All except Élisa, I hope.”

  “I’ll go, not Lefebvre,” Fournier said.

  “You don’t have his contacts,” I objected.

  “Doesn’t sound as if they have been any use. Besides, the people who attacked you at Caroline’s don’t know me, they would recognise him.”

  “Good point.”

  “I was careful to avoid the ones who had seen me before. I didn’t show myself until the lackey came out into the back alley alone, but as I said, he turned tail and I did not speak with him.”

  “If you both stay here, you might find an opportunity to get into the house earlier. Better if Lefebvre stays on the spot in case you do,” Fournier argued.

  I nodded. “Very well then. We will. You can check the other hôtels.”

  We put both the front and back doors of Élisa’s under observation and waited. It was a boring few hours as we expected it to be. Everything was peaceful for a while. Eventually Fournier left to go on his rounds. A few tradesmen called. A visitor or two appeared. Then one of the servants left on an errand and Lefebvre said suddenly,

  “There she is!”

  “Who?”

  “Margot.” He slipped away to find out what he could from her. When he came back he was smiling.

  “What’s happened?” I asked.

  “She’s agreed to meet me again. She’s a pretty little thing. Blue eyes and fair hair, lots of it.”

  “Keep your mind on the task. You can do your philandering later,” I replied scathingly and Lefebvre shrugged, but the smile remained on his face. “Did you find out anything relevant to the case?”

  “Élisa has not left her chamber all day,” he reported. “She’s in bed with a chill and says she must stay there tonight, in order to be well enough for the festivities tomorrow. She’s cancelled her engagements for this evening and sent her servants away, so she can rest. That is unusual for her and everyone is gossiping about it amongst themselves. Most of them think they’d rise from their very deathbeds to go to the ball.”

  “I don’t suppose she cares about the ball. She’s been to enough of them. Where’s her husband? Do you know?”

  “Not with her as usual. They don’t always share a bed and he’s more often absent than at home. The lady hasn’t sent for him, but that’s not unusual either.”

  I nodded. From what I have heard, Baciocchi is not the sort of man I could imagine tenderly caring for an invalid. “Is he likely to return?”

  “Who knows? Margot doesn’t.”

  “Fine thing if he catches us in his wife’s bedroom.”

  “He’ll be at the ball with all the others. Even if his wife is sick, it’s no reason for him to stay away is it? Not unless she’s dying.”

  “I suppose not. Questions might be asked if neither of them appeared. Supposing he actually knows about the theft, of course,” I mused.

  “That’s a point. In Élisa’s position would I tell him?”

  “I wouldn’t and if he doesn’t know, I wonder what he would do if he finds out?”

  “Perhaps nothing.”

  “Or perhaps a lot,” I said.

  “Well I’m not going to inform him. We still don’t have any real evidence and likely enough he’d support his wife even if we had.”

  Some more time passed until Lefebvre said,

  “Fournier should be back by now. Shall I go to look for him?”

  “Having doubts about your theory?” I challenged him.

  “Aren’t you?”

  I nodded. “We could all be wrong. Before we get into the wrong sister’s home, let’s find out.”

  “Go then but keep out of sight and don’t be long even if you don’t find him. It’s nearly dark.”

  “Hours yet before we can act, but I’ll be as quick as I can.

  I spent an hour or so biting my fingernails, in anticipation of what the night would bring until a carriage drew up outside the hôtel. Dupré arrived and was admitted to the house. The coachmen had obviously been dismissed because it drove away. Dupré stayed for a while then he emerged, spoke to the majordomo, turned and walked off down the street. I noticed that he did not carry anything with him. I did not think he would cause any unpleasantness in the open with people passing by, so I acted instinctively. Here was an opportunity to find out more information. I hurried to catch him up.

  “Ah, Colonel,” I greeted him, “a pleasant evening.”

  He did not suppress his frown quickly enough to conceal it from me but he answered smoothly.

  “Indeed it is, Monsieur. A good evening to you. I did not expect to meet you here.”

  “My duties take me to all parts of Paris.”

  “I see. Then I would be wrong in thinking that you have been following me?”

  “Of course not,” I exclaimed. “Why should I? Our meeting is only a happy chance.” It was not hard to put conviction into my tone because I had not, in truth, followed the man. He must have heard it or did not want to become involved in a dispute because he said,

  “Is there any way I can be of service to you?”

  “Only if you have remembered anything else about your visit to the workshop?” I asked.

  “Sadly no, but if I do, I will certainly be in touch with you.”

  We parted amicably. There was an undoubted lightness in his stride as he walked away from me. For a moment or two, I was even more certain that we had reasoned right. Then doubts set in and I began to wonder. As I walked back to my vantage point, I experienced icy shivers down my spine. What if we were wrong? What if we were discovered searching Élisa’s boudoir? The Emperor’s warrant had given me permission to question his sisters, not specifically to break into their houses. Yet we had only a few hours left and I had run out of other options. I was desperate. Would either Fouché or the Emperor protect us? Possibly, probably not. If Élisa was innoce
nt then we were in deep trouble. I hesitated. Should we call the whole thing off? If I did, I would have to admit total failure. The choice was metaphorically to be condemned for taking action, or to be condemned for failing to act.

  Suddenly I realised a fact that I had been trying to avoid. Either way, my career in the bureau would never be the same as it had been before. With that in mind, I preferred to be condemned for taking action. I began to feel as I used to do just before battle but I conquered the fear more easily than I had done then. Such things are easier when you are no longer a youth. I decided to say nothing about my doubts to Lefebvre and Fournier when they returned, although I was certain that they would share them. They would be stupid not to and neither are fools.

  They returned back just as I started to become seriously worried in case they had been recognised and apprehended.

  “What’s happened?” I asked.

  “Sorry I’ve been so long but I wanted to make sure,” Fournier reported. “I was halfway here when Lefebvre met me. Nothing at Pauline’s. Everything’s normal there, except for the fact that she seems a bit more affectionate to Dupré than she’s been of late. At least she was clinging to his arm when they left for the ball. I even spotted them embracing in the carriage before it drew away.”

  “Indiscreet. Where was her husband?”

  “Not with her. Is he ever?”

  “Rarely, I believe. Perhaps she owes Dupré something.”

  “For services rendered? Perhaps she does. Nothing at Caroline’s either. She and Murat are dining with friends on the other side of the river and then they are also going on to the ball.”

  “So Élisa’s does look the most promising,” I concluded.

  “Especially as Margot told me that the door to her chamber has no lock...” Lefebvre said meaningfully.

  “Meaning she really does have to remain there on guard. What if I ask to see her again?”

  “She’s certain to refuse you until after the coronation when it will be too late. Besides you can hardly force yourself openly onto a sick woman.”