Read Online Tannhauser 02: The Twelve Children of Paris by Tim Willocks - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tim Willocks
Tags: Historical fiction
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court.’
Petit Christian was lying, or, rather, he was concealing what he knew under a mass of factual generalities. Tannhauser was certain that the playwriting pimp had followed him. If he quizzed him on the matter, he would only invite more mendacity. He would not get satisfactory answers short of inflicting fear and pain, which methods were not practicable here.
‘Tell me where to find the Lady Carla.’
‘You don’t want me to act as your guide? I could do so within the hour.’
‘Are you trying to delay me?’
‘Why of course not, sire.’
‘I have a guide. Directions will do.’
Christian’s eyes flickered about, as if hoping assistance might arrive.
‘For Paris, they are simple enough. Follow the river east to the Place de Grève, which will make itself obvious by the presence of the Hôtel de Ville and the gallows. Turn due north and you will by turns find the Rue du Temple. You will pass an old chapel and a priory on your right. A little further and you’ll see the remains of the old city walls, beyond which lies the Temple itself. Just south of the old walls, on the west side of the street, you will find three fine houses in the new bourgeois style, not more than ten years old. You won’t mistake them for they’re dressed with an abundance of glass. The middle house is taller than the others and has a double façade. Carved in the lintel above the door are three honeybees. That is the Hôtel D’Aubray.’
‘It had better be.’
‘I hope the proximity of the Temple reassures you.’
‘Why would I be in need of reassurance?’
‘I meant only to be courteous, sire. Can I be of any further service?’
Tannhauser said, ‘You can tell me where to locate the Collège d’Harcourt.’
It was hardly the subtlest of snares but Petit Christian did not expect it. In the Louvre dissembling was so habitual some didn’t know when the canniest move was to be honest.
‘There are scores of colleges, sire. I’m afraid I know little about them beyond that most can be found on the Left Bank.’
‘I’m told it’s near a tavern called the Red Ox.’
‘Taverns outnumber the colleges ten to one, sire.’
Tannhauser didn’t speak.
Christian shuffled, as if unsure who had outwitted whom. He knew that Tannhauser already knew the location of both buildings, for he had seen him there. Yet he dared not say so. A profession of complete ignorance must have seemed the safest course, and he stuck to it.
Christian said, ‘Shall I make enquiries for you, sire?’
‘I’ll be making my own.’
Christian’s lies confirmed he had followed Tannhauser up to the moment he met Retz. The porter must have sent a messenger while Tannhauser was eating. What had Orlandu been doing to justify this espionage? The answer would have to wait. He was eager to see Carla and the details of her location he believed.
‘One last matter, but an urgent one. Your monkeys are dying of thirst.’
‘My monkeys, sire?’
‘See that they’re watered and fed. See to it now.’
Christian bowed as he retreated to a safe distance. He turned and scuttled away.
Tannhauser heard footsteps and the rattle of weapons and tack.
‘There he is, the swine.’
Tannhauser turned.
Four Huguenot nobles stood in a menacing formation. The eldest was the brawler from the yard; the youngest was a stripling. They were flanked by two Scots Guard. Dominic Le Tellier stood at the fore but off to one side. His features bore no trace of charity. One of the Huguenots held Grégoire by the scruff. A red welt from a slap marked the boy’s cheek. Tannhauser took a breath to gentle the sudden urge to violence in his chest.
‘So you’re men enough to best a helpless boy. Let him go.’
Dominic spoke up. ‘These noble gentlemen –’
‘These noble gentlemen will let the boy go.’
The Huguenot shoved Grégoire forward.
Tannhauser tilted Grégoire’s chin to examine the welt.
‘Are you all right, lad?’
Grégoire nodded.
‘Stand behind
Petit Christian was lying, or, rather, he was concealing what he knew under a mass of factual generalities. Tannhauser was certain that the playwriting pimp had followed him. If he quizzed him on the matter, he would only invite more mendacity. He would not get satisfactory answers short of inflicting fear and pain, which methods were not practicable here.
‘Tell me where to find the Lady Carla.’
‘You don’t want me to act as your guide? I could do so within the hour.’
‘Are you trying to delay me?’
‘Why of course not, sire.’
‘I have a guide. Directions will do.’
Christian’s eyes flickered about, as if hoping assistance might arrive.
‘For Paris, they are simple enough. Follow the river east to the Place de Grève, which will make itself obvious by the presence of the Hôtel de Ville and the gallows. Turn due north and you will by turns find the Rue du Temple. You will pass an old chapel and a priory on your right. A little further and you’ll see the remains of the old city walls, beyond which lies the Temple itself. Just south of the old walls, on the west side of the street, you will find three fine houses in the new bourgeois style, not more than ten years old. You won’t mistake them for they’re dressed with an abundance of glass. The middle house is taller than the others and has a double façade. Carved in the lintel above the door are three honeybees. That is the Hôtel D’Aubray.’
‘It had better be.’
‘I hope the proximity of the Temple reassures you.’
‘Why would I be in need of reassurance?’
‘I meant only to be courteous, sire. Can I be of any further service?’
Tannhauser said, ‘You can tell me where to locate the Collège d’Harcourt.’
It was hardly the subtlest of snares but Petit Christian did not expect it. In the Louvre dissembling was so habitual some didn’t know when the canniest move was to be honest.
‘There are scores of colleges, sire. I’m afraid I know little about them beyond that most can be found on the Left Bank.’
‘I’m told it’s near a tavern called the Red Ox.’
‘Taverns outnumber the colleges ten to one, sire.’
Tannhauser didn’t speak.
Christian shuffled, as if unsure who had outwitted whom. He knew that Tannhauser already knew the location of both buildings, for he had seen him there. Yet he dared not say so. A profession of complete ignorance must have seemed the safest course, and he stuck to it.
Christian said, ‘Shall I make enquiries for you, sire?’
‘I’ll be making my own.’
Christian’s lies confirmed he had followed Tannhauser up to the moment he met Retz. The porter must have sent a messenger while Tannhauser was eating. What had Orlandu been doing to justify this espionage? The answer would have to wait. He was eager to see Carla and the details of her location he believed.
‘One last matter, but an urgent one. Your monkeys are dying of thirst.’
‘My monkeys, sire?’
‘See that they’re watered and fed. See to it now.’
Christian bowed as he retreated to a safe distance. He turned and scuttled away.
Tannhauser heard footsteps and the rattle of weapons and tack.
‘There he is, the swine.’
Tannhauser turned.
Four Huguenot nobles stood in a menacing formation. The eldest was the brawler from the yard; the youngest was a stripling. They were flanked by two Scots Guard. Dominic Le Tellier stood at the fore but off to one side. His features bore no trace of charity. One of the Huguenots held Grégoire by the scruff. A red welt from a slap marked the boy’s cheek. Tannhauser took a breath to gentle the sudden urge to violence in his chest.
‘So you’re men enough to best a helpless boy. Let him go.’
Dominic spoke up. ‘These noble gentlemen –’
‘These noble gentlemen will let the boy go.’
The Huguenot shoved Grégoire forward.
Tannhauser tilted Grégoire’s chin to examine the welt.
‘Are you all right, lad?’
Grégoire nodded.
‘Stand behind
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