Marguerite did return as she regrettably said she would, but that did not assure any good fortune. For days, weeks, and months on end, we battled constantly through her small remarks and my flippant attitude. In public, we tried to appear as something we swore we would never be: a man with his most prized possession on his arm. Even during night after sleepless night we remained separated as I had taken to the rooms of another wing, leaving her alone after the hour of nine or ten. The dream we always thought we would have had certainly become the mother of all nightmares.
But the thing that had shocked me the most was something that usually would not have lingered in a troubled marriage. I was still unimaginably in love with my wife, and that was the most tragic thing of all. I could not trust the woman as I had once thought I could but I refused to let the last thread connecting my life with hers snap. Marguerite was the air that my heart used to breathe, and should that air be denied passage, it would surely break and kill me along with it. There was simply no life without that woman, and therefore no reason to keep it going should I lose her.
But the woes of the human race are not enough to stop that of time, and by July's arrival, I was certain that any chances of the estrangement ending its course were beyond hopeless. We had each had our own lives squared away, she continuing her reign as the most petted woman in England and my secret one as the Scarlet Pimpernel, which was more busy than usual.
Since my wife had been the cause of all the madness of the league, I was working extra hard with them in order to go about the duties we had sworn to do, and the only way was to get right inside the Palais de Justice alongside the government officials. For this, 'Citizen Grappin' was created, born, and hired.
By now if you had not guessed, Grappin was in reality only myself in one of my best disguises. On the first day of his creation, I had applied him for a job at the Palais, and having really no one else to employ, the officials took me in immediately. After all, according to them, I was nothing more than a poor Belgian looking for money and willing to get it in any way possible. What harm could the harmless little old foreign man have caused? A whole lot more than they think!
The humorous situation was that the man I assigned as an assistant to was none other than my dearest friend, Citizen Chauvelin! This is going to be rather interesting I thought as I was readied alongside Robespierre himself to meet my 'chief', and when the man in black entered the room, I could hardly keep from laughing.
"You sent for me, Citizen Robespierre?" he said for the first time revealing to me that he was actually frightened of someone.
Remaining the impassive demon he was, the man in question turned quite an angered look on his employee. "For once in the last few months you have said something sensible, Chauvelin, for you are correct. As you know, I have been thoroughly disappointed in your failing to discover who this menace, the Scarlet Pimpernel, is without his alias."
That is absolutely true! Lud love me, Chauvelin was so nervous that I could see the little Frenchman swallow hard before finding his words. "I would have done much better Citizen Robespierre, I assure you of that; however how shall I find one Englishman amongst millions so easily? The slippery phantom is always on his guard in Paris, and succeeds in putting every obstacle in my way. He will never be found if that continues."
And I intend to keep it that way! "I expected you, Chauvelin, to think more clearly so that you can overcome those obstacles!" Robespierre shouted slamming his fist down onto his desk. Then breathing in heavily, he indicated me. "For that reason, I introduce you to your new assistant in this little quest; Citizen Chauvelin, I present to you Citizen Grappin of Belgium."
I saw through my mask the look that I always expected to see appear on Chauvelin's face. "Citizen Robespierre, you need not make such a hasty decision like that; I am quite capable of catching the Scarlet Pimpernel on my own."
Then why pray tell am I standing here with my head still intact, and you are being threatened to lose yours? "Oh it truly is an honor, Citizen Chauvelin! I have heard a great many past accomplishments you have made!" I replied in a husky Belgian sounding voice. "A real dedicated man you are! To be by your side when you catch that ghost will certainly be in my history books!"
As I took his hand and shook it roughly, he growled a curse and pulled it away. "If it is Citizen Robespierre's request than it unfortunately shall be done."
And with a slight bow to the old goon in charge, he exited the room dejectedly as I was beckoned to follow. Once outside, he ordered myself and all of his own soldiers to line up. As I watched him pace up and down the long lines, I had to admit he had a good talent for keeping them at attention.
"Sons of the Republic," he began, his angered mood shining through his harsh toned words. "I find it extremely hard to believe that such a strong country as our beloved France has the most incompetent group of children the world has ever seen. Our revolution is slowly slipping through our fingers as this meddlesome group of stupid aristos continues to prevail in the goals that they have set themselves to do, and you are allowing them to do so! Now I shall make myself clear for the last time! Any soldier who brings me at least some clue as to their leader, the Scarlet Pimpernel's identity shall be rewarded handsomely. However, should any of you fools among us allow him, his followers, or any of the émigrés to escape from under your nose, I will personally execute you myself! This Pimpernel must be found, and whether he is brought to me dead or alive, it matters not! I want to hear one day that the Scarlet Pimpernel surrendered his head to Madame Guillotine, and it shall be done! Now go about your orders for I do not expect them to be disobeyed!"
As the soldiers marched away quickly, Chauvelin turned to me. "As for you, Grappin, these rules apply to you as well. Do not make a fool out of me, foreigner; I am warning you."
I already have a few times before, you damn Frenchie! "I shall carry out any orders as any one of your native patriots would, Citizen Chauvelin." I replied my voice still disguised and my hand raising into a salute.
"Very wise decision, citizen. I myself shall be hunting down the man, but you see I plan on doing that solo by catching the fox right in his own rich backyard."
"How are you going to do that, citizen?"
"I have friends in high places; very intimate friends who will be more than willing to assist me with a good persuasion or two."
What is that supposed to mean? No one would give me away that easily! No one even knows who I am! "Just who exactly are those friends pray tell? I am always intrigued to hear these wonderful schemes of yours!"
"Well it is only one friend actually; one that has always been rather close to my heart. Aside from the fact that she married that idiot Blakeney, Marguerite St Just has never left me down, and now that she and her husband have grown apart, she can be depended on, of that I am certain."
Sink me good news certainly travels fast! I thought with all the sarcasm I could come up with. "Marguerite St Just? That really would be a wonder now wouldn't it? I hear the lady has the reputation of being 'the cleverest woman in Europe'. 'Twould be rather difficult to persuade her don't you think?" I asked praying that I was right.
"Grappin, if there is one thing a depressed woman can become, it is naïve, even Marguerite. The lady will be clay in my hands, and all I have to find is the right key inside her mind. Once that happens, the Pimpernel is as good as caught. Now go stand somewhere until I need you which fortunately will not be soon!"
Doing as he said gladly, for I so wanted to get away from him, I ran quickly to the riverbank to think. Marguerite had sat here with me once…Lord would these tortuous memories never leave me in peace?! I had been hard enough not to worry without her invading my mind, especially now that Chauvelin was going to England to enlist her aid in trying to find the Scarlet Pimpernel. Yes Marguerite was open to persuasion, but would that risk everything I had set out to do? No I knew for certain that she had more sense than that; our safety was assured!
…Wasn't it?