Pierre Pevel - By The Alchemist in the Shadows Page 0,106

the cock's first crow. He left his horse in the stable and hurried back to his bedchamber.

But someone was watching him.

A new day dawned in Paris and, by mid-morning, the air had already grown unpleasantly warm.

From all its streets, all its courtyards, all its gutters and all its ditches, the city's stink rose stronger than ever beneath the relentless sun. The sun's rays, however, did not reach sieur Pierre Teyssier's study. Behind closed shutters, I lis Eminence's master of magic had fallen asleep at his work table after a hard night of labour, his head resting on his forearms, snoring loudly and drooling slightly.

He awoke suddenly to what sounded very much like an altercation in the stairway outside, complete with cries and the sound of blows being exchanged. He sat up, with bleary eyes and tousled hair, to gaze with astonishment and then alarm at the individual who had just burst into the room. He was a squat, solidly-built man with white hair and a ruddy face. One could tell he was an old soldier from ten leagues off. He shoved his way past the valet who had been trying to deny him entry.

The tall, gangly young magic master rose and looked for a weapon to defend himself. He found nothing, but consoled himself with the thought that he would in any case not have known how to use it.

'Monsieur?' he asked, mustering a degree of dignity.

'Please forgive this intrusion, monsieur. But the matter is an important one.'

The valet, seeing that a conversation had been engaged, awaited the outcome.

'No doubt. However, I don't believe I know you.'

'I am Ballardieu, monsieur. I am in the service of Captain La Fargue.'

'In whose service?'

The question surprised Ballardieu. He hesitated, casting a wary glance at the valet before stepping forward, leaning over, clearing his throat and whispering:

'The company of the Cardinal's Blades, monsieur.'

Realisation finally dawned upon Teyssier.

'La Fargue! Yes, of course . . .' he sighed with both relief and satisfaction which were readily shared by the old soldier . . .

. . . but which still failed to clarify the situation.

With uncertain smiles on their lips, the two men gazed at one another in silence, each of them expecting the other to speak. The valet also waited with a smile.

Until at last Teyssier enquired:

'Well? Fa Fargue?'

The question woke Ballardieu from his daze. He blinked his eyes and announced:

'The captain wishes to meet you.'

'Today ?'

'Yes.'

Although he tended to be taken aback by unforeseen events, Teyssier was young man of good will.

'Very well . . . Uhh ... In that case ... In that case, tell him that I shall receive him at a time of his convenience.'

'No, monsieur. You need to come with me. The captain is waiting for you.'

'Now?'

'Now.'

'It's just that I don't go out much.'

'Can you ride a horse?'

'Not very well.'

'That's too bad.'

An hour later, at the Hotel de l'Epervier, Teyssier was still trying to convince himself that he had not actually been abducted. Feeling unsteady, he was finishing an ink drawing of the pentacle which Saint-Lucq had reported seeing at Dampierre and had described to him from memory. He found himself in the large fencing room, lit by the sunlight pouring through the three tall windows that looked out on the garden with its weeds, old table and chestnut tree.

Carefully avoiding the scarlet gaze of the half-blood and his disturbing spectacles, Teyssier concentrated on his sketch, which he corrected and completed in the light of his own knowledge. He could not prevent himself, however, from glancing at La Fargue who was slowly pacing up and down the room, or looking over at Marciac who was sipping a glass of wine and daydreaming as he rocked back and forth on a creaking chair. Laincourt remained outside his field of vision, but Teyssier could sense the man behind him, watching over his shoulder as the drawing took shape.

Silent and expressionless as ever, Almades guarded the door. As for Ballardieu, he had left the magic master in the front hall.

In fact, as soon as Teyssier had arrived at Hotel de l'Eper-vier he had immediately been taken in hand by La Fargue, who explained what was required of him: a drawing of a pentacle based on a verbal description.

'Do you think this is possible, monsieur?'

'Yes. On condition that—'

'Because Laincourt, who knows something about magic, claims that the purpose of a pentacle can be divined from its appearance. Is that true?'

'Certainly, but—'

'Perfect! Then let's get to work, monsieur.'

Time was indeed running short. The pentacle in question