Second Scenario:
Miss Lucie Blakeney's Story

(continued from Scenario #1)
 

I arrived at la Place de la Grève with Louis to find Eliza waiting for us.

"Good you're here," she said looking very nervous.

"What is the matter?" I asked.

"Chauvelin knows all about the plan to free the Marquis Chabrier and his two sons. The apple woman who you saw, Lucie, was really a spy for the Committee of Public Safety. She was told to watch Citizen Rateau who seemed very suspicious and report anything of interest. "Citizen Rateau" we know is the Scarlet Pimpernel. M. Chauvelin knows the plan and the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Bounders aren't expecting a thing. There's only one thing we can do."

"What can we possibly do?" Louis asked. "We can't warn them. We don't even know where they are."

"We have to get the Marquis and his sons out of the prison before the Bounders move in to help."

"All right, we have only an hour to get them safely out of the prison and to No. 12 Rue Ste. Anne—otherwise the Scarlet Pimpernel and his men will move in and be caught. Now, my idea is that two of us get in however possible and someone waits outside to get the Marquis and his boys to the Pimpernel. So any ideas?"

"Eliza, I think it would be best for you to take the Chabriers to the Pimpernel," Louis suggested. "You know where he can be found and your husband could help you. Lucie and I could get in somehow."

"I have an idea," I whispered excitedly.

It took a lot on my part to whisper for I was so excited, but I noticed that we were nearing the prison. "If you, Eliza, and I could distract the guards in front of the prison Louis, could slip in. Once you get inside, Louis, we could think of some excuse for one of us to come back here and help you. Louis and I know the layout of this prison. We were kept here before we were rescued. I think it might be better if I go in. If you could keep the guards busy for as long as you can, Eliza, we can get the Marquis out of there. Hopefully we will have time. We only have an hour left till Chauvelin and his men will be here."

"Allons-y," said Louis. I could see he was very excited. Even though he was a Frenchman he had the love of adventure as much as the English. In a moment, he was hiding in the shadows by the prison entrance. Now our job was to distract the two guards in front so he could get in.

"Let me do the talking," Eliza whispered to me. "It will be easier for you to sneak in. Just follow me."

Then she started running down the road. She stopped when she saw the soldiers.

"Citizens," she said pretending to be out of breath, "my sister and I were walking down la Rue Dauphine and we heard a group of men talking. They were speaking in English. One of them was unusually tall. We figured they must be the Scarlet Pimpernel and his band of English spies. We are only two women and no match for these men, but if you could come I'm sure they will still be there and we could capture them. We must hurry."

I was amazed at how well Eliza spoke French. If I had just met her I would never have known she was English. As she was saying all this Louis crept behind the distracted guards.

"Come with me," Eliza said hurriedly. "My sister can alert the other guards. Everything will be safe until you come back."

The soldiers hesitated for a moment, looked at each other, and started after Eliza who was heading down towards la Rue Dauphine. La Rue Dauphine was far enough away that I knew it should give Louis and I enough time before they came back. We had to hurry.

Fortunately Louis and I knew the prison from our few days stay there. Those to be guillotined the next day were always put on the first floor and were guarded by two soldiers. I took a deep breath and Louis and I entered into the main building.
Fortunately, the corridors were not well lit and Louis was very athletic. We hid in the shadows. One of the soldiers walked past where Louis was standing and Louis pounced on him.

"Take off his coat and cap," I whispered to Louis. "We can use them later."

Before I had time to think, the other soldier had Louis on his back. He must have heard and seen his friend knocked down. I grabbed the first object I could, a wine bottle, and smashed it over the soldier's head. He also fell to the ground unconscious.
I ran over to the prison cells while Louis searched the soldiers for the keys.

"Monsieur le Marquis?" I called.

"Who's there?"

"We're here to help you. Don't ask questions. Please be quiet and put on this uniform."

"How can we thank—"

"Please! The soldiers will be back in a moment and we want to be ready for them."

Louis and the Marquis put on the soldiers uniforms and the boys hid in the shadows. Just then we heard Eliza's voice. "I can't understand. They were there. We must keep a lookout for them they must be somewhere in this city."

The two guards were back and Louis and le Marquis were waiting for them. Soon we had all four of the guards tied up in the Marquis' cell and we were on our way to la Rue Ste. Anne. The two boys had donned the jackets and caps of the soldiers as well. Fortunately they were old enough to pass for soldiers. We could then walk through the streets without the least trouble.
The sun was just beginning to rise as we reached n* 12 Rue Ste Anne. Louis and I waited in an alley near the building while Eliza brought the Chabriers to her husband, who would, in turn, bring them to his chief. The Scarlet Pimpernel was safe for now.

As we waited, I gave a sigh of satisfaction for a task well done.

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