“Ah! Yes,” Aramis said. “I have never forgotten.”
“We are still working together,” D’Artagnan said. “She is at the Metropole hotel and will be glad to see all of you. But we can’t waste much time now. Any minute I am liable to be apprehended. We must find new quarters, obtain new papers immediately.”
PHILLIP cleared his throat.
“I noticed something in the colonel’s office that might be interesting,” he said. “Do you remember when the orderly brought the paper into the colonel, while he was questioning us?”
Aramis nodded. “I remember.”
“While you were dueling the colonel,”
Phillip continued, hunching forward on the seat, “I took the opportunity to glance at that paper. It was an order of confinement for two French scientists, Lenier and Bordeau. They are in custody now, but they are being transferred to a place called the Mont Chateau under the personal supervision of Colonel Rinehart.”
D’Artagnan shrugged and studied Phillip with his keen friendly eyes.
“And how does that affect us?” he asked.
“Lenier and Bordeau,” Phillip explained, “were specialists on U-235. I remember reading that much while in America. The Germans were desperately anxious to have Lenier and Bordeau continue their experiments on behalf of the Third Reich. Both men refused and were sentenced to concentration camps.”
“What is this U-235?” D’Artagnan asked.
“I don’t know much about it,” Phillip answered, “but it is a potential source of energy derived from an isotope of Uranium.”
D’Artagnan grinned and shook his head.
“We’ll have to take your word for that. Go on.”
“The successful conversion of Uranium into U-235 has been the big problem. Lenier and Bordeau were making great progress in that field and, at one time, believed that they had actually solved the problem. Naturally the Nazis want them to use their science to aid them in producing U-235. With U-235 the Nazis would be completely assured of energy to run their planes, ships, trains and tanks. They would no longer need oil.” Phillip paused and studied the musketeers with serious eyes. “My guess is that they are going to make a last, desperate effort to make Lenier and Bordeau co-operate with them. If they succeed it will be a crippling blow to the Allied nations.” D’Artagnan nodded slowly.
“We must prevent that,” he said decisively. He frowned. “We must find out where this Mont Chateau is, first. That’s where they’re being transferred, right?”
“Yes, that’s the place,” said Phillip. “And they are going to be under the personal custody of Colonel Rinehart.” Aramis scowled blackly.
“That butcher will plan something unpleasant for the French scientists, you may count on that.”
“Marie knows Paris well,” D’Artagnan said suddenly. “Possibly she knows the location of this Mont Chateau.” He glanced out of the window. “We will be at the hotel soon. We must waste no time if we intend to snatch Lenier and Bordeau from the hands of the Nazis.”
Porthos grinned contentedly.
“This has the sound of adventure, comrades.”
D’Artagnan nodded grimly.
“It may not all be enjoyable, though,” he said quietly.
CHAPTER V
WHEN they drove up to the canopy of the Hotel Metropole, the guard in the front seat climbed out and strode into the lobby.
“Just a precaution,” murmured D’Artagnan, as they waited his return. “He will see that things are all right lest we stick our necks into a noose.”
In a few moments the guard was back and it was instantly apparent from his tight worried features that something was wrong.
He opened the rear door and leaned close to D’Artagnan.
“The Gestapo have caught up with us,” he said tensely. “They have Marie in the lobby now, questioning her. You’ve got to get out of here.”
“Not without Marie!” D’Artagnan snapped. “Come, comrades, this is a job for us.”
“You can’t go into that lobby,” the guard insisted desperately. “They’re waiting for you. They know Marie has an accomplice and they know he dressed as a German officer. Step through the door and you’ll be a dead man.”
“I have been told that before,” D’Artagnan said coolly, “but I am not dead yet.” He stuck a leg out the door of the car. “Is anyone coming with me?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Wait,” Phillip said anxiously. Stay here, D’Artagnan. Porthos and I will go in. They won’t be expecting us. They don’t know us by sight. You keep the motor running. When we come back out we’ll have Marie with us, but we’ll be in a hurry.”
“That is excellent,” Porthos said cheerfully. He shoved D’Artagnan gently aside with one huge hand. “Little Phillip and I will handle this.”
Phillip climbed out of the car after Porthos.
D’Artagnan watched them worriedly. “I think I had better go, too,” he muttered.
“That won’t be necessary,” said Phillip. “In fact, your presence would ruin things for Porthos and me. Just be ready to leave when we return.”
He turned and, with the lumbering Porthos at his side, walked into the lobby of the hotel. He spotted Marie instantly. She was standing between two heavy-set men who were watching the main door closely. They were standing directly in front of a pillar which was flanked by two huge palms.
“Walk straight ahead,” Phillip said from the side of his mouth to Porthos. “We must come up on them from the rear.”
They continued straight ahead and the two Gestapo agents after a brief glance at them, turned their attention back to the door.
Phillips didn’t know whether or not Marie had recognized them. Her eyes had met his for a flickering instant, but had turned away immediately.
Phillip stopped when the angle of the pillar hid them from the Gestapo agents. The desk clerk was watching them suspiciously and Phillip knew they would have to act immediately.
He turned and walked swiftly to the right until he was behind the pillar. He was only a half dozen feet from the girl when he stopped.
He whispered to Porthos, “I will step in front of the pillar and draw their attention.” He smiled and patted the giant musketeer on the arm. “You know what to do. Luck.”
Porthos grinned.
“This is becoming a specialty of ours.”
PHILLIP nodded and then, erasing all expression from his face, he strolled calmly around the pillar to the side of the Gestapo agent who stood on Marie’s left.
The agent glanced at him suspiciously.
Phillip paid no attention to the man, but stood calmly at his side, rocking slightly on his heels and whistling tunelessly.
The agent tapped his arm sharply.
“Move on,” he growled. “You are in the way.”
Phillip turned slowly and regarded the man with polite surprise.
“In the way?” he repeated, frowning in obvious puzzlement. “In whose way, may I ask?”
From the corner of his eyes he saw Porthos moving like a great shadow around the other side of the pillar. He didn’t risk a look at Marie. He was afraid his eyes would give him away if he did.
“You are in my way,” the agent snapped. “If you don’t want trouble, get along.”
The agent on the other side of Marie stepped to his companion’s side. He stared with icy suspicion at Phillip.
“What is the matter?” he demanded in a thick guttural voice.
“Nothing,” Phillip said calmly. “If you gentlemen don’t wish me to stand here I certainly won’t.”
They were both facing him now and over their shoulders Phillip saw Porthos come slowly into view around the pillar. He moved with the stealth of a great cat past Marie, his eyes fixed on the necks of the two Gestapo agents.
“Get moving!” the heavy-voiced agent snapped.
“With pleasure,” Phillip smiled. He made a move to turn and then said politely, “Do either of you German dogs have a match?”
The two agents stared at him as if they doubted their ears, while angry blotches of color coursed into their faces.
“You French swine!” one of them cried in a strangling voice. “You shall pay for your insolence.”
The both started toward him, but before they could take a step, Porthos’ great arms were suddenly about their necks. Their shocked cries were cut off instantly by the pressure of his grip. The giant musketeer spread his legs to give him leverage and then suddenly jerked their heads together with terrific force.
The sound as their heads banged together was like the cracking of a rotten nut.
Marie stepped quickly to Phillip’s side.
“Thank God, you came,” she said. “Where is D’Artagnan?”
“He is outside,” Phillip said quickly. “We’ve got to get out of here.”
Porthos stretched the two Gestapo agents on the floor.
“Let’s go,” he said.
THE three started across the lobby lobby toward the door, but they hadn’t covered a dozen feet before a shout sounded behind them. The desk clerk was yelling frantically at a puzzled-looking German soldier who was standing negligently beside the door.
“Stop them!” the desk clerk cried. He had evidently seen what had happened.
The soldier straightened up, his face losing its dullness.
He stepped in front of Porthos.
“One minute,” he said sharply.
Porthos didn’t bother to answer. His mallet-like fist snapped out from his shoulder, exploding on the point of the German soldier’s jaw. The man went down in a crumpled heap.
Phillip charged through the door, dragging Marie with him.
D’Artagnan threw open the rear door of the car, and the driver gunned the motor.
Porthos was last through the door. Phillip helped Marie into the tonneau, jumped in behind her and helped haul Porthos onto their laps as the car roared away from the curb with lurching, screeching speed.
There were five in the rear of the car but they managed to straighten themselves out as the car sped through the practically deserted streets of Paris.
Marie, eyes shining, red hair streaming in the breeze, turned and impulsively kissed Aramis, Porthos and Phillip.
“It’s wonderful to see you again,” she cried. She turned anxiously to D’Artagnan. “The Gestapo is after us now, my Gascon. They trailed the underground worker who brought you the Nazi uniform. We’ve got to get out of Paris for a while.”
“We have a job to do first,” D’Artagnan said. “Do you know where the Mont Chateau is?”
“The Mont Chateau?” repeated Marie. Her fine arched brows drew together in a faint frown. “I have heard of it,” she said. “I think it is a castle on the northern outskirts of the city. Yes,” she said, nodding decisively, “I’m sure that’s it. It is being used as quarters for several high-ranking Nazi officers. Why do you ask?”
D’Artagnan grinned.
“Because, my pet, the Mont Chateau is our next stop.”
He told her quickly of their plan to free the French scientists, Lenier and Bordeau, and when he finished, her eyes were glowing with excitement.
“That would be wonderful,” he cried. “If we can accomplish that it matters not whether we live or die. That would be worth dying for. I’ll give the driver the dirctions. We can be there in a hour or so.”
“We’ll wait until darkness to enter the castle,” D’Artagnan said.
Aramis asked, “How will we get into the place?”
“Getting in shouldn’t be too difficult,” D’Atragnan said thoughtfully. “But,” he continued with a wry grin, “we may find getting out considerably more of a problem.”
CHAPTER VI
WHEN night fell on the blacked-out section of the environs of Paris where Mont Chateau was located, a slowly moving German staff car approached the gates that guarded the great vast bulk of the castle and came to a stop.
Sentries sprang immediately from the darkness, but their air of challenging truculence faded when they peered into the tonneau and met the cool eyes of a slim young man wearing the uniform of a high-ranking Nazi.
“Will you have the gate opened, please?” the young man asked. “We are expected.”
The sentry stared from the young man to the girl and the huge man who sat on either side of him.
“All of you, Mein Herr?” the sentry asked.
“Naturally. Open the gates!”
There was a crisp snap of authority in the young man’s voice and the sentries saluted and faded back into the darkness. Their voices sounded and in a few moments the great metal barrier creaked noisily open.
Phillip, seated beside Aramis in the front seat, breathed a sigh of relief.
“So far, so good,” he muttered.
He released the clutch and the car slipped slowly through the gates and into the dark lane that wound through the grounds of the estate to the great castle known as Mont Chateau.
They drove on for several hundred yards in silence until Phillip saw the castle ahead of them, looming ominous and huge against the dark night.
He brought the car to a quiet stop.
The grounds of the castle were dark and silent, except for the cold whispering wind in the trees. And faintly they could hear the tramp of sentries patroling the estate.
“What now?” Phillip whispered. “We can’t stay here much longer.”
“We must separate,” D’Artagnan said. “We have a better chance of liberating the Frenchmen that way. If one group of us is caught the other can still carry on. Marie and I will make a frontal attack on the castle. We will enter boldly as befits a Nazi officer and his lady. Possibly we can use the same trick that we used in freeing you from Colonel Rinehart. Phillip, you, Aramis and Porthos must manage to force an entry to the castle somehow, and locate the cells or rooms where the French scientists are being held. We shall have to trust to the good Lady Luck, once we are inside.”
Phillip put the car in gear and drove slowly toward the castle. He stopped long enough before the steps that led to the massive door to allow D’Artagnan and Marie to step out. Then he drove on again into the darkness . . .
D’ARTAGNAN waited until the car’s dark bulk had disappeared down the lane before knocking loudly on the solid heavy timbers of the door.
He gripped Marie’s arm with his other hand.
“Courage,” he said softly.
She met his eyes calmly.
“I am not afraid.”
A moment later the massive door swung back, and a stocky, dark-haired soldier in a corporal’s uniform stood in the doorway.
“Good evening,” D’Artagnan said.
“The gate sentry mentioned another,” the corporal said suspiciously. “Where is he?”
“In the car with the driver,” D’Artagnan answered carelessly. He took Marie’s arm and stepped through the door, brushing the corporal aside. He took off his outer coat and hat and handed them to the man.
“Will you please tell your commander that I am here?” he said. “My business is urgent.”
The corporal looked down in helpless anger at the coat and hat in his hands and with a glowering face strode away to disappear through a large door that led off the main hallway.
D’Artagnan glanced around appreciatively. The hall was wide and spacious, furnished in burnished mahogany that looked a thousand years old. A wide curving staircase led from the hall to the upper sections of the castle, and on the first landing a knight’s armor gleamed dully in the gloomy light.
“Very nice,” he murmured to Marie.
Marie shivered. “It’s too dark and gloomy for me,” she said.
The corporal returned. He looked at them impassively, but D’Artagnan noticed that a peculiar flush of excitement seemed to flush his cheeks.
“The commandant will see you immediately,” he said. “Will you follow me, please?”
“Thank you,” D’Artagnan said. He had the feeling that he was sticking his head squarely into a noose, bu
t that couldn’t be helped.
The corporal led them across the polished floor to two great doors. He opened one of the doors, stepped aside and bowed slightly.
“Will you please go in?”
D’Artagnan hesitated for a second. He searched the corporal’s face but the man was staring directly ahead, standing at rigid attention. He shrugged philosophically and, taking Marie’s hand in his, sauntered through the opening.
The room he entered was large, book-lined and not very well lighted by a chandelier that hung from the high arched ceiling.
D’Artagnan paused inside the door. The room seemed to be deserted; but he felt a strange, intuitive premonition that caused his muscles to tense instinctively.
A voice to his left said, “It’s nice to meet you again, my young friend.”
D’Artagnan turned slowly.
Standing to one side of the door, a grim smile on his hard, bitter face was Colonel Rinehart.
And in his hand he held a Luger that covered his visitors unwaveringly.
CHAPTER VII
D’ARTAGNAN studied Colonel Rinehart’s bitter eyes and he knew that the Nazi was aware of his deception. He smiled and shrugged.
“How do you, Colonel,” he said. He glanced at the gun in the Nazi’s hand and shook his head accusingly. “You weren’t so inhospitable the last time we met.”
Colonel Rinehart strolled forward, still smiling.
“You made a. fool of me on that occasion,” he said. “I admit that. My superiors were not very tolerant of my mistake. My career may have been hurt irreparably by my error in releasing three important prisoners to a counterfeit German officer. And that,” he said, smiling coldly, “is why I am so happy to meet you again. I don’t know why you walked straight into my arms, but I assure you I am most grateful.” He nodded over D’Artagnan’s shoulder to the corporal who had entered the room.
“Take this young man down to the dungeon with the others,” he ordered. There was a speculative light in his eye as he turned to Marie and studied her slim body and classic features carefully. He smiled thoughtfully. “You, my dear, will remain with me for a while. I will question you personally.”
Collected Fiction (1940-1963) Page 208