The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) (48 page)

“That was well done lad. Be sure to thank the nice man when we leave.” Was what Jon actually said. Hans smiled and nodded still playing his part. The pair moved off to explore the balcony.

Jon had to admit that the balcony was perfect for what they were doing. It completely circled the square lobby below and the open balcony railing made it so that you could take a step back and not be seen spying. Jon looked toward the front of the building and saw that the balcony extended to the outside of the theater via two sets of beautiful french doors. These doors now stood open which explained the amount of sunlight in the room.

Jon whirled around at the soft sound of a door opening. There stood Hans at one of the eight doors that ran along the rear of the gallery. He moved softly up to peer over the lad’s shoulder. This seemed to be the first level of the theaters upper seating, it was only about four rows deep so their view below was mostly unobscured. They could easily see most of the floor-seats, the orchestra pit and the stage from here. There were quite a few musicians moving around in the pit, Jon guessed they were either getting ready to practice or just finishing. Either way it would probably be a good idea to close the door. Apparently the boy agreed as he was already in the process of doing so.

“Did you see the curtains?” Hans asked. “They cover more stairs.”

Jon had not seen them as a matter of fact. There were two sets one on each side of the rear wall and seemed to be made of the same ivory damask fabric that covered the walls up here. They were easy to miss at first glance as the eye was drawn to the elaborately carved pale wood doors. Hans darted over and held back one of the pair of curtains on the right and indeed there was a staircase. In the blink of an eye Hans disappeared and the curtain twitched closed.

Jon swore softly, and followed the lad, he really did not want to let him out of his sight. The staircase was wider than Jon first thought, three people could easily ascend at the same time. It was also rather dark so Jon paused to let his eyes adjust. After several seconds he could see that there were quite a few gaslight chandeliers, he guessed that when they were lit this staircase would be quite spectacular.

The stair opened into a very large room which was quite surprising given that this too was a balcony. This must be the “boxes” Jon thought as he looked around. Currently the partitions were leaning up against the walls and the chairs were scattered everywhere. Jon could imagine what it would look like when it was set up. The massively heavy curtains on each side of the room would be drawn across, separating the majority of the room from the seating area. This was probably the upper class reception room he surmised.

“Hans?” Jon called softly trying to locate the lad.

“Here.” Came the reply.

Jon turned to see the boy’s head thrust through the curtains on the opposite side of room that he had entered from. Jon chuckled. “I take it that goes back down to the balcony?”

Hans grinned and disappeared. Jon followed the boy back down to the first balcony.

“What took you so long?”

Jon did not reply just rolled his eyes.

“Did you see the other set of stairs? There are three balconies! And I found the entrance to the royal boxes.” Hans paused and took a breath. “I didn’t find any way to get backstage though. We should go downstairs and explore some more.” Hans started toward the curved stairs leading down.

Jon reached out and grabbed his shoulder. “Shhh! Not now. Now we wait for the Lens....for the man I am looking for.”

“The Lenssss?” Hans asked. The lad had a look of cunning on his face.

“Don’t worry about it.” Jon growled and moved closer to the balcony overlooking the lobby and sat down. He looked up at Hans and patted the floor.

Hans sighed and sat by Jon. “How long...”

“Shhh! Listen, I hear a carriage outside.”

“Yes but how do you know...”

“Shhh!”

Hans rolled his eyes but otherwise sat still, listening. They were rewarded a few minutes later with the sight of the LensBaron Gyldenfelt sailing through the front doors of the theater. He was accompanied by one of the footmen and the bodyguard Marius. Jon noted that indeed the LensBaron had changed clothes. He seemed to be decked out in full court regalia including a red sash and what looked like military medals. Jon fished out his pocket watch and checked the time. Hm, he thought, the footman was right by Jon’s reckoning they had just had time for the LensBaron to get all dolled up and return. He snapped the watch’s cover closed and gestured towards Gyldenfelt. “Translate.” He said to Hans.

“Do you know who that is?” The lad asked, his eyes were round and wide..

“Yes.” Jon said curtly. “The man I need you to translate.”

Hans swallowed and nodded. Both watched as the LensBaron approached the box-office clerks. In a very abrasive tone the LensBaron began making demands. Even though Jon could not exactly understand the words he certainly was familiar with that nasty tone. It was the same one people of privilege used toward the common worker all over the world. Jon gritted his teeth and elbowed Hans.

The lad glared at Jon before speaking. “The LensBaron says that he wants to inspect his box for tonight’s performance of ‘
Der Thurm zu Babel’
. He is also demanding to see the manager of the Teater.”

“And...” Jon prompted when Gyldenfeldt began speaking harshly again.

“He is calling the clerk names, or rather he is outlining the clerk’s lineage of stupidity.”

“Why?”

“Well apparently the fellow did not immediately recognize him and he is making him wait while the other clerk gets the manager.”

The bullying went on for a few more minutes until a new voice joined the fray. Jon did not have to work hard to figure out the manager had arrived. The smooth oily tone and mildly obsequious way he said ‘LensBaron Gyldenfeldt” told Jon all he needed to know. Oh how many times have I used that particular tone and inflection, he wondered. At least Miss Tash never acted that way, in fact since he joined her service he was pretty sure he had never once used that tone. Damn! I sure have a great position he told himself.

“That is the manager.” Hans said. “He is explaining to the LensBaron that the boxes are not yet set up for the performance. He is also telling him that they were not expecting him this evening but that it would be his honor to prepare the LensBaron’s box personally. He’s also asking if he might prepare a private reception for the LensBaron and his guests or if he will be attending the official reception after the opera.”

Gyldenfeldt grunted a reply and Hans’ eyes widened again. “Uh, you’re not going to believe this.”

“What and why would I not believe it?”

“The LensBaron is saying that he is tired of fighting old battles. He admired the temerity of the German official that dared to send him tickets to this event. He says he decided to see what passed for culture in Prussia first hand and he is looking forward to the reception most of all.” Hans shook his head in obvious wonder. “The LensBaron Gyldenfeldt is famous for his hatred of the Prussians. I cannot believe what I just heard.”

“And I think you are more than what you seem. You display quite a bit of political savvy for a lad your age.”

Hans shrugged. “I listen to adults sometimes and like I said, the LensBaron is famous. I bet he starts something tonight.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because the LensBaron said publicly that he would never step foot into a room with a Prussian dog without leave to kill the bastard. And if you never heard that then you must not be a political sabbie or whatever it was you called me.”

“So what is the manager saying now?”

“Just more sucking up, I think he is as surprised as I am.” Hans leaned forward slightly, head cocked to one side. “The LensBaron sounds happy. He is asking who else is attending tonight.”

Jon and Hans sat quietly and listened to the names the manager recited. When the manager finished his list the LensBaron spoke again. It was not hard to translate that Gyldenfeldt was adding his own name and that of his guest Phineas Starblower to the list. Jon could not help but smile, it was fairly obvious that the LensBaron was bragging.

“Who is Fin-eas Star-blower?” Hans asked. “Well, whoever he is, the manager is impressed that he is attending as the LensBaron’s guest tonight.”

“Eh” Jon replied with a shrug. “Why would I know?”

Anyway, the LensBaron is leaving now. Are you going to pay me?” Hans narrowed his eyes and looked at Jon.

“Has he said where he is going?”

Hans made an exasperated ‘huh’ sound. When Jon made to cuff him he ducked out of the way. “Yes! He said he was going back home to rest up for tonight’s performance.”

“I wonder what that means...” Jon said out loud.

“How should I know?” Hans said getting to his feet.

Jon pulled him back down. “Not yet, wait till the carriage leaves.”

They sat another moment or two. The carriage could be heard moving off out front and after a few more moments they heard the manager leaving the box office area.

“Now we can go.” Jon got up and headed for the curved stairs.

“Hey, what about my...”

“Hush, wait till we get out front.” Jon admonished the impatient lad and put his hand back on Hans’ shoulder.

They walked to the door giving a wave to the clerk who allowed them to go up the stairs. Once outside and away from the door Jon pulled three rigsdalers from his pocket and knelt down in front of Hans. “Here, thank you for your help today.”

Hans grabbed the money from Jon’s hand, drew back and socked him in the face as hard as he could.

“What the hell?” Jon said trying to get his balance and stand up.

“That’s for Fritzie, my brother's gonna be real mean when everyone finds out a fat man beat him up.” Hans turned and ran off down the street.

Jon swore again and fingered his eye. It was already beginning to swell. Five years ago he would have chased the little runt down and beat the tar out of him. Ah well, at least I got what I need, he thought.

The steward headed back towards the market looking for a hire conveyance, time to get back to the air ship and report. He had a lot of questions and no doubt the others would too. Like what German official had sent the LensBaron the tickets? And why the elaborate trip to the theater just now? Was the LensBaron just blowing smoke in the eyes of the theater people to justify their later arrival? Or was he pulling some strings that Jon could not see? Not to mention Gyldenfeldt made a big deal about Starblower being his guest. Did that have a double meaning? Jon shook his head, oh yes, time to get back...

“And there you have it.” Jon removed the damp towel from his swollen eye and looked forlornly at the once again empty scotch glass.

Tash had both hands pressed tightly over her mouth trying desperately to quell the giggles. She finally removed her right hand and placed it over her heart and moved the left to her brow, palm facing outward. "Oh Jon!" She said in mocking despair. "That poor innocent child! He might have been hurt!"

Without hesitation Jon threw the towel at Tash. Who neatly ducked and then dissolved into laughter.

Jerard added his own chuckle to the charming scene and fervently wished he could share that level of intimacy with this fascinating woman. But honestly he could not imagine himself tossing a wet towel into her face; it just wasn't proper. But, he reflected, it did look like fun.

Carstares cleared his throat in an effort to inject some real dignity into the situation. "Well done Mr. Howell, even if your methods are somewhat…unorthodox. And you have raised some good questions."

"Sir?" Howell replied.

"I am not sure that it's important to find out which German official sent Gyldenfeldt the invitation but I shall endeavor to find out tonight, just in case. The LensBaron's invitation was probably sent out a month ago, that's usually how these things work. As for his trip to the theater, I am guessing that he wanted to be sure he had seats for the performance. He did tell us that he gave his tickets to his nephew and the man is canny enough to know that no one would be expecting him tonight. This is obvious, of course; the evidence being the fact that his name did not appear on the theater's guest list." Carstares stopped speaking and looked into the faces of his audience. When no one commented he continued. "Besides we
know
he's going to cause trouble tonight. He was adamant about facing down his nephew and exposing the Germans."

“While what you say is true Colonel why would the LensBaron deliberately alert everyone, including his nephew, by making sure his name was on the guest list. What if this Reinhardt does not show up?
Especially with Starblower in tow
. I would think the fact that we were on to him would keep him away." Jerard interjected.

"You are assuming Captain that this Reinhardt knows that Starblower and company have been tracing his movements and personally trying to get Dr. Nordstrom back. Is anyone even aware that Mr. Starblower knows the Doctor? I certainly was not. Also it is not the habit of the Queen's Service to send civilians to do this kind of work. No…no I think the little scene at the theater was staged for the LensBaron's aggrandizement. The man does have a reputation for braggadocio as it were."

"But Colonel," Jerard said. "Did you not say yourself that it appeared that we were being lead around?"

"I did."

"But you don't think that any more?" Tash asked.

"Oh I still believe it madam. I just don't think it is the LensBaron Gyldenfeldt doing it. I think the good Baron might have just given us the jump we needed to get ahead in this sordid affair. I suspect that this nephew, Reinhardt, is just a pawn in this little German game. I also think someone might be setting up Reinhardt."

“But why?"

"Because Reinhardt has made several mistakes, it was too easy to trace his steps. Because there are two things that the Germans hate the most; the first is a traitor and the second is public embarrassment. If Reinhardt really is working for them they would accept his service but they would not trust him."