The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) (55 page)

Carstares stood calmly looking at the irate Reinhardt as if he were considering an invitation to tea. After a moment or two he smiled. “Of course I accept your challenge Sir.”

“This is ridiculous!” Gyldenfelt interrupted. “You can’t do this Reinhardt! This man is my guest.”

“Shut up Uncle.”

“It is quite alright Bodil. Unfortunately or should I say fortunately? This will not be my first duel.”

“No!” Tash and Gyldenfeldt said together. Tash tightened her grip on Gyldenfeldt’s arm and looked at him silently pleading with him to do something.

“Then,” Gyldenfeldt began. “you leave me no choice. Since you are my guest Phineas, and it is my house that has issued this insulting challenge I will be your champion. We will do this properly Reinhardt, at dawn tomorrow. I suggest Valby Park, it will be suitably deserted.”

Reinhardt burst out laughing and placed one hand on his heart. “Oh Uncle! So noble! So brave!” He moved his hand to the hilt of his saber. “So very foolish. I shall look forward to adding another mark to your ugly bald head.”

Gyldenfeldt growled and took a step forward.

Reinhardt laughed again and held up one finger. “Not yet Uncle! And not bare handed, that is
so
uncivilized we will use sabers.” Reinhardt repeated his mocking bow. “Until tomorrow Uncle, I do so look forward to it.” He straightened and turned to Carstares. “Oh and you do know, according to the rules, the coward must attend?”

Carstares chuckled and carefully placed his monicle at his eye. “You are such a
child
Reinhardt and you know nothing of the world.” He shook his head and looked at Reinhardt with pity. “We English never allow others to fight our battles and while your uncle’s offer is perfectly correct, as I am his guest, it is I who is insulted.” Carstares turned to Gyldenfelt. “Thank you my friend but I must refuse your offer. However, will you honor me by being my Second?”

Gyldenfelt nodded curtly and bowed to Carstares/Starblower.

“Excellent!” Reinhardt exclaimed. “Tomorrow then!”

“Oh and
child,
one more thing.” Carstares/Starblower said, an evil grin spreading across his face. “I believe it is the challenged who chooses the weapons. I choose
pistols
.”

Tash fainted.

The carriage door closed firmly behind Gyldenfeldt as he took his seat across from Tash. She leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. But not because she still felt ill, no it was strictly out of embarrassment. She couldn’t believe she had fainted. She was not some simpering ninny that did that kind of thing for attention. She opened her eyes and looked at Gyldenfeldt and then Carstares wondering if she should apologize. Both men were staring at her with concern. She moved her gaze to Gopal who appeared to be staring out of the window. She watched him cut his eyes toward her and the corner of his mouth quirk up. He's laughing at me! Ohhh! Her ire rose and all thoughts of apologizing flew out of the window past Gopal’s nose.

“So!” Tash said sharply and was rewarded with Carstares’ and Gyldenfeldt’s flinch. “What in the name of all the gods in the ancient world are we going to do now?”

Gyldenfeldt recovered first. “We need to get you back to your ship my dear so you can rest. How are you feeling?”

“I feel fine. There is nothing wrong with me. If you had seen everything you have worked for for the last ten years suddenly take a right turn and head toward the sewer pipes you would have fainted too.” She said acidly.

Carstares and Gyldenfeldt now shared identical expressions of puzzlement. Realizing what she had just said Tash changed gears. “Never mind. What is important here is that we now have two problems instead of one. What happened to getting Dr. Nordstrom out of there and going home?”

“I am most sorry Miss Smythe-Harris. But my men assure me that Dr. Nordstrom was not there and I trust them. I trust them with my life, if they could not find your friend in that building then he was not there. I am prepared to turn this city upside down and find him for you. But...” Gyldenfeldt trailed off as if he was not sure if he should continue. He cut his eyes towards Carstares/Starblower.

“But what?” Tash snapped.

“But I think the dear LensBaron here really wants to tell us the truth and I think perhaps he has come to the same conclusion I have.” Carstares turned a pointed look on Gyldenfeldt.

“That this whole thing was a setup?” Tash said as she waved her hand in irritation. “Yes, I came to that conclusion myself. It was fairly obvious that odious man was only present to cause problems. But why? None of this makes any sense. How could he benefit in any way by challenging Starblower to a duel?”

Carstares chuckled. “I rather think the death of Phineas Starblower would cause quite an international scene, wouldn’t you?”

“Well a death would have been less likely if you had not chosen pistols!” Tash said curtly.

“Now that my dear is where you are wrong. Anyone with any knowledge of swordplay would have been able to spot that Reinhardt was an expert swordsman. You could see it in his stance and the way he moves. Am I not correct Bodil? He moves very much like you do Sir.”

“Yes.” Gyldenfeldt said quietly.

“I wouldn’t have had a chance against a younger man who was in much better physical shape than I am. However, I happen to be a crack shot.”

“Why? Why did you insist on doing this?”

“Is it not obvious? Why does any man fight a duel? For honor!”

“Pshaw! It is not even your honor! You must not do this!”

“She is right Phineous. This Reinhardt has impinged upon the honor of
my
house. I will face him tomorrow and we will get the truth from this cad and he will lead us to Dr. Nordstrom.”

“Oh he will do that, I can assure you. But Bodil, perhaps you can answer a question for me? Don’t you agree it is time for a little truth?”

Gyldenfeldt sighed. “Yes, you are correct. I did mean what I said earlier, I do truly wish to be friends. And I have made a grave error in judgment. Perhaps if I explain you will allow me to be your champion tomorrow morning.”

“Explain what for god sakes?” Tash interjected, she was definitely losing her patience.

“Explain why the LensBaron has a nephew that he has never seen before. Explain how he knew about Dr. Nordstrom’s kidnapping in advance of our arrival. Explain why he was so sure Dr. Nordstrom was being held at the opera house and why he did not immediately go to where his ship was docked to see if the good doctor was being held there. I have many questions but I think it might be better if you just explain Bodil.”

The LensBaron Bodil Gyldenfeldt of Aalborg held up his hands as if in surrender and grinned. “I will, but only if
you
tell me who
yo
u really are.”

Carstares held out his hand. “Colonel Robert Carstares, formerly of her Majesty’s Royal Navy. I am currently a member of Her Secret Service investigating the disappearance of Dr. Everard Nordstrom. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Sir.” The two men shook hands.

“Robert eh! And I so liked ‘Phineas’.” Gyldenfeldt sighed. “I suppose that wonderful deal we brokered is off now?”

“Not at all.” Tash said. “But how did you know he was not Starblower?”

“Because Starblower would have brokered a deal of that magnitude himself if he had been present. Oh please do not take insult Miss Smythe-Harris, it was wonderfully done and it is obvious that you have spent many hours sitting at the feet of a master. You wrung concessions out of me that well...shall we say that if the negotiations had been public I would never be able to hold my head up again. I have always been told that I was stubborn and manipulative but you madam could teach a mule a few things! Please accept my highest compliments.” Gyldenfeldt bowed to Tash from his seat. “It is a good deal, yes? We both benefit greatly.”

Tash tried very hard to smile but only seemed to manage a curt nod. Just what did he mean she was stubborn? Teach a mule a few things! Well I never, she thought. But it was a good deal and if things went as planned in the next few years not only will both sides have made a small fortune but Denmark would have a secondary industry to fall back on.

“You were saying LensBaron?” Carstares prompted.

“Yes, well, about a week ago I was contacted by a Frenchman of my acquaintance: Jean Phillipe Gaspe. He had done a ‘favor’ for me in the past and had a request of me. He said he needed to charter a ship to take him and some friends to Copenhagen and requested the use of one of mine. He did not explain what he wanted it for any further except to say he was up to something that would eventually embarrass Prussia. I owed him and did not ask further questions; as soon as he stated he was trying to discomfort the Prussians, I was all for it. I assumed he was covertly meeting someone with Prussian secrets for sale.

But you must understand, in the beginning I had no idea about Dr. Nordstrom. It was only after my ship had left port to pick Gaspe up from another boat that I received another telegram. This one informed me that the vessel had been used in kidnapping Dr. Nordstrom and if I did not follow directions I would be exposed as an accomplice. I hope you understand how serious it would be for one of my stature and authority to be involved in an international kidnapping. I was furious but anger rarely ever serves one well. So I waited to see what these ‘instructions’ would be. I do not like being manipulated and I will NOT be blackmailed.” Gyldenfeldt’s voice was filled with anger. He stopped and took a breath and calmed a little.

“So I took steps to take the advantage away from Gaspe. I contacted the port authorities here in Copenhagen and arranged for them to search my boat as soon as it arrived. I told them I suspected foul play but nothing more. The captain telegraphed me after the boat had been searched, the customs men found nothing. Only three men came on board that night, they only had one small valise between them. The description of one clearly fitted Gaspe and I now know one of the other descriptions was of Reinhardt, the third man is still a mystery. But I do know my captain said that the three appeared to be good friends. At least now I can say for certain that the description you gave me of Dr. Nordstrom does not fit the description of the third man. I was not sure until we had spoken together on your ship last night.”

Carstares opened his mouth to speak but the LensBaron held up his hand. “A moment more, I would reveal this whole ugly story. I received the telegram with my
instructions
just as you were entering the Aalborgushaus. I was told you would be coming to see me as the owner of the Dagmar and I was told to tell you that my nephew
Reinhardt
had borrowed the ship. I was to have you at this cursed opera tonight. But I was not told why. The telegram only said that my
obligation
would be discharged at the end of this evening.”

Tash and Carstares tore their eyes away from Gyldenfelt and looked at each other. As if they had the same thought at the same time they both said, “Then where is Dr. Nordstrom?”

Gyldenfeldt shrugged. “I honestly thought he would be hidden somewhere within the German opera troop. What better way to embarrass the Germans than to reveal a kidnapped man hidden in their midst? Now I see I am wrong. And thus my pledge to search the entire city of Copenhagen. This is my promise to you lady, if your friend is here in Denmark I will do all in my power to find him. Can you ever forgive me? Will you please believe me that I had no idea that Reinhardt would challenge
“Starblowe
r” to a duel?” Gyldenfeldt sighed and sat back on the carriage seat. His expression of sorrow was so complete that Tash reached out a hand and patted his knee.

“Of course I forgive you Bodil. Thank you for telling me the truth. I can see that it was difficult to admit that you were being played as much as we were.” Tash was rewarded with a small sad smile from Gyldenfeldt.

“So now you see why I must be the one to to face Reinhardt? The scoundrel does not deserve to live.” The LensBaron said passionately as he grabbed Tash’s hand and dropped to one knee on the floor of the carriage.

“Sit down man.” Carstares said irritated. “The insult was to me and I will face the challenge, unless of course there is something else you would like to tell us?”

Gyldenfeldt moved back to his seat and looked puzzled. “No, what else could there be? Is this not sin enough?”

“Well for a start do you know if this Gaspe character is aware that I am not Starblower?”

Gyldenfeldt cocked his head slightly to the left as if considering the question. After a moment he said, “I do not know. You were only ever referred to as Starblower. Is this important?”

“It might be. I am not sure. I only know that at this point we need to meet treachery with force. I think tomorrow morning we shall all meet as planned except that we shall have a few more people in place long before this particular show opens.”

Gyldenfeldt nodded curtly. “Agreed.”

Tash released a long sigh of relief. “Oh that’s wonderful. We will capture that fiend Reinhardt and make him lead us to Dr. Nordstrom. I am so glad that you are not going through with this silly duel!”

All three men looked at Tash as if she had two heads.

“Of course we will go through with the duel. I have been insulted.” Carstares said as if he were talking to a child.

“Can you not see Miss Smythe-Harris that it must be done?” Gyldenfeldt said, obviously in agreement with Carstares.

“No! I cannot see!” Tash began belligerently.

Gopal lightly touched Tash on the knee and murmured, “Leave it my lady, you will not triumph.”

“Oh not you too!” She wailed.

Gopal closed his eyes and slowly nodded his head as if bowing. “What will be will be.” He said quietly. “The outcome is Kali’s will.”

“Oh you can’t! You’re not! Grrrr...” Tash growled. “Why do you pick now to go all mystic on me? I give up!”

And indeed she did, the rest of the carriage ride was carried out in silence. When they arrived at the airship Tash leapt out unassisted and stomped her way up the ramp into the ship. All three men watched in silence before stepping out of the carriage themselves. The LensBaron gave directions to Carstares and Gopal as to the location of the park where the duel was to take place. He outlined where he would have his men placed and it was agreed upon the number of men Carstares would bring and what time he would pick him and them up in the morning. Gopal’s task was to keep Tash away from what could turn out to be a very ugly scene. This only took a very few minutes and all parties shook hands. Gyldenfeldt boarded his carriage to return home for a few hours of sleep. Carstares and Gopal walked toward the airship and their specific duties. Carstares’ would be to speak with Phillips and the men who would accompany him in the morning. Gopal’s task was somewhat more difficult.