I awake to find that my arms have fastened to the leather writing surface of the bureau. The hand of the gold engraved clock that sits on a shelf of the bureau is petrified at 13 minutes to midnight, just as it has been for as long as I can remember. The last I recall before I fell asleep, quill in hand, I was committing to paper a few broken sentences, endeavouring to assemble the facts of my recent adventures and the manner in which I might tell it to my master, Matthew Evelyn. I am constrained to be mysterious in the manner of writing, if only for the greater necessity that I should reach the end of my tale. I beg my readers' forebearance.
In my lodgings all is quiet, my clothes, papers and remaining possessions laid out in piles on the chequerboard floor, each carrying a history of three months abroad. I am accustomed to the knowledge that the ceiling under which I write has eyes, the walls have ears, that malevolent and unceasingly watchful enemies are encircling ever closer.
I rise and kneel to pray before a statuette of the Saviour that I earlier placed on the mantlepiece. Next to it a candle flickers its shadow across His face, so that momentarily the downcast profile is swallowed up in darkness. Before I had seen the papish Christ abroad I had only imagined His countenance and mutilated body from the text of the Scriptures. Such likenesses of the Lord Jesus are never displayed in our Commonwealth.
Logs glow in the fire smouldering in the hearth. I draw close and rub my arms to throw off a chill, as if frozen water were trapped in my bones from the sea crossing of the day before. The lodgings feel unfamiliar and bare, unsurprisingly so since all my worldly possessions were packed away or sold in anticipation of my last departure in October.
The passage to France had been smooth in the going but the Fates were less inclined to have me return home, and threw inclement ebbs and floods before our pinnace as we embarked for England from the Frankish coast. We were two days in the choppy sea, pumping and laving out the icy water during gales that blew day and night, and all the while trying to evade the enemey's warboats. There were fishing vessels crammed full of Franks sharing the Channel. Early in the morning of the second day a Mongol ironship, breaking the waves like a mighty and pitiless kraken, drew close enough to bring our small craft within sight of its fearsome guns, but a providential nor'easterly saved us by the mercy of God.
I marvel at the protection that these walls afford me so soon after the crossing and flight from Paris. The thick stone cuts off all but the lowest tinkling of the January winds without. In St James's narrow streets, small, high voices are carried on a gust of wind. The flicker of golden light from a lantern carves a face out of shadow that glides up through my window and moves, spectre-like, across the beams and rafters above me. I turn from my prayers to watch them pass by cockpit stairs below my window, a procession of bright faeries on a spree moving swiftly on into the night. The children carry paper-cut lanterns on sticks, the chorus of their laughter and song causing a few city folk to pause on their evening journey, perhaps recalling how once too they were as free of the burdens of the world. Each child has secreted in their shoes a clove of barley which will be placed on their doorstep to feed the camels of the Three Wise Men, as it was when they came to the Blessed Saviour in his infancy. The children, at least the well-loved among them, will enjoy the gifts of the new star this night when barley turns into raisins, almonds and Meknes honey by dawn. So it has been since two centuries past when old Christmas was decreed a pagan rite and banished.
In the quiet of this hallowed eve, thoughts and images of Paris drift in and out of my mind's eye; the final words I heard from comrades, the urging of me to be steadfast and to return fast to England so that my masters should know what might soon befall us here. Between myself and that fate I try to instill the protection and blessing of our dear Saviour. Before I sleep I place the Christ in a small chest for safekeeping.

A knock at the door. My old friend and palace steward Burchitt enters, the little hair he owns asquiff, one eye wider than the other which still sleeps. "Good dawn, dear Percy, the council awaits your presence. Have you the lantern chronicle?"
"Yes, it is here."
I look over to the table under the window, just to be sure that the small black box with silver lock, my precious cargo, is as I had left it. And once again I remember. Paris has fallen to the Mongol-Pretender army, that unbelievable fact vanishing along with the waking world only to come rushing into my consciousness like a loved one's briefly forgotten loss.
" I t i s a h a p p y t h i n g t o s e e y o u d e l i v e r e d s a f e l y . N o t t h a t I d o u b t e d y o u w o u l d b e b a c k , y o u h a v e t h e l u c k o f t h e D e v i l a b o u t y o u . P l e a s e d r e s s , w e s h a l l g i v e y o u s o m e c a p o n a n d e e l p i e . A n d a d r o p o f b e e r . "
B u r c h i t t c a r r i e s a n o i l l a m p i n o n e h a n d a n d i n t h e o t h e r a l a r g e p a n o f w a t e r w i t h w h i c h I w i l l w a s h a n d c u t m y b e a r d , w h i c h t h r o u g h n e g l e c t h a s g r o w n m o s t u n t i d y i n t h e s e r e c e n t w e e k s o f u p h e a v a l .
M y a p a r t m e n t i s j u s t o n e o f s e v e r a l i n a s e c l u d e d c o u r t y a r d r e a c h e d t h r o u g h a l o w , n a r r o w p a s s a g e f r o m S t J a m e s S t r e e t . A r o u n d t h e c o u r t y a r d w o o d e n c o l u m n s r u n a l o n g i t s i n n e r w a l l s a n d o v e r h a n g i n g g a b l e s f a c e o n t o a p a v e d y a r d w i t h , a t i t s c e n t r e , a p l i n t h u p o n w h i c h s t a n d s a s p h e r e m a d e o f a h o l l o w g l o b e . T h e g l o b e i s c o n s t r u c t e d o f t w o e q u a l l y w i d e m e t a l r i n g s t h a t c r o s s a t t h e i r p o l e s a n d t u r n a t 9 0 d e g r e e s t o o n e a n o t h e r , a n d t h r o u g h t h e p o l e s a n a r r o w p o k e s , a s i f i t s m a k e r h a d p l a y e d G o d a n d s t u c k a s p e a r t h r o u g h t h e t u r n i n g e a r t h t o e m p h a s i s e h e r f r a g i l e e x i s t e n c e .
T h e r o o m s o f f t h e c o u r t y a r d w e r e n o t p r i v a t e i n t h e p r o p e r s e n s e , a s h e r e l i v e d v a r i o u s o f f i c e r s a n d s e r v a n t s o f s t a t e w h o s e p o s i t i o n s w e r e o b s c u r e t o t h e i r n e i g h b o u r s . W e s h a r e d s e r v a n t s a n d t r a d e s m a n o n l y , f e w o f u s w i t h d w e l l i n g s h e r e k n e w t h e o t h e r s ' n a m e s a n d e a c h k e p t h i s a f f a i r s t o h i s p e r s o n . A g a t e a n d f o r e c o u r t m a r k e d t h e w a y t o t h e s t r e e t , w h e r e j u s t y a r d s f r o m m y q u a r t e r s c o u l d b e f o u n d i n a c e r t a i n c o r n e r a f a m i l i a r m u t t o n y w e n c h d i s p l a y i n g h e r f l e s h y w a r e s o b l i v i o u s t o t h e c o l d , a n d c r o u c h i n g b y t h e e n t r a n c e t o t h e p a s s a g e a p a i r o f b e g g a r s w i t h o n l y t h r e e l e g s b e t w e e n t h e m , a l m o s t b e a t i f i c i n d e m e a n o u r , w i t h b l a c k e n e d c o u n t e n a n c e s t h a t h a d s e e n a s m u c h b a t h i n g w a t e r a s a d e s e r t B e d h o u i n 's b o o t . M i n e w a s a s h e l t e r e d h a v e n , h a r d l y p a r t o f t h e C i t y o f W e s t m i n s t e r a t a l l , a n d a s p l e a s i n g i n i t s s e c l u s i o n a s t h e f i r e n o w w a r m i n g m e .
H o w m u c h d i f f e r e n c e o n e s h o r t w i n t e r c a n m a k e , c o n s i d e r i n g t h e n o v i c e I h a d b e e n , e a g e r t o p r o v e m y s e l f , t o f i n d a d v e n t u r e w i t h o u t a n i n k l i n g o f t h e u n e x p e c t e d t u r n o f f a t e t h a t a w a i t e d m e . "Y e s , m y l o r d , I c a n b e e n t r u s t e d w i t h a p e r i l o u s t a s k o f i m p o r t a n c e t o s t a t e . S e n d m e a m i d t h e e n e m y a n d I w i l l s t e a l h i s s e c r e t s . S e n d m e t o F r a n c e t o i n v e i g h m y s e l f i n t o t h e c o u r t o f t h e H o l y R o m a n E m p e r o r , t o a h a r l o t c i t y w h o s e s i r e n 's v o i c e s h a l l s u r e l y t e m p t m e , y e t b y m y o a t h I s h a l l n o t y i e l d . I w i l l e m p l o y a l l t h e p o w e r s t h a t G o d g a v e m e , a n d t h o s e w h i c h m y m a s t e r s t a u g h t m e . A n d , a s i d e , b y d o i n g t h i s I w i l l i m p r e s s u p o n a v i r t u o u s a n d b e a u t i f u l l a d y t h a t I a m w o r t h y o f h e r a f f e c t i o n s ."
W i t h g o o d h e a r t a n d e a r n e s t i n t e n t I b e g a n , b u t d i d I l e a r n h u m i l i t y o r w i s d o m a l o n g t h e w a y ? A s a n i n t e l l i g e n c e r I c o n s i d e r e d m y s e l f i n d i f f e r e n t , o r a t b e s t a p a s s a b l e i m i t a t i o n o f t h e r e a l t h i n g . I h a d r e c e i v e d i n s t r u c t i o n i n t h e w a y o f s i m p l e d i s g u i s e s , t h e u s e o f c i p h e r s , c o d e s a n d s y m b o l s , a n d t h e a t t r i b u t e s a n d d o s a g e s o f c o m m o n p o i s o n s w h i l e , i n t h e e s s e n t i a l a r t o f i n f o r m a t i o n g a t h e r i n g a n d t h e t u r n i n g o f f o r e i g n e r s a n d e n e m i e s t o t h e s e r v i c e o f H i s M a j e s t y , I h a d t o a p p l y m y o w n p o w e r s o f o b s e r v a t i o n , d e c e p t i o n a n d i n d u c e m e n t .
I n t r u t h , t h e e n d o f m y f i r s t a s s i g n m e n t w a s i n g l o r i o u s , f l e e i n g a h o a r d o f M o n g o l s , w i t h m y t a i l b e t w e e n m y l e g s a n d i n m y p o s s e s s i o n a b o x o f l i f e - c a p t u r i n g t h a t I knew w o u l d a s s a u l t t h e e y e s o f e v e n t h e m o s t i n d i f f e r e n t o b s e r v e r . T h i s I h a d c a r r i e d w i t h m e f r o m Paris f o r t h e s a k e o f E n g l a n d a n d i t s m o s t m a g n i f i c e n t P r o t e c t o r , w h o i s s l a v e t o n o n e o t h e r t h a n G o d A l m i g h t y a n d t h e s e r v a n t o f h i s p e o p l e .
T h i s f o r e n o o n I a m d u e t o m e e t t h e S u p r e m e C o u n c i l , t h e P r o t e c t o r h i m s e l f . I h a d o n l y e v e r s e e n h i m f l e e t i n g l y , i n t h e p a l a c e p a r k s , r i d i n g h i s p o s t i l i o n i n l e a t h e r a n d steel , o r a r r i v i n g a t t h e C o m m o n s t o a d d r e s s t h e H o u s e . T h i s w a s a n a u d i e n c e I c o u l d n o t f u m b l e . T o d a y t h e c o u n c i l w o u l d b e t o l d t h i n g s t h a t t h e y m i g h t p r e f e r t o d i s b e l i e v e . S o m e o f i t t h e y w i l l a l r e a d y k n o w , f o r t h e w o r d h a d s p r e a d f r o m t h e i r i n f o r m a n t s a l o n g t h e c o a s t a l a r e a s o f K e n t a n d N o r f o l k w h e r e F r a n k s a n d F l e m i s h h a d b e e n a r r i v i n g o v e r r e c e n t w e e k s .
B u r c h i t t y a w n s a n d t a p s h i s f l i c k e r i n g l a m p , t h e n c a t c h e s t h e t h o u g h t i n m y e y e . " I s h o u l d n ' t w o r r y , t h e P r o t e c t o r i s n o t i n f u l l h e a l t h , s o i t i s c e r t a i n t o b e a s h o r t s e s s i o n . B e s i d e s , t h e c o u n c i l l o r s s h o u l d b e n o g r e a t t r o u b l e t o s u c h a s e a s o n e d i n t e l l i g e n c e r a s y o u r s e l f , e h ? "
I w a s n o t w h o l l y c o n v i n c e d b y B u r c h i t t ' s r e a s s u r a n c e . B u t a c e r t a i n p r i d e s w e l l e d u p , s u c h t h a t I w i s h e d m y f a t h e r c o u l d s e e m e n o w . E v e n h i s d e m a n d i n g s p i r i t w o u l d b e h a p p y , r e p a y i n g a l l h i s e f f o r t s t o d r u m s o m e p u r p o s e i n t o a d i s s o l u t e y o u t h w h o d r e a m e d o f e s c a p e i n t o t h e w o r l d a w a y f r o m s t u d i e s .
"B u r c h i t t , w h a t a m I t o w e a r ? M y c l o t h e s h a v e n o t b e e n s c r u b b e d f o r a n a g e a n d I l e f t m o s t o f t h e m b e h i n d i n t h e r u s h . C a n y o u f i n d m e a f r e s h s u i t - some b r e e c h e s , g a r t e r s , d o u b l e t , a c l o a k o r g o w n , s o m e s t o c k i n g s , and a c o l l a r o r b a n d s . "
H e d i g e s t s m y r e q u e s t , e y e s w i d e n i n g a s t h e o r d e r l e n g t h e n s . " Y o u d o n o t a s k m u c h , s i r . I a m s u r e I c a n f i n d s o m e t h i n g , t o b o r r o w o n l y , y o u u n d e r s t a n d , f o r I w i l l h a v e t o b o r r o w t h e m m y s e l f . W h e n I r e t u r n , p e r h a p s y o u c a n t e l l m e o f y o u r a d v e n t u r e s , n o t t h a t i t ' s m y b u s i n e s s o f c o u r s e . "
" I w i l l t e l l y o u n o w . P a r i s w a s m o s t s p l e n d i d , t h e p a l a c e s m a g n i f i c e n t , t h e h o u s e s p i l e d u p a n d b l a c k w i t h s o o t , t h e s t r e e t s f u l l o f f a n c y n o b l e m e n , f a t p r i e s t s , f r a g r a n t m a d a m o i s e l l e s , p a u p e r s a n d b r i g a n d s a p l e n t y , s o m e r i c h , m o s t p o o r , a s t h e y a r e i n L o n d o n , b u t t h e y a r e a l l P a p i s t s a n d t h e w o m e n h a r l o t s . A n d t h e i r f o o d , m o s t g a r l i c k y . "
B u r c h i t t l a u g h e d . " A h , I c a n d o w i t h o u t t h a t . "
" T i s a n a c q u i r e d t a s t e . "
A s h o r t s i l e n c e , t h e n h e a s k e d : " T h i s a r m y o f t h e e a s t , i s i t t r u e w h a t t h e y s a y ? "
I l o o k e d a t h i m s t r a i g h t , " W h a t d o t h e y s a y ? "
" P a r i s h a s f a l l e n t o t h e S c y t h i a n s . "
"P r e y , g e t m e t h a t s u i t , f r i e n d . " H e b o w e d a n d l e f t , a n d a s h e d i d I c o u l d s e e t h o u s a n d s o f t h o s e p o i n t y h e l m e t e d s q u a d r o n s t h a t I k n e w w e r e g a t h e r i n g t h e r e , a n d o f w h a t h a d b e f a l l e n t h e g o o d f r i e n d s I h a d l e f t b e h i n d , t h e i r w h i p - i n s c r i b e d b a c k s a n d e a r s r i n g i n g w i t h h a r s h c o m m a n d s b a r k e d i n a s t r a n g e t o n g u e c a r r i e d f r o m t h e i n f e r n a l s t e p p e , f r o m t h e g r e a t c a p i t a l o f B a r b a r i k o n , w h e r e t h e Mongol k i n g , also c a l l e d t h e G r e a t K h a n , a t i t l e n o t u s e d f o r 6 0 0 y e a r s , r u l e d o v e r a n e m p i r e t h a t s t r e t c h e d 4 , 0 0 0 m i l e s e a s t t o w e s t a n d w a s d e s t i n e d t o l a s t t e n t h o u s a n d y e a r s .

A s I p a s s e d i n m y c a r r i a g e , t h e C i t y m i l i t i a m e n w i e l ding m u s k e t a n d pike were out in number p a t r o l l ing t h e m a i n t h o r o u g h f a r e s, expressions of disquiet on their faces . I n L e i c e s t e r F i e l d s a c r o w d h a d g a t h e r e d t o h e a r n e w s o f t h e f a l l o f P a r i s . T h e s p e a k e r w a s e v o k i n g A r m a g g e d d o n , t h e f i n a l b a t t l e b e t w e e n t h e a r m i e s o f t h e L o r d a n d h i s e n e m i e s a b r o a d , t h e E n d o f D a y s . S o m e h e c k l e d h i m w h i l e o t h e r s m o a n e d i n c o h e r e n t l y o r p r a y e d . I c o u l d s e e s c u f f l e s b r e a k o u t b e f o r e t h e h a c k n e y m a n c r a c k e d h i s w h i p a n d s p e d u s o n w i t h t h e r u m b l e o f w h e e l s a n d t h e c l a c k o f i r o n - c l a d h o o v e s o n c o b b l e .
T h e P r o t e c t o r ' s h o u s e w a s b u i l t o n t h e e d g e o f t h e R o y a l P a r k , t h a t b e i n g i t s o l d n a m e , n o w i t w a s t h e N e w P a r k b u t i t s l a w n s a n d g a r d e n s w e r e m o s t l y u n c h a n g e d b y t h e p a s s a g e o f t i m e , e x c e p t i n g t h a t a l l o f i t s r o y a l i s t s t a t u e s a n d o r n a m e n t a t i o n s o f t h e O l d R e l i g i o n w e r e e x p u n g e d . Some lay undisturbed in bracken where they had fallen two centuries before.
A g r e a t m a n y y e a r s h a d p a s s e d s i n c e t h a t c o m e t f r o m H e a v e n d i d s m i t e u s w i t h f i r e a n d f l o o d a s p u n i s h m e n t f o r o u r w i c k e d n e s s , a succession of terrors known as the Cataclysm, and sometimes referred to as the Deluge. They were f o l l o w e d s o o n b y a n a r m y b r o u g h t b y s e a t o c o n q u e r u s a n d , a f t e r r u l i n g o v e r u s w i t h f o u r i l l - a p p o i n t e d K i n g s , were themselves v a n q u i s h e d by a victorious rebellion, s h o w i n g t h a t t h e L o r d h a d at last graced us with His favour. The Spanish conquest lasted nearly 2 0 0 y e a r s , d u r i n g w h i c h t i m e t h e p u r g i n g o f s i n s a n d h u m i l i a t i o n a t t h e h a n d s o f o u r S p a n i s h o v e r l o r d s o n c e a g a i n t a u g h t u s t o o b e y t h e o r d i n a n c e s o f o u r H e a v e n l y F a t h e r , s o t h a t H e c o u l d a t l a s t f o r g i v e u s o u r m a n y a n d g r a v e t r e s p a s s e s .
T h e E n g l i s h r e b e l s o f 1 7 4 2 d i d s e t u p a n e w J e r u s a l e m , f i n i s h w i t h k i n g s h i p a n d m a k e a C o m m o n w e a l t h o f t h e G o d l y , r u l e d o v e r b y a l o n g l i n e o f P r o t e c t o r s , e a c h e l e c t e d f r o m t h e C o m m o n s m e n , w h o w e r e i n t u r n c h o s e n b y t h e p e o p l e , a l t h o u g h i n t r u t h o u r r u l e r s w e r e m o r e a n d m o r e s e l e c t e d f r o m t h e i n n e r c i r c l e o f p o w e r f u l l o r d s w h o c o n s t i t u t e d a n d c o n t r o l l e d t h e S u p r e m e C o u n c i l , w h i l e t h e i r n e o p h y t e s i n P a r l i a m e n t l o o k e d o n l i k e s h e e p .
T h e h o u s e w h e r e t h e P r o t e c t o r d w e l l e d w a s f i n e l y c o n s t r u c t e d o f r e d b r i c k , e n n o b l e d b y f o u r t u r r e t s a t t h e t w o e n d s o f i t s s l a t e t i l e r o o f , w i t h s t u r d y g a b l e s a n d h i g h c h i m n e y s , a n d w h i l e n o t b e i n g q u i t e p a l a c e - l i k e i n g r a n d e u r , h a d i t s o w n c h a p e l a n d s t a b l e s a n d a g u e s t h o u s e , a l l a r o u n d a p e b b l y f o r e c o u r t w i t h a b e d o f e a r t h i n t h e c e n t r e t h a t w o u l d f l o w e r i n s p r i n g . T h e c h a p e l , t o t h e l e f t o f t h e m a i n h o u s e , w a s s i m p l e i n design a n d b r o u g h t a s e n s e o f d i v i n e g r a c e to those who stood u n d e r i t s v a u l t e d r o o f . T o a r r i v e f r o m m y q u a r t e r s a t S t J a m e s ' s t o o k h a l f a n h o u r b y c a r r i a g e a l o n g t h e m u d d y J a n u a r y r o a d s , c r o w d e d w i t h t r a d e r s a n d a n e x c e s s o f h u n g r y - l o o k i n g v a g r a n t s .
I d i s m o u n t e d f r o m m y c a r r i a g e a n d , having identified myself to a g u a r d , e n t e r e d t h e P r o t e c t o r 's r e s i d e n c e , where I was e s c o r t e d t o t h e m a i n h a l l a l o n g a w e l l - a p p o i n t e d p a s s a g e t o w h e r e t h e c o u n c i l were g a t h e r e d . O n c e m y e y e s h a d a d j u s t e d t o t h e d u s t y l i g h t , a n d I h a d t a k e n i n t h e p l a i n b e a u t y o f t h a t p l a c e , I r e a l i s e d t h a t n o t a l l o f t h e c o u n c i l l o r s h a d b e e n i n v i t e d . T h e P r o t e c t o r , h i s l o r d c h a n c e l l o r a n d m i n i s t e r o f w a r , o n e e i t h e r s i d e o f h i m , s a t a t t h e t o p o f t h e t a b l e .
" M r P e r c i v a l B l a n c h a r d , " a n n o u n c e d t h e s e r g e a n t a t a r m s . T h e g r e a t w o v e n b l i n d s h a d b e e n d r a w n a n d s h u t t e r s c l o s e d . O n l y s o m e t a l l o w c a n d l e s f l i c k e r e d o n t h e t a b l e t o i l l u m i n a t e t h e e x p e c t a n t f a c e s . P h i l i p o f K e n t , w h o s e f l u s h e d f a c e b e t r a y e d a f o n d n e s s o f s a c k , r o s e t o g r e e t m e a n d b a d e m e s i t . " I h o p e y o u r j o u r n e y f r o m F r a n c e w a s n o t t o o t r e a c h e r o u s , Mr B l a n c h a r d , a n d t h a t y o u c a n p u t s o m e o f t h e s e r u m o u r s t o r e s t . T h e c o u n c i l i s all ears. "
" I dare say, sir, it is your eyes you will be needing. T h e ministers w i l l n o t b e d i s a p p o i n t e d , " I a n s w e r e d w i t h a l l t h e a s s u r a n c e I c o u l d m u s t e r .
S i r P h i l i p b a d e m e s i t , a l m o s t o p p o s i t e t h e P r o t e c t o r a t t h e f a r e n d o f t h e g r e a t t a b l e . H e r e h e w a s i n t h e f l e s h , o u r e i g h t e e n t h L o r d H i g h P r o t e c t o r , d e f e n d e r o f t h e f a i t h , k e e p e r o f t h e s a c r e d c o v e n a n t p a s s e d d o w n t h r o u g h g e n e r a t i o n s . T o t a k e a m e a s u r e o f h i m n o w w a s m o r e t h a n I c o u l d i m m e d i a t e l y a t t e m p t , m y e y e s m e t h i s q u i c k l y , g a t h e r i n g a s m u c h f r o m a g l a n c e o f r e c o g n i t i o n a s w a s p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t a p p e a r i n g t r a n s f i x e d o r i m p e r t i n e n t . I t m a y h a v e b e e n t r u e w h a t t h e y s a i d a b o u t h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s , c h o s e n b y a c l o s e d g r o u p o f g r a n d e e s l i n k e d o n l y b y t h e i r m u t u a l d e s i r e t o k e e p o f f i c e i n t h e f e w g r e a t f a m i l i e s , t o d o m i n a t e t r a d e a n d e s t a t e s . B u t t h i s w a s b y m a n y a c c o u n t s a d i f f e r e n t s p e c i e t o t h o s e t h a t h a d c o m e b e f o r e , o n e o f t h e o l d g r e a t o n e s . H i s c o u n t e n a n c e w a s r e d d i s h a l m o s t r u s t y , c o n t r a s t i n g w i t h h i s g r e y i n g h a i r , l e f t l o n g , a n d t h e b l o o d s p e c k m a r k s o f a r o u g h s h a v e a r o u n d t h e t o p o f h i s m o u t h , a n d t h e p i e r c i n g b r o w n e y e s m a n t l e d b y l i n e s o f t i r e d n e s s o r w o r r y . H e w o r e a b l a c k c l o a k a n d w h i t e r u f f a t o p a p l a i n s h i r t , a n d o n h i s l e f t h a n d was an i n c o n g r u o u s l e a t h e r g a u n t l e t t h a t h a d been his companion e v e r s i n c e a n i n j u r y r e c e i v e d i n a b a t t l e y e a r s b e f o r e .
W h a t h e l a c k e d i n s t a t u r e h e m a d e u p f o r i n t h e a s s u r e d d e m e a n o u r o f t h e h i g h e s t o f f i c e , o n e c o u l d a l m o s t s e n s e a r o u n d h i m a s p e c i a l a u r a , a s i f h i s p a r t o f t h e r o o m w a s a l i t t l e b r i g h t e r t h a n t h e r e s t . O r s o m y s e n s e s d i d d e c e i v e m e .
" W e a r e m o s t a p p r e c i a t i v e o f y o u r w o r k a n d t h e p e r i l s y o u u n d e r t o o k , " s a i d the In t e r i o r M i n i s t e r, Edmund Horatio W y c h e r l e y. H i s s k i n a l m o s t t r a n s l u c e n t a s i f h e w a s w e a r i n g a b l e a c h i n g p o w d e r , o r p e r h a p s i t w a s s o m e l a c k i n g i n h i s d i e t , t h e n t h e r e w e r e t h e s u n k e n e y e s t h a t l o o k e d t o o s m a l l b e h i n d h i s s p e c t a c l e s . H e p l a y e d w i t h a n i n k p e n , s c r i b b l i n g I k n e w n o t w h a t .
H e c o n t i n u e d : " B l a n c h a r d , I h o p e y o u w i l l b e a b l e t o c o n f i r m w h e t h e r i t i s t r u e t h a t t h i s a r m y f r o m t h e s t e p p e s h a s c o m e s o f a r a n d t a k e n t h e c a p i t a l o f t h e F r a n k s . I t i s a little hard to conceive for t h o s e s e a s o n e d i n m a t t e r s o f w a r , h o w w i t h s u c h a p p a r e n t e a s e t h e M o n g o l s v a n q u i s h t h e l e g i o n s t h a t h a v e d e f e n d e d t h e e m p i r e ' s e a s t e r n f l a n k f o r e i g h t g e n e r a t i o n s . A s y o u k n o w g e n t l e m e n , t h e F r a n k i s h a m b a s s a d o r h a s a s s u r e d u s t h a t t h e fall of Paris w i l l n o t d i s r u p t t h e e n t e n t e t h a t h a s r e c e n t l y p r e v a i l e d b e t w e e n the Commonwealth and the Holy Roman Empire , t h a t the Mongols have their prince, the Pretender, now installed in Versailles, who will maintain the peace ."
T h e m i n i s t e r o f w a r M a t t h e w E v e l y n l i s t e n e d t o W y c h e r l e y w i t h g r o w i n g i m p a t i e n c e . "T h a t a s s u r a n c e i s w o r t h l e s s , w h a t c a n h e k n o w o f t h e m i n d s o f h i s n e w m a s t e r s ? T h i s i s t h e s a m e a m b a s s a d o r w h o d e n i e d t h a t t h e M o n g o l s were m a r c hing o n P a r i s . I h a v e s o m e i n k l i n g t h e a m b a s s a d o r w i l l b e s e e k i n g e x i l e i n L o n d o n b e f o r e t o o l o n g . If he dares return."
E v e l y n 's a n t i p a t h y t o w a r d W y c h e r l e y w a s w i d e l y k n o w n i n p o l i t i c a l c i r c l e s a n d t o p a m p h l e t e e r s . I t w a s s a i d t h a t t h e I n t e r i o r M i n i s t e r h a d d e s i g n s o n t h e h i g h e s t s e a t o f o f f i c e , a n d t o t h a t e n d h a d e n c o u r a g e d w h i s p e r s t h a t E v e l y n h a d f a i l e d t o p r e p a r e t h e defences f o r t h e threats f a c i n g t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h . E v e l y n w a s a b e a r i s h a n d e x u b e r a n t N o r t h u m b e r l a n d g e n t l e m a n w h o e n j o y e d c o f f e e a n d g o s s i p , a n d m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y , h e w a s m y e m p l o y e r . H e h a d c h o s e n m e f o r t h i s l a s t c o m m i s s i o n w h i c h I r e c e i v e d m u c h t o m y s u r p r i s e g i v e n m y l i m i t e d e x p e r i e n c e i n s t a t e s e r v i c e .
E v e l y n s n a p p e d : " T h o s e a r m i e s h a d g r o w n s o f t f o r l a c k o f o p p o s i t i o n . T h e y c o u l d n o t e v e n k e e p o r d e r w i t h i n t h e e m p i r e , n e v e r m i n d s t o p i t s b o r d e r s . T h e v e r y m e r c e n a r i e s e m p l o y e d b y t h e E m p e r o r t o p u t d o w n r e b e l l i o n s t h a t h a v e p l a g u e d h i s a u t h o r i t y f o r y e a r s w e r e t h e s a m e S c y t h i a n s w h o n o w o v e r t h r o w h i m a n d p u t a n o t h e r i n h i s p l a c e . T h e r e a r e p r i n c e s i n t h e e m p i r e w h o t i r e d o f t h e E m p e r o r ' s i m p o s i t i o n s a n d i n d u l g e n c e s , a n d w h o s e f o r c e s w e r e a b s e n t w h e n t h e m o m e n t c a m e t o f i g h t . "
W y c h e r l e y came in : "Y o u n e e d n o t l e c t u r e u s i n c o n t i n e n t a l p o l i t i c s , y o u r p o i n t i s w e l l k n o w n h e r e . B l a n c h a r d i s c a l l e d o n l y b e c a u s e a m b a s s a d o r T i n k l e r h a s b e e n s i l e n t s i n c e h i s m o n t h l y d i s p a t c h f a i l e d t o a r r i v e .
"P a r d o n m e , M y L o r d P r o t e c t o r , M i n i s t e r W y c h e r l e y ," I said. E v e l y n 's e y e b r o w s a r c h e d , h e p u t a m u r d e r o u s b e a d o n m e , f o r I h a d s p o k e n o u t o f t u r n . "I k n o w f o r a f a c t t h a t t h e a m b a s s a d o r i s i n d i s p o s e d a n d c o n f i n e d t o h i s r e s i d e n c e . T h e c o u r i e r s h i p u s e d b y h i m i s i m p o u n d e d a t C a l a i s . "
W y c h e r l e y coughed , a n d I d e t e c t e d o n Evelyn's f a c e t h e f l i c k e r o f s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a t m y k n o w l e d g e s u r p a s s e d h i s r i v a l 's i n f r o n t o f t h e P r o t e c t o r . B e t w e e n t h e t w o m i n i s t e r s t h e P r o t e c t o r s a t s i l e n t l y , s t r o k i n g h i s b e a r d . " T h a n k y o u g e n t l e m e n , l e t u s s e e i t , s t a r t t h e d e v i l i s h c o n t r a p t i o n , " h e s a i d i n a h o a r s e v o i c e , " I h a v e n ' t a l l d a y . "
T h e " l a n t e r n a m a g i c a " o r c h r o n i c l e h a d b e e n i n v e n t e d i n V e n i c e a n d w a s u s e d t o r e c o r d m o m e n t s o f l i g h t . T h e workings o f i t w a s n o t f u l l y u n d e r s t o o d i n E n g l a n d b u t t h e g o v e r n m e n t h a d a c q u i r e d a f e w o f t h e m a n d h i r e d a V e n e t i a n a n d a M u s c o v i t e t o w o r k t h e i n s t r u m e n t . T h e l a n t e r n a w a s f r o w n e d u p o n b y t h e e c c l e s i a s t s w h o s a i d i t c o u l d e n c o u r a g e i d o l a t r y f o r i t s f e t i s h i s i n g o f i m a g e s , b u t a s a t o o l o f o b s e r v a t i o n a s p y c o u l d n o t d o w i t h o u t i t .
T o d a y t h e M u s c o v i t e D e n i k i n s t a r t e d t h e i n s t r u m e n t u s i n g a n a c i d i c p o w e r l o o m i m p o r t e d f r o m t h e e a s t . A l l h e a d s t u r n e d t o t h e g r e a t w a l l w h e r e t h e f l i c k e r o f a p r o j e c t i o n a n d t h e w h i r r o f t h e l a n t e r n l i t u p t h e w h i t e p a i n t . A p p e a r i n g b e f o r e u s i n a b r o w n i s h w a s h a n d a m o t i o n t h a t w a s a t t i m e s v i o l e n t , a n a r m o u r e d h o r s e l e s s c h a r i o t w i t h c a n n o n a d v a n c e d a l o n g a r o a d t h r o u g h a f o r e s t . T h e g r e a t m e n p r e s e n t d i d n o t s h o w d i s c o m f o r t u n t i l t h e g u n f i r e d , a n d t h e i m a g e t u r n e d t o s h o w a c o u n t r y h o u s e e x p l o d e , i t s o c c u p a n t s f l e e i n g a n d d i s a p p e a r i n g i n t o t h e s m o k e . S e v e r a l m o r e s u c h m o b i l e m o n s t e r s a d v a n c e d a l o n g t h e r o a d b e h i n d t h e f i r s t .
T h e r o o m s e t t l e d d o w n a n d w a s s i l e n t , c l e a r l y i m p r e s s e d . T h e i m a g e s t h e n m o v e d t o a c o b b l e d s t r e e t i n P a r i s . T o t h e g a s p o f s o m e o f t h e g e n t l e m e n a s s e m b l e d , A s i a t i c i n f a n t r y m a n i n a r m o u r a n d p o i n t e d h e l m e t s w h i c h l e f t e y e s a n d n o s e e x p o s e d , m a r c h e d t h r o u g h t h e s t r e e t s w i t h m u s k e t s f i x e d w i t h s p e a r s , a s p e o p l e c o w e r e d i n doorways . A d i s t r a u g h t - l o o k i n g w o m a n i s s e e n r e m o n s t r a t i n g w i t h a s o l d i e r b e f o r e b e i n g s t r u c k d o w n f r o m b e h i n d . T h e c h r o n i c l e r a p p e a r s t o b e r e c o r d i n g t h e s c e n e f r o m a s e c o n d - f l o o r w i n d o w a n d t u r n s a w a y a s t h e s o l d i e r r a i s e s h i s w e a p o n t o s t r i k e t h e w o m a n . T h e l a n t e r n a l i f t s t o l o o k a c r o s s t h e r o o f s o f t h e c i t y t o b u r n i n g b u i l d i n g s i n t h e d i s t a n c e , e x t i n g u i s h i n g a n y d o u b t t h a t P a r i s h a d f a l l e n .
M o u n t e d P a r i s i a n m i l i t i a a r e n e x t s e e n a t a d i s t a n c e c h a r g i n g f o r w a r d i n t o s m o k e . A f e w s e c o n d s p a s s w h e n t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o s e e , u n t i l o u t o f t h e g r e y e m e r g e s a t e r r i f i e d l o o k i n g F r a n k i s h m i l i t i a m a n r u n n i n g , h o r s e l e s s a n d b e h i n d h i m a n a r m o u r e d c h a r i o t r o l l i n g t o w a r d h i m . I m a g e s o f d e s t r o y e d , r u b b l e - s t r e w n s t r e e t s f o l l o w e d , a n d t h e n , a p i c t u r e o f f i v e c r u m p l e d f i g u r e s , h a l f u n d r e s s e d a n d o n e w i t h c a p t i p p e d o v e r h i s f a c e e x p o s i n g a g a p i n g m o u t h , a l l s l u m p i n g i n a r o w a g a i n s t a b r i c k w a l l , e a c h p r o p p e d a g a i n s t o n e a n o t h e r i n s u c h a w a y t h a t n o n e c a n d o u b t t h e s o u l s h a v e f l e d , t h e i r f a c e s c o n t o r t e d a n d t h e i r n a k e d t o r s o s a n d a r m s b l o o d i e d , a p i c t u r e o f d e a t h a n d h e l l i s h v i s i t a t i o n .
T h e p r o t e c t o r b e g a n t o s p e a k a b o v e t h e w h i r r o f t h e l a n t e r n a , i n a s l o w d e l i b e r a t e m e t r e :
"A n d s e e t h e y c o m e , s p e e d y a n d s w i f t ,
N o n e i s w e a r y , n o t o n e o f t h e m s t u m b l e s o r s l e e p s ,
T h e i r a r r o w s a r e s h a r p e n e d a n d t h e i r b o w s a l l s t r u n g ,
T h e i r h o r s e s ' h o o v e s f l a s h l i k e s h o o t i n g s t a r s ."
H e p a u s e d a s a l l p r e s e n t t u r n e d s l o w l y t o s e e t h e g r e y - h a i r e d c h i e f a t t h e h e a d o f t h e t a b l e . "I h a v e s e e n e n o u g h , " h e s a i d g r a v e l y , w a v i n g h i s h a n d . T h e o p e r a t o r s t o p ped t h e l a n t e r n . " M a y G o d p r o t e c t u s , i f i t i s n o t s o m e conjurer's trick d e s i g n e d t o m a k e u s l o s e h e a r t . D i d y o u s e e t h i s a r m y w i t h y o u r o w n e y e s B l a n c h a r d , o r m e r e l y h e a r o f i t f r o m a F r e n c h m a n ? "
I a n s w e r e d : " I s a w t h e M o n g o l f o r c e s , m y L o r d , t h e l e g i o n s w e r e h u g e i n n u m b e r , a n d t h e w e a p o n s l i k e n o t h i n g w e h a v e s e e n . T h e c h r o n i c l e i s t a k e n b y o u r m o s t r e l i a b l e F r e n c h a g e n t . "
" W e l l , " m u r m u r e d t h e P r o t e c t o r . " I t s e e m s w e m a y b e f a c i n g a g r a v e r t h r e a t , a n d r e q u i r e a g r a v e r r e s p o n s e , t h a n w e a r e u s e d t o f r o m t h e S c o t s a n d I r i s h , o r t h e F r a n k s f o r t h a t m a t t e r . " H e t u r n e d t o t h e i n t e r i o r m i n i s t e r a n d w h i s p e r e d : " W e m u s t h a v e t h i s c h r o n i c l e e x a m i n e d . T h e a r t s o f m i s c h i e v o u s d e c e p t i o n a r e m a n y , a n d m y e y e s a r e n o t w h a t t h e y u s e d t o b e . "
W y c h e r l e y n o d d e d .
" S i r P e r c y , y o u w e r e a t s e a a n d s a w M o n g o l s h i p s , " s a i d S i r W a l t e r G o o d w i n , t h e F i r s t L o r d o f t h e H i g h S e a s , " a n d y e t i t i s k n o w n t h e r e i s n o s e a i n t h e M o n g o l e m p i r e . "
" I s a w o n l y o n e s h i p , i n t r u t h , b u t a f o r m i d a b l e o n e , c o n s t r u c t e d o f i r o n . "
T h e n a v a l c h i e f c o n t i n u e d : " M o s t r e m a r k a b l e . T h e m e r c h a n t f l e e t i s p a r a l y s e d , t h a n k s t o t h e r u m o u r s o f t h e s e M o n g o l b o a t s . T r a d e i s a t a n e b b . I f e a r t h e L o n d o n t a l k m a y t u r n t o p a n i c u n l e s s t h e p e o p l e c a n b e c a l m e d . "
" S i r W a l t e r , " r o a r e d t h e P r o t e c t o r , " t h e s e r u m b l i n g s a r e t h e w o r k o f I m p e r i a l a n d P a p i s h a g e n t s . L o n d o n m a y g o s s i p b u t t h e g o o d p e o p l e o f E n g l a n d a r e n o t s o f e e b l e h e a r t e d t h a t t h e y w o u l d c o l l a p s e i n t h e f a c e o f e v i l - s p i r i t e d r u m o u r s . "
A c o u g h o f p o l i t e i n t e r r u p t i o n , t h e n W y c h e r l e y i n t e r j e c t e d w i t h a s m i l e : " O u r m i l i t i a a n d a g e n t s w i l l s o o n r e v e a l a n y f o r e i g n p l o t t e r s . W e h a v e s o m e o f t h e m i n t h e T o w e r a s w e s p e a k .
T h e P r o t e c t o r c o n t i n u e d , h i s v o i c e l o w e r e d . " W e h e r e w h o h a v e s e e n t h i s - s p e c t a c l e - m u s t n o t l e t i t p a s s t h e s e d o o r s . T h e p e o p l e w i l l h e a r i n g o o d t i m e , w h e n o u r p r e p a r e d n e s s i s i m p r o v e d a n d t h e i n t e l l i g e n c e v e r i f i e d , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g o u r s i n c e r e s t g r a t i t u d e t o a g e n t B l a n c h a r d . "
M y s p i r i t s f e l l p r e c i p i t o u s l y a t t h i s l a s t r e m a r k . T h e P r o t e c t o r t h a n k e d a n d d i s m i s s e d m e , a d d i n g t h a t I w o u l d b e c a l l e d f o r a n a u d i e n c e s o o n . I g a v e m y r e v e r e n c e t o t h e c o u n c i l a n d a c c o m p a n i e d a g u a r d w h o t o o k m e t o t h e h a l l 's e x i t a n d u p a f l i g h t o f s t e p s .
" M r B l a n c h a r d , w o u l d y o u a c c o m p a n y m e f o r d e b r i e f i n g , " w h i s p e r e d a w a r m i n i s t r y o f f i c e r . " T h e m i n i s t e r w i l l n e e d a f e w m i n u t e s w i t h y o u . "