Sons of France Chapter 6: Shameless
On the Daydream, Percy and Armand were met with warm greetings from the skipper, as well as fresh clothes and satisfying food. Soon they stood together on the deck.
"How did you know I was in trouble?" asked Armand.
"I did not know all the details at first," answered Percy honestly. "Of course, I knew ever since the night at the Fisherman's Rest that you were in some sort of dilemma. It was not until the garden party, however, that I realized leGourd's hand in the affair. When the old gentleman suddenly left for France at Dawn the next day, I knew I had to follow him despite the depression resulting form the death of the St. Lucque's. Thus I arrived in France one day before you: the same day of leGourd's arrival. I took position as janitor, and finally gathered all the details of your story from Marguerite."
"Incredible," was all Armand could say.
"It could be that," grinned Percy, "or I could have just happened to be in town, and arranged a jailbreak for the pure fun f it."
"I can easily believe that," said Armand dryly.
With a laugh Percy turned to retreat to his cabin; but Armand took his friend's hand, beckoning him to tarry a moment longer. "Percy, I must ask you something," he said, hesitantly. "How…how do you do what you do?"
The Pimpernel smiled, amused. "To which of my admirable duties are you referring?"
Armand took a deep breath, leaning on the deck railing and gazing at the sparkling blue sea surrounding him. "It seems that we all want something out of life and we all have expectations; I have undergone a change of heart, but the struggle to apply new information to my life is always present. And yet you—how is it that you keep up your motivation everyday? You go on without reference to the rest of the world, with no expectations of how an 'honorable' life should be, and perhaps your most heroic accomplishment: never allowing shame passage into your life."
To this Percy answered, laying a friendly hand on Armand's shoulder, "Do not credit me for these, the traits you named just now. I did not create them myself. Like any old chap, I experience times wherein motivation is lost to me; it is fortunate I do not find my power in myself. I live with the traits you named, because I was instructed have as my role model, Le Bon Dieu Himself." Percy had been playing with his monocycle again; now he pointed it upward, indicating the yacht's flag which boasted a fine blood-red image of the wayside flower, Scarlet Pimpernel. "Some people call that flower a star," the Englishman remarked, absent-mindedly, "but I seem to think differently; the flower looks rather like a Cross, if you look at it right, as red as the blood that was spilled on Calvary—don't you agree?"
For a fraction of a second, he fixed Armand with his profound blue eyes, clear and solemn and meaningful. "That's why I do what I do," said Percy; then he turned and walked into his cabin, and the trump-trump of his boots resounded through the wooden planks of the yacht.
"I'm coming home to you, France," said Armand after a moment's silence. "To make you a better place: a city of love." Perhaps, long term, Armand's mission in France was not successful; but it was certain that his spirit touched several lives. And it was now undeniable that Armand was a free man; for now he could stand—eyes turned up at the Pimpernel's flag, hand on his heart, footing secure despite the rocking of the ship—he could stand with no shame whatsoever.
