Act Four, Part Two
Not far away, down one opulently decorated corridor and around a corner, a man in blue was going quickly from one room to the next, opening each door in turn, glancing within, then moving on. He had not much time, he was sure, to locate the king, conclude his business with the soon-to-be, ah, former monarch, then make his escape again. But first he had to find the man!
"Ah, M'sieur West!"
The supposed West spun to find a natty little Frenchman bustling towards him. "How fortuitous that I have found you, mon ami!" the Frenchie burbled. "His Majesty wishes another interview with you, and with M'sieur Gordon aussi. He is returned now, n'est-ce pas?"
"I don't know where Mr Gordon is," the impostor claimed. "The king wants to see me?" Perfect!
"Oui, oui. He awaits you in his study. Pardonnez-moi, but I must seek out M'sieur Gordon as well. À bientôt." Dr Rodin started to scurry off down the corridor, but the man in blue forestalled him.
"In his study, you say."
"Oui, yes. A private place for private thoughts, do you not agree?"
"And the king's study is…"
"Bien sûr, it is the room in which you spoke with His Majesty earlier today! Surely you remember!"
Surely he didn't, but the Frenchie was off now, removing the option of asking him again for directions — which would only have aroused his suspicions anyway. Seeing no other course ahead of him, the fake James West continued on to the next door, poked his nose in briefly, found no sign of the king, and so moved on to the next door, then the one after that, and the one after that, and...
…
Along a different corridor, a figure in mauve was doing the same thing, striding past the lush regal bric-a-brac of suits of armor and tapestries as he moved from one door to the next, looking for the man who was not his partner. Of everyone he met he inquired after Jim, only to receive the same answer: No, they were sorry, but no one had seen him. This was getting frustrating!
Shortly in his search Artie stepped into one room and found himself in what was obviously the chapel. A profusion of flower arrangements showed that this room was to have been the venue for the prorogued wedding. The chapel seemed empty, and Artie was about to withdraw again when a slight movement caught his eye.
Ah, the room wasn't empty after all. Half obscured by one of the massive floral garlands was a solitary figure kneeling before the altar, a black mantilla spread over her head: Catalina Duzche. The small movement had been that of her hand as she crossed herself.
"Cat," Artie called softly.
She started and her head whipped around. "Señor Gordon!"
"You know," he commented as she came to her feet, "there was a time when you called me 'Artemus.' "
"True," she replied, "but that was during a time of pretense." She glided up the aisle toward the door.
"Come to think of it, so is this," Artie remarked.
Catalina's hand flew over her mouth. "Why, what do you mean?" she cried.
"That there's an impostor here in the palace, Cat, someone dressed in Jim's clothes who isn't Jim. I don't suppose you've seen him?"
"No." She shook her head, frowning. "But why would a man pretend to be Señor West?"
"That, my dear Cat, is the sixty-four dollar question!"
"Such strange goings on!" Catalina mused. "And curiously enough, only a few minutes ago Dr Rodin looked in, asking about Señor West as well."
"He did? Why?"
"The king has summoned him — ah, and you as well. He wishes to speak with you both in his study."
"Oh, he does!" Artie had to suppress a sigh of irritation. Of all times for the king to interrupt what he was doing! Still, one didn't keep a king waiting. And for that matter, it wouldn't be a bad idea to inform His Majesty of the ersatz Jim. Hmm...
"Muchas gracias, Cat. I'll let you get back to your prayers now. Oh, you'll likely have company soon. All the bridesmaids have come to the palace, wanting to keep a prayer vigil for Mireje's safe return. Funny, I thought Anushche said the chapel was being made ready for them."
Fingering her rosary, Catalina said, "It is ready enough, I suppose. I will welcome the company. We shall pray diligently for la baronesa, that el teniente Jenko may find her without fail, and for a safe journey for them both. Pero con permiso. If you will excuse me." She turned away to return to her place kneeling before the altar.
Artie threw in a swift prayer of his own, appealing to Providence that he might find the impostor quickly and thwart whatever nefarious scheme the man had here in the palace, then left the chapel to go respond to the king's call.
From out of the shadows behind a statue on a tall plinth out in the corridor, a figure in blue emerged, a hooded smile upon his face. Well, well, here was Mr West's partner himself, and off to see the king! Keeping well out of sight, the bogus Jim slipped along on the trail of the man in mauve.