The Terror Time Spies by David Clement-Davies Read Free Book Online

too.
    “We’ve got to tell the grown ups,” said Spike suddenly though, despite her deepest instincts. 
    “But ma soeur will be in Paris in a few days and then it’ll all be trop tarde - Too late .  Dead.”
    Hal was holding his large nose, as he always did when really thoughtful, or just embarrassed, and the leader of the Rat Catchers seemed suddenly to be stealing himself. 
    “Unless we can stop them,” he cried, and the three rounded on Hal in astonishment, especially Count Armande. 
    Henry Bonespair wondered what he had just said and a voice he had heard several times that summer was suddenly echoing in his mind, like a warning:  “ Limitations, boy.  Know your Limitations.”
    “We’ve got to rescue her,” Henry went on though, despite Penhaligon’s warning voice, “before she ever leaves England.  We’re the only ones who can.  The carriage, Skipper.  It’s still ready for the journey, aint it? Could you drive it though?”
    Skipper Holmwood hesitated, as he realised just what Henry Bonespair was asking.  He was a rough lad, untutored, but honest and honourable to a fault.
    “Yeah,” he stammered,  “Er.  Think I could, ‘n all.  It’s only reins and strength.  I know how to ‘arness the ‘orses.  But my Pa won’t like…”
    Skipper stopped.  He was nearly a Rat Catcher too.
    “Then we leave tonight,” said Henry grandly, “We stop them getting Juliette to Dover and rescue her.  Or nab her at the port.  Simple.  You said there were only two adults?”
    “Yes,” said Armande nervously, “One inside and one as coachman.”
    Count Armande wrinkled his nose rather disdainfully and Skipper glared.
    “Then we’ll sneak up on them somehow,” said Hal, trying to stand taller, “In disguise, maybe.  We can pick up Francis too.”
    “Oh, what good’s he?” said Nellie, “He’s just a swot.  Besides, Francis Simpkins was only coming to Dover, anyways.  He hasn’t the guts.”
    Henry’s best friend Francis Simpkins was indeed a swot, fascinated with books and maths and science at school, and he never stopped reading things.  He was badly bullied at the little school house back in London and Henry had often had to step in and defend him, in their battles with the rival London gang, The Rovers.   
    It was true that Francis Simpkins had only planned to make the Dover trip with his friends too, because his serious Quaker parents would never let their son do something  as foolhardy as make a trip to revolutionary France. 
    But his parents also thought that the journey might let their son see a little of England, so Francis was planning to wave his friend off at the harbour and travel back safely to his aunt’s, with Arthur Holmwood.
    “But I want him with us,” insisted Henry, “Francis knows things, Spike, and he’s a Rat Catcher too, and the more the better.  Then together we’ll make sure that Juliette stays in England.  Kidnap her back again.”
    It seemed impossible.  Utterly terrifying.  Wonderful. 
    That wild sense of freedom had gripped Henry Bonespair once again, although the others looked petrified.
    “Oh come on,” he cried, “it’s just what we’ve been waiting for, and what would the Scarlet Pimpernel do? Besides, everything’s already set, down to the smallest detail.  All on paper.  The Itinerary.”
    “Course,” cried Spike, with a grin.
     “You would really do this, for Juliette?” asked Armande, and he was going to add ‘ mere trades people’, but the well dressed young Count stopped himself.
    “Of course, Count,” answered Hal, “and for the adventure.”    
    Hal looked at the other three sharply, remembering Juliette’s terrible insult and felt a sharp pain in his heart.    
    “We’re only going to Dover, at the very most.  And I’m fed up with them calling us children, all the time.  With this terror abroad, there’s nothing worse than doing nothing.  We’ll show them, all right.  Together.  But you’re