Pascale Auber & the Ruritanian Riddle

LII Chocolate - 2

"Miss Auber!" Theo's voice sparkled with delight, "You have decided to visit me! Gabe, you owe me lunch."

Dantès rolled his eyes before turning his attention to me with a slight frown. "Comrade," he said by way of greeting, clicking his heels together in way that reminded me disconcertingly of his friend. "What brings you here?"

"I could say the same to you, Mr. Dantès," I replied.

I reached into my reticule, then handed a neatly-wrapped box of chocolates, as per my boss' instructions, to Theo.

Dantès threw me a shocked look, his brow furrowed and his mouth a flat, straight line.

Theo looked equally surprised, but a small, cautious smile played on his lips. "A gift?"

"A mere trifle," I reassured him, "and one that I wager you will wish to share with Comrade Dantès."

Theo removed the paper, and I lifted the lid to reveal the candies. They were filled chocolates, each a small pillow of sweetness nestled in a bed of blue tissue-paper.

"I felt that these would be suitable thanks for taking me to the operetta," I explained, "– and suitable apology for making you put up with Baudoin."

Theo's eyebrows tilted upwards slightly. "It is hardly your fault that he ran away from school." He reached in and selected a chocolate before adding, "Though it most certainly is your fault that he is inspired to such, erm, honourable bluster."

I wrinkled my nose. "Honour is one thing, rudeness another."

Dantès, reaching into the box for a chocolate of his own, said, "Our Theophilus believes honour without rudeness is disingenuous."

"I have never said any such thing, and I certainly do not believe it!" Theo protested.

"Then I believe you have much to say to Comrade Auber," Dantès proclaimed. He popped the chocolate into his mouth, tilted his hat back on his head, and turned so his back was to the heavy, wooden reception desk. Then he ostentatiously leaned back, his threadbare elbows on the desk. He watched Hentzau with a bitter glee.

Hentzau frowned, but then his brow smoothed.  "I certainly do! I wished to confirm - your brother, Baudoin, he really did run away from school? If so, I think I might be of service."

Dantès stood up straight, staring at Mr. von Hentzau. "Theophilus, that is not - "

"Do not forget what I said before, Gabe," Theo replied, then turned back to me. "So, young Baudoin?"

"He really did run away from school - and I cannot think how we will get him to go back there, or find another school to take him that he will actually attend!"

"As I said, I can be of service. Come, I have promised you lunch," He popped another chocolate into his mouth and stood up. "Allow me to fetch my jacket, and I will explain all over a rarebit and some hot coffee."

As soon as Hentzau walked through the double doors at the back of the room, Dantès whirled to face me.

"He is not who he says he is, Comrade Auber." Dantès' voice was low and urgent. "He is not just a junior diplomat or whatever he has told you."

"You said that before, Comrade," I responded, "but you haven't told me who he is."

"He is - " Dantès stopped abruptly. He let out a long, slow breath, pulling off his hat as he did so. "I have given him until the end of the week to tell you himself -if he is not a complete cad and rakehell. When I see you at the next WPA meeting, I will tell you, whether he has done so or not - but not today. I gave him my word. But you do need to know this: his intentions here are not what you think; he is not whom you think. This is not an innocent flirtation. You must agree to nothing, do you understand me, Comrade? Nothing."

He bowed briefly, placed his hat back on his head, and left before Hentzau could return.