BIGGLES – SECRET AGENT

by Captain W. E. Johns

V. UNDER THE CASTLE WALLS (Pages 68 – 84)

“As they walked slowly up the deserted village street towards the hotel Biggles gave Ginger the gist of his conversation with the Old Jew; for, as it had been carried on in German, he had not understood a word of it”. Beklinder being buried in a vault may make his exhumation easier or harder depending on the vault. They arrive at the hotel decorated with timber in the style now commonly referred to in England as ‘black and white’ and enter. They are greeted in English with a strong foreign accent, the proprietor having recognized English clothes. Biggles says they are on a walking tour and would like to stay a few days. Asked if they require two rooms Biggles says “No. We would prefer a large room with two beds. The best you have”. The proprietor gets the keys for room 18 but Biggles asks for room 17 saying that is his lucky number. He is told that number 17 is not a double room. Biggles is asked to fill out various forms and pay a thousand-mark deposit. When they go down for dinner they see the golden-haired girl whom they had last seen at the Jew’s house. Biggles says her face seems familiar and Ginger agrees. Biggles and Ginger then go out for a stroll – “to get their bearings” – as they tell the proprietor. They stroll around the outbuildings unquestioned and Biggles sees a crowbar in a shed, something he will need later for the vault. Biggles notices a lane that leads up to the castle and that reminds Ginger to tell him about the light he saw there when he was parachuting down. Biggles and Ginger decide to stroll up towards the castle. The roadway ends at a broad gateway of iron-studded timber. They then take a weed-covered track that skirts the castle bastions. By standing on Biggles’ shoulders, Ginger is able to look into a barred window and sees a car inside – and it looks like a Morris Ten. Biggles asks if it was damaged but Ginger says there wasn’t a mark on it that he could see. Hearing a stone move, Biggles and Ginger back into the trees and see a guard pass by. The guard rests and shortly afterwards a large dark limousine arrives. Gates are opened and closed to allow its entrance. (The car drove straight through the gateway without stopping - is the illustration on page 81). Biggles and Ginger return to their hotel room and note that they seem to be observed returning by the same girl they have seen earlier. Biggles plans to let everyone settle for the night, then they will go out via the window and go to the churchyard. They settle to wait whilst the clock chimes midnight.