BIGGLES AND THE NOBLE LORD

by Captain W. E. Johns

8. A NICE GLASS OF SHERRY (Pages 68 – 77)

“For the remainder of the day following the sortie into Brindon Hall Park, nothing of an active nature was done, although after some breakfast and a rest, back in the office there was a good deal of talking over the events that had occurred. Everyone had an idea of what should next be done, but always Biggles had to point out objections”. Enquiries had shown that neither Lord Malboise, nor his brother Clarence held a civilian pilot’s licence, nor was there an aircraft of any sort registered in their name. Bertie wants to maintain a constant air patrol over the park, with the object of shadowing the helicopter when it left its base. Ginger wanted to go back to the Park, take up a position on the ground, in the trees, and watch the building from there. Algy suggests looking at things the other side of the Channel. “This place Chateau Malboise, according to Who’s Who, in Normandy”. The chopper came from that direction, there might still be “family connexions”. Biggles says “I feel inclined to do what I intended after our forced landing in the Park, which is go down by road in broad daylight and call on our noble lord. After all, he did invite us to sample his sherry”. Biggles decides to take Algy with him, as Bertie might be recognised as the chauffeur and Ginger as the Princess. Bertie and Ginger are to stand by “in case Gaskin comes through with a report on another big raid somewhere, in which case I suggest you get off in the Auster as fast as you can and make flat out for the Park to see if that chopper has been busy”. Biggles is still not going to tell Air Commodore Raymond. “He always gets nervous, afraid of a political dust-up, when people with titles are involved. That’s understandable. He might order us to lay off”. A little before noon on the following day, Biggles and Algy drive down to Brindon Hall in Sussex stopping for “a leisurely lunch at a convenient wayside tavern near Petworth”. When they arrive at the Park, a sign says “Park closes today at 4.30 pm” and Biggles notes “It’s nearly that now”. Biggles tells the Zulu on duty at the gate that they have come to call on Lord Malboise personally at his invitation. The Zulu goes off to make a phone call. Algy said to Biggles: “Well, what do you make of him? Is he a Zulu?” “Zulu my foot,” replied Biggles. “He’s no more a native African than I am”. He smiled and went on: “Still, he looks the part, all in keeping with the buffalo. I suppose the get-up is excusable – a touch of showmanship to give realism to the general performance. I’d call it a good idea. Kids would love it”. The Zulu returns and a Land-Rover drives down to collect Biggles and Algy. To their surprise it is driven by Lord Malboise himself. On the drive back to the house, Malboise explains that “In this country, with its merciless taxation, most people with big estates have to do something if they want to keep their homes”. Malboise says of the gatekeeper, “Of course, he isn’t really an African, as no doubt you realized; but he’s an attraction, part of the show”. They arrive at the house and go through a room with french windows and out onto a terrace. “A small, raised, stone-flagged area enclosed with a low white wall, perhaps three feet high”. Lord Malboise leaves them and returns afterwards with a decanter and three glasses and they drink sherry together. Malboise explains that after his father died, he found himself burdened with such a crushing mountain of taxes, for death duties, but his is now making efforts to restore the house to its former glories. Malboise asks Algy if they have met before. Algy shakes his head. “I don’t think so, I can’t imagine where our paths would be likely to cross”. Malboise becomes interested in Biggles’s shoes and asks about them and if they have rubber soles. Biggles says they are plastic and lifts a foot to show him. Malboise comments on the size of Biggles feet. “A bit on the small side, but they get me about,” Biggles answered smiling. Offered another sherry, Biggles declines, “No thanks. I make one the rule when I’m driving a car” then makes excuses that they have to leave. Lord Malboise runs them to the gate “where they parted on the most amiable terms, mutually hoping they would meet again”. A parting wave from his own car and Biggles drove off.