BIGGLES AND THE NOBLE LORD

by Captain W. E. Johns

11. THE CHATEAU DE MALBOISE (Pages 94 – 101)

“The high stone walls of the main hall in which Bertie and Ginger presently found themselves, having crossed the moat by a crumbling bridge just wide enough for a small vehicle, struck cold and damp, like those of a vault. The windows were narrow, unglazed and set high, and the dim light that filtered through them did nothing to offset the dismal cheerlessness of the place”. Bertie and Ginger are taken up a spiral staircase at gun point, to a high circular room in one of the turrets, furnished with a plain wooden table and two beds. “I thought you would prefer it to the dungeons” Clarence said casually. He tells them not to try to remove the bars from the windows as it’s a sheer drop of fifty feet into the moat, which is actually more mud that water. “The last man who tried to leave the house that way dived into the mud and was never seen again. We couldn’t even find his body, so he must still be down there somewhere. I hope you won’t join him”. Clarence says he will inform his brother of the situation and take his advice on what should be done with them. Clarence asks who they are and Bertie says, light-heartedly “You tell us what you brought here in your chopper and I’ll answer your question”. Clarence is happy to tell Bertie it was gold, which they intend to sell. Ginger then tells Clarence that they are officers of the Special Air Police and he calls Clarence a crook. Clarence flared up at that. “You have the brass face to call me a crook. It’s the government you work for who are the crooks. During the war I risked my life a hundred times. What did I get for it? My brother and I were taxed until we hadn’t a penny to put our property in order. Look at the state this place is in. Now you know why. Well, we’ve thought of a way to get over that difficulty, and you’re not going to stop us. Don’t you call me a crook”. “Have you ever thought of working for a living?” snapped back Ginger. Clarence goes out and slams the door. Bertie asks Ginger if he realises where they are and Ginger says he imagines it is Chateau de Malboise. “It’s only a question of time before Biggles rolls up here,” declared Bertie. He will go to Brindon Hall and in due course he will look for them there. They hear the chopper take off and guess that Clarence is going back to England to talk things over with his brother. Later, Bertie and Ginger are brought “what turned out to be an excellent cold meal; chicken, a salad, bread, butter and cheese, and a bottle of wine”. They are also given a candle so they can have some light when darkness falls. They decide to save the candle in case they don’t get another. “With darkness now taking over from daylight they sat on their beds to pass the night”.