BIGGLES AND THE NOBLE LORD

by Captain W. E. Johns

13. LORD MALBOISE MAKES AN OFFER (Pages 114 – 122)

“While the events recorded in the preceding chapter were taking place, Bertie and Ginger remained incarcerated in their lofty prison cell, for that, clearly, was the purpose for which the turret chamber was being used. They were not badly treated, and as the weather was warm, even though the window had no glass in it, they passed a reasonably comfortable night”. Ginger cannot believe that a man of Clarence’s breeding and education would stoop to murder but Bertie is not so sure. They discuss the possibility of getting out. “Remember, it’s one of Biggles’ axioms that there’s always an answer to any problem if you can find it” says Ginger. During the night, Ginger tries signalling with his arms, sending out an S.O.S. with the candle alight behind him. Ginger tells Bertie “Biggles may have come over”, to which Bertie replies “You can forget Biggles”. Soon after dawn, the door opens and the same two gunmen as before enter with breakfast for them. “The customary French breakfast of rolls, butter, jam and a pot of coffee”. The men leave. Ginger tells Bertie that if Biggles does come over, they will have to find a way of letting him know they are there. Ginger borrows Bertie’s nail scissors. “Then Ginger got busy on a game he had often played in more frivolous moments, a pastime, sometimes a competition, frequently enjoyed by junior R.A.F. officers to relieve boredom. In fact, in the earlier days of flying instruction it was sometimes used to demonstrate the theory of flight. With practice it can be made to produced remarkable results. Taking some letters from his pockets he selected one, and having tested the paper for quality went to work”. When he sees what he is doing, Bertie smiles. “Jolly good,” he chuckled. “Top marks. Go to the top of the form”. Ginger makes paper planes. “He cut out a piece of the required shape; that is, the shape of an orthodox aeroplane, wings, fuselage, and elevators. These were bent into shape. Ginger then took a match, cut it in half and using the heavier end made a slit in it so that it could be slipped on the model to provide the necessary weight which, in a full-sized machine would be provided by the engine. The weight of course produces the forward momentum”. From their height, the models will float far beyond the moat. Releasing it out of the window, it sails away hardly losing any height. Ginger warps the port wing of the next one to try to get it to land near the track through the wood. Several models are launched, some with messages printed on them. (This is the illustration on the cover of the book). The door to their cell opens and in walks Clarence and his brother, Lord Malboise. Malboise has a proposition for them. “My instinct tells me you are both gentlemen of honour who, having given their word would never break it. To put it plainly. I am prepared to trust you. Will you promise, if I set you free with my blessing, that you will go away, never return, and say nothing of what you know to your superiors”. “You can’t be serious” says Bertie, who asks what the alternative is. “I shall have to shoot you, or as I cannot stand the sight of blood myself, have you shot. My men here are not so squeamish. With the moat conveniently at hand there would be no difficulty in your final disposal”. Bertie says the answer is “No” and “you can take it I am speaking for both of us”. Malboise then offers them a sum of money, “a sum large enough to enable you to retire in comfort”. Again, the answer is “No”. Malboise tells them “We can’t both win, and as the choice is mine I’m afraid you’ll have to be the losers. However, there is no particular urgency. I will give you twenty-four hours to think things over”. Lord Malboise and Clarence leave. Ginger asks Bertie if he thinks Malboise means what he says and Bertie is quite sure of it. “The atmosphere in the room might have been less chilly had the occupants known that Biggles, at that very moment, was surveying the chateau from the recesses of the wood beyond the moat. But of course they were not to know that, and could hardly be expected to imagine it”.