Desperation and Decision Read Online Free PDF Page B

meeting tomorrow."
    "Prince Florizel of Bohemia," Madame Campbell
read. I flushed anew but they persisted in reading the entire
document. I was forced to endure a far too enthusiastic recital of
the absurdly risky adventure my comrade Colonel Geraldine and I had
undertaken in our heedless youth. Geraldine and I had served
together during my two years' obligatory military service before I
had begun university. He had followed me into exile a few short
months after my escape, finding himself also unable to endure or
stop my uncle's abuses of power. We had been mercenaries together
in various parts of Europe before settling again in London.
    "This account of how you pursued that
dreadful man who ran the Suicide Club and challenged him is
chilling. You must be a very daring man," Madame Campbell said with
a sharp glance up at me. I tried to meet her gaze, lest she think
me a dissembler, but it was a difficult enough thing to do. When
Doctor Mac added his own piercing gaze I was even more discomfited.
I felt most unworthy of his next words.
    "A good man, and full of courage."
    "You two must get some rest," Madame
Moore-Campbell insisted, pushing them off to the suite where she
had helped Madame Campbell change earlier. "Look the rest of the
biographies over quickly, but you've been through enough
tonight."
    After the pair reluctantly closed their door
Madame Moore-Campbell turned to me. "How shamefully we have
neglected you, your highness. I do not know how to make amends for
my appalling neglect of my duty as hostess. Can I offer you some
refreshment? Has my husband informed you that we have a room
engaged for you?'
    "Madame, I am warmed by the sweet care and
fellowship I have witnessed here and need no other attentions," I
assured her. "Please let me know what you require from me if I am
to associate with this company you mean to form."
    "It is so late," she sighed. "We shall meet
in the morning at ten o'clock. We will have a breakfast tea in the
Pyrenees Conference room before the meeting begins but you are also
welcome to break your fast in the hotel's dining room. They have
orders to serve any of our members at any time and you are
absolutely not to pay a cent. It is taken care of. I have here
documents intended to brief you on our meeting's agenda. Several
prospective members, yourself included, will present reports on
occurrences each of us have witnessed that dovetail to bolster the
case for the criminal organization we began to talk of
earlier."
    She repaired to her clockwork credenza again
and presented me with a folder of my own. "I wish you to tell the
story of your chance meeting with this young man."
    I glanced over the remarkably detailed
account. My eyes flew to hers.
    "How did you learn of this?" I demanded. "I
was at a loss what to do with the clues I gained from this,
shocking as it was. And I had a piece of written evidence I meant
to study further, but it disappeared, so I have chafed and done
nothing."
    "The evidence you speak of came into my
hands," she confessed. "A pickpocket stole it from you, and that
pickpocket tried to rob my husband the same evening and dropped the
paper as he fled, since Archie, too, has a problem turning the
other cheek." she smiled. "It was the last clue I needed to put me
firmly on your track and finally enable me to find you. And it has
helped greatly in our efforts to build our final presentation for
Rose's foundation.
    "Here are copies of the same biographical
sketches I gave to Rose and Mac, and our agenda for the meeting
tomorrow. What more can I tell you to reassure you about your
participation? I feel you are the least informed and prepared of
our members and I so regret that. I also feel -- " she stopped
abruptly and looked uncertainly at her husband.
    "Don't begin being shy now, Phoebe-Bird," Mr.
Campbell urged. "This is too important."
    "You will see from your biographical sketch
that I really know very little about you," the lady said. "Of
course, you can make the same