“I’ve seen worse, aye,” Munro looked over at Brodie who nodded in agreement.
“Ye’ll live fer certain. No need to write a note. But ye will need a physician.”
I agreed. “I do wish Mr. Brimley was here. He would be able to apply one of his antiseptic tonics, perhaps even apply stitches to close one of these.”
“Stitches?” Alex exclaimed. “With a needle?”
“Nothin’ to it, lad. Just a wee prick of the skin,” Munro explained. “Pullin’ the thread through is the worst of it.”
Alex paled even further now with a green tinge about the mouth. So much for the brave young man who had chased down a bomber in a previous case.
I was in agreement. Two of the marks had ceased bleeding and in Mr. Brimley’s educated opinion in past situations would undoubtedly heal on their own with medicinal salve that I was familiar with. The third cut, however, was deeper through the skin to the tissue below and continued to seep blood.
“It could be risky to seek out a physician here,” Brodie said with a nod from Munro.
“Too many questions that might bring on the local authorities.”
I understood. Two people were dead, Alex had been attacked by that little man, whom I now realized I had glimpsed before at the rail station. A coincidence? I was now doubtful.
And there was the matter of the man called Szábo and another named Bruhl who were somehow connected to the murder of Sir Collingwood.
The last thing we needed was for the German authorities to become involved. It was more important than ever that we be able to continue our investigation of the case.
Brodie and Munro often communicated with a look or a few words, from their time since boyhood. I caught the look Brodie gave him now.
“Aye,” Munro agreed. “I will see him back to London.”
“The sooner the better,” I told him. “Before infection sets in.”
“There’s no need,” Alex weakly protested.
“You’ve done what you can here by bringing us word from Sir Avery. You must now look to your own injury. You can trust Munro.”
He nodded then closed his eyes as he laid back on the bed.
The plan was set. Munro was to see Alex to the same rail station they had arrived at. From there they would travel on toCalais, and then Dover, retracing the route we had taken. It was a trip of a full day and more, depending on the connections they were able to make.
Yet there was the possibility that Munro would be able to get word to Sir Avery once they reached Paris. With the connections Sir Avery seemed to have on the Continent, Alex might be able to get medical attention there before continuing on to London.
Brodie made inquiries about the rail schedule through the front desk manager. A train was leaving early the next morning from the Brussels rail station, arriving in Paris just before noon. Munro would be able to contact London from a telegraph dispatch office there.
We would accompany them to the Brussels station and send a message off to London with the information about their arrival in Paris, and an update that we were continuing on with the case.
Munro would be able to provide additional information regarding the recent developments when he and Alex were safely back in London.
With a little help from my great-aunt’s whisky, Alex spent a quiet night. Munro changed his bandages when needed, while Brodie and I returned to our own room.
“I recognized the man who attacked Alex,” I told him as I sat at the writing desk and made the new notes about the day’s events. “I’m certain of it now. He was at the rail station in Paris. And he fits the description Templeton gave me of the man who travels with Angeline Cotillard.”
Brodie nodded. “With what has happened, it would seem that the man followed us here and is responsible for the attack that was meant for ye.”
I had thought about that as well. It was obvious that I was the intended target, and then Alex had intervened. I waited for all the reasons that I should return to London with them.
Somewhat to my surprise there were none. Instead, Brodie opened his valise and took out that revolver that was usually in the drawer of the desk in the office. He handed it to me.
“If ye wore trousers I would tell ye to put it in yer pocket. Since ye dinna wear them, put it in yer bag. It’s loaded. If ye have another such encounter, yer to use it to protect yerself.”
“The authorities here or in Frankfurt might object to that,” I pointed out.
