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"But, my dear doctor," said Jefferson, "we don't know the real meaning of the message sent by the Masons of Scotland. For surely if there was a spy in our midst, as you say, your story by now has likely raised many eyebrows among London's cohort at this side of the cha
"I hope so, for it's quite true!" said Franklin. "I should know. I myself was initiated into the very Rite of Kilmarnock I spoke of, not long after my evening in A
"So one coded message was hidden within another," Quincy observed. "'A coup is under way, and the Masonic brethren must awaken to the call!'"
"It has traditionally been our way," Franklin agreed, "to conceal layers within layers.often within other layers."
"But who shall bell the cat?" asked Jefferson. "Who is the spy that carried your message away into British hands this afternoon?"
"I'm afraid I had to suggest someone to divert attention," Franklin said. "So I chose your father, Quincy. Please forgive me. In fact, it's our secretary, Edward Bancroft. We have long followed his movements. Bancroft leaves Le Valentinois each Tuesday night and retires to the gardens of the Tuileries at the heart of Paris. There, at eleven-thirty, under cover of darkness, he deposits a packet of papers inside the hollow of an old oak tree- a packet containing all the intelligence he's gathered from us in the week. The British Secret Service pays him five hundred pounds per a
Jefferson laughed modestly. "As I often say, I can only succeed you-no one can replace you. It seems now you're a master of the French art of espionage, too. But if that message was calculated to trick the British into thwarting a Jacobite plot, something remains unexplained. Why did you invite us to meet you in the gardens here tonight?"
At that moment, the carillon of water bells from Chaumont's octagon pool began striking the hour of twelve. When the tones had died out, Franklin said, "Invite you? Why, to attend the salon of Notre dame d'Auteuil, of course!"
Mme Helvetius had stood all this time gazing down at the river. Now she said, "The Loge des Neuf Soeurs. They arrive with the water bells."
Slipping from shadow on the river below, they saw a long boat rowed by nine sturdy men that was pulling toward the moonwashed pier.
"Nine muses, and a carillon of bells in E-flat major," Franklin explained to Jefferson. "That is the missing code that you and young Joh
"But then, at last, as in any code," Franklin added, "there is always that final question which explains all the rest."
Jefferson had joined Mme Helvetius in gazing down at the nine men below, who had lashed down their boat and were disembarking on the pier. Despite the warm night, they were shrouded in black. For a time, no one beside the pool spoke. It was Jefferson who broke the silence.
"Tuesday," was all he said.
"Precisely!" agreed Franklin in astonishment. "What made you think of it?"
"And what does it mean?" asked Quincy breathlessly.
"The message was not about something that would happen on a Tuesday," Jefferson explained. "Nor was it about a Tuesday. No-just as the doctor's A
"Ah, oui!" said Mme Helvetius in comprehension. "The Day of Fire!"
"Tuesday," Jefferson added for John Quincy, "was the day in the ancient calendar dedicated to fire. Delphi was the Greek temple of fire, conquered by Apollo, the sun god. The number three forms a triangle, a pyramid, a temple of fire, as its name suggests. And while there are many music scales that contain three flats or sharps, the E that Dr. Franklin mentioned is the only one of these carved above the door of the Delphi temple- a sign so ancient that no one has ever learned what it signified…"
"And do not forget," chimed in Mme Helvetius, "we French have a royal family descended from a Sun King, too! But, like others, this light does not burn so brightly any longer. Perhaps it is time to replace it with a new flame."
"Good Lord!" cried Jefferson. "You are both speaking of revolution! A revolution in France! In Europe! Tuesday really does refer to fire-and Mars, the god of war!"
"I'm afraid," said Franklin, "that I am a very old revolutionary. You know what they say of revolutionaries-'Once it is over, we must vanish, for the fire that destroys ca
Franklin headed with Mme Helvetius down the stone steps to the pier, but he added to Jefferson, "When you yourself are Sun King, which may be sooner than you think, you must not pause while crossing that fiery river Styx. Just remember, you can always call upon friends, as long as you can hum a tune!"
And Franklin and Mme Helvetius went off down the steps in front of the others, singing "Frere Jacques," all the way.