Revelation at the Station

It is the following morning. Gaius and Margaret are at the station, packed and ready to leave for La Rochelle. Baby Pierre has still not turned up.

Do you think he'll be alright? says Margaret. He does know where we're going, doesn't he?

Alright? says Gaius testily. He's a stone. And furthermore, he stowed away in your bag in the first place.

What's wrong with you this morning? says Margaret. I thought you liked Baby Pierre.

I like stones, says Gaius. As do you. But I can't abide lateness.

He'll have missed yesterday's bus, says Margaret. Perhaps we should wait for this morning's.

Then we'll miss our train, says Gaius. We'll leave him a note.

We should have left it on the door, says Margaret. We can't leave it at the station.

Yes we can, says Gaius. Use your head. The bus comes into the station.

Where can we leave it? says Margaret.

At the counter, says Gaius. Now what are our instructions for finding this place at La Rochelle?

Margaret pulls a piece of paper from her pocket.

These are Madame Bouillon's instructions, she says, and begins to read :

Walk to the old port of La Rochelle. Pass under the big clock. Here, make about one hundred and fifty metres. Follow the street under the arcades. Go to theatre of the pancake restaurant, a real estate agency on the corner, and near the barber Dessange. Residence moquetterie at 29 head of city streets. Press intercom to call Christine.

He won't be able to follow that! says Gaius. I certainly can't!

He's a clever little fellow, says Margaret. He will.

She goes up to the ticket counter.

Her eyes widen.

There on the counter is a sodden and mud-streaked copy of La Princesse de Babylone.