H.J. Gaudreau - Betrayal in the Louvre (8 page)

Marcil knew something that others did not.  Because many of the museums in France reported to the Louvre, and those that didn’t kept close contacts, he had information from around the country.  His contacts with scholars all over France allowed him to assemble a bigger picture than the Council could see sitting in their tiny offices.  He knew of sound academic research pointing to the possibility that the sword, La Joyese, and other royal treasures had been smuggled out of Paris during the French Revolution.  This fit nicely with his own research.  He suspected the royal sword on display in this very museum was a fake; and he had determined the Coronation Crown on display in the museum was not the original.  Most importantly, he knew enough to keep this research off the radar of the museum’s other department heads.  If these Americans had really found a Royal Patent it was probable that it was somehow associated with the missing Regalia.  If he could find out where the Patent came from maybe it would lead to the rest.  This was his greatest chance to join the Council.  It could not be mishandled.

Marcil stood at his desk, then walked to the window and looked out over the grounds.  Action Françoise would owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude.  They would solve the nobility problem by making him a noble.  He began to fantasize about how he would be paid – Comté?  Or only a baronie?  He certainly expected an attractive sum would accompany the appointment, as it should, and did in the days of glory when the King not only granted nobility but also land.  He expected and would deserve the same.  Marcil shook himself; he had work to do.  He had been hunting something like this for years, now he nearly had it.   

Chapter 11

Eve and Jim had enjoyed their time with Bill Rousseau.  He had even treated them to dinner at the Brown Jug, a campus restaurant named after a trophy passed between the University of Michigan and University of Minnesota football teams.  Bill went over the French Revolution in some detail, making it sound like a novel rather than dry history.  Jim and Eve began to know the main characters and found themselves rooting for one over the other.  It was a sad, incredibly interesting and an ultimately tragic tale.  While it had begun as an attempt to increase the welfare of the people, it degenerated rapidly. 

Bill’s description of the final, ugly convulsions of the revolution had them transfixed.  The King pushed for war with Austria in an attempt to solidify support for the thrown.  It hadn’t worked.  War had indeed been declared, but the people did not rally around him as he had expected.  Instead, prices for food and other goods were driven up and the plight of the people didn’t improve.  The situation continued to degenerate until a paramilitary coup occurred.

The waitress brought their food.  Jim and Eve sat transfixed while Bill, between bites, brought the story to its climax.  Eventually, the Jacobins, a radical revolutionary group, assumed control.  Their leader, Maximilien Robespierre, from his seat on the Committee for Public Safety drove a radical, deadly period called The Great Terror.  He dealt with opposition by beheading anyone associated with it.  It was a real life horror movie.  Soon, neighbors were turning on neighbors and family against each other.  It was a miserable time to be French.  The King was deposed, beheaded and counter revolutionary wars were fought, external wars were fought and a terrible death toll endured by the people of France.  Bill ended the tale with a quick explanation of how the revolution had led directly to the dictatorship of Napoleon.  It was a sad, but fascinating story. 

Next, they discussed the necessary steps to validate their find, including the issue of going to Montreal.  Jim and Eve were a bit nervous about the trip.  Neither knew a great deal of the French language and the University of Montreal was primarily a French speaking institution.  Bill did his best to calm those fears, having been to the University several times.  He assured them that Dr. Somme was equally at home in English as she was in French. 

After what seemed only a short time Jim ordered another pitcher of beer.  The waitress delivered the beer and asked if there would be anything else.  Jim checked his watch and was amazed to see that it was after midnight.  They’d been talking for over three hours.  “I’m sure glad this place is open all night.” Jim said as he poured out the new pitcher.  To his amazement, Eve didn’t appear at all sleepy.  “You’re certainly a good story teller.” She said to Bill as she sipped her glass.

“Well, there’s one final thing…” Bill grew serious and locked eyes with Jim, then Eve. “…people will pay a lot of money for this.”  He pointed at Eve’s oversized purse.  “You’d better be careful with it.  And, I wouldn’t advertise that I had this thing laying around the house.  You never know how far people will go to grab something of value, and this is worth a ton.”

They spent the next week arranging a meeting with Professor Jean-Michelle Somme.  Eve prepared extra lesson plans and then arranged for a substitute teacher.  She made sure to do this early because she was very picky about who could substitute in her class.  The next Wednesday evening they were back at the vets dropping Molly off.  Shortly thereafter they were on the road, hoping to make London, Ontario for the night, then Montréal early on Thursday morning. 

Chapter 12

I

Montreal is truly a beautiful city.  Its downtown has a European flavor mixed with a high tech, modern urban landscape.  Jim and Eve were intrigued with the city and anxious to do a little exploring, but first things first, they headed directly to the University.  Bill had warned them of the rather odd positioning of the University.  It ran along the length of the north side of two extremely large cemeteries, the Cimetire Notre-Dame-des-Neiges and the Mt. Royal cemetery.  As they passed the first Jim said, “Ya gotta love a cemetery called Our Lady of the Snow”.  Eve smiled and said, “We don’t live in Oklahoma anymore.”  Referring to Jim’s last assignment at Tinker Air Force Base outside Oklahoma City and the oppressive heat of an Oklahoma summer.  Using the cemeteries as a landmark, Jim circled the campus until they found their destination.

Dr. Somme was a member of the graduate school.  Her office located in the Édouard-Montpetit Pavillon, took a bit of finding.  Eventually Jim and Eve found their target and parked the Jeep.  Soon they were at her closed door.  Jim eyed Eve and asked, “Why do I feel like I’m going to see my professor with a late paper?”  She smiled, “I don’t know but I sure wish you’d knock, this hallway is cold.”  At that the door opened and a young man squeezed past looking none too happy.  Jim pushed through the open door to stand face to face with a woman in her early forties, with an attractive figure and long dark hair matching her dark brown eyes.  “Dr. Somme?” he asked. 

She looked at him for a moment.  His thin hair and gray temples ensuring he wasn’t mistaken as a student.  “Yes?  Oh!  You must be Mr. Crenshaw?” she said in flawless English.  “Your wife did not come?” At that, Eve pushed the door completely open and said hello.  Dr. Somme smiled and welcomed them both.  Closing the door she escorted them though an outer office which was apparently shared with three other professors and into her comfortable personal office.  She asked them to sit and then completed the more formal introductions.  Jean, as she preferred to be called, quickly came to the point. 

“So you believe you have a French Royal Patent and you want me to examine it?  Royal Patents are very rare, none exist of the immediate royal family; only one is available to us of the second tier, that one being in Germany.” 

Jim nodded at this.  “We’ve heard of it.”

“There are several examples of lessor nobles from that period so we do have a good idea of the format and techniques for the fabrication of a Patent.  But, now tell me the story of how you obtained this item,” Jean said as she made herself comfortable in her office chair.

For the next thirty minutes she sat transfixed absorbing their story.  Finally she asked for the tube, completed the white gloves ceremony and withdrew the Patent.  Taking a large glass from her desk she moved it slowly in and out, focusing it and began to carefully examine the leather document.  After several minutes she murmured, “This is amazing, if true this is the Patent of Louis-Joseph.”  Finally looking up at Jim and Eve she announced that it appeared to be correct, but she would need to run some fairly specific tests. 

She then picked up the tube.  She examined it carefully, paying particular attention to the engraving.  After several moments she announced the tube would need further examination also.  All told, she would need the objects for the next ten days. 

Jim’s surprise was evident.  “You can’t authenticate these today?” 

“No, certainly not.  The tests take several days to run.  And, we’ll need to schedule time on the machines.  They’re not here solely for my use you know,” she patiently explained.

              Jim and Eve were uncomfortable with letting the Patent out of their hands, but didn’t see any choice and agreed to the loan of the objects.  To this point Jean had been rather detached and, actually a bit aloof.  Now, she dropped her guard, smiled and said, “You mentioned that Dr. Rousseau showed you a picture of the ambry where the Royal Patents were stored.  Did he tell you that the ambry was ransacked sometime before the revolution?” 

Jim and Eve did not see the significance.  “No” said Jim, “but how is that relevant to authenticating this Patent?” 

Jean eyed him closely, then continued, “It is extremely relevant, especially in light of what you may have here.  You see, finding this specific Patent is more incredible than you may realize.”

“How so?” asked Eve.

“It’s a bit of a story.  If I jump around please stop me and ask questions.  You see, one cause of the French Revolution was the American Revolution! 

“Oh, I’ve never heard that before,” Eve exclaimed.

“Well, it seems that Mister Benjamin Franklin skillfully manipulated the French into siding with the Colonialists.  It eventually cost France millions and millions of Francs.  Add a few poor harvests in a row and the French people ended up broke, hungry and ripe for their own revolution,” Jean said.

She leaned forward in her chair, her elbows on her desk and eyes intense.  “Just a year after the Revolution France was struggling for its very life.  The country was fighting a war on two sides and getting itself deeper and deeper in debt.  One method of addressing the debt problem was to liquidate the treasures of the nobles and the church.  To do that the new revolutionary government set up several ‘committees’.  These committees were to recover what they termed ‘the people’s treasures.’  In truth, these committees simply ransacked the royal palaces and the holdings of the holy Catholic church.” 

Jean stood, returned to the file cabinet and, after a moment returned with several file folders.  She began to spread several photos and photocopies across the top of the desk. 

“These documents discuss this plundering of art works and other valuables from the nobles and churches,” she said. 

She continued to spread the papers in front of Jim and Eve.  “The committee responsible was called ‘the Committee for Restoration of Public Treasures’.  The thefts or collections, depending upon your view, were confirmed by statements from two members of this Committee, given in trials for various crimes or affronts.  Their testimony is found in trial records of the day.”  She began to point to various documents spread across the desk.    

Jean checked her watch.  “I’m going to have to run along to a meeting in a moment.  But, these committee members also published their testimony in revolutionary newspapers, and they recorded very similar statements in their private diaries; so we place great credence in their truth.  The records speak directly of the ransacking of the ambry that held this very Patent.  They mention removal of King Louis XVI’s crown and the Queen’s jewels.” 

Again checking her watch she said, “Now, I must go, but let me give you this book and let’s say we meet again tomorrow at…”  She checked her desk calendar and said “…tomorrow will be difficult.  Could we get together for dinner tonight instead?”  Jim and Eve were delighted to accept the invitation and arrangements were soon made to meet that evening at a new restaurant on Côte de la Place d’Armes which had opened just the past month.  Jean then escorted them to the office door,  “Tonight then, 8 O’clock?”

II

Jim and Eve spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Montreal and shopping in the downtown area.  Then they returned to their hotel, showered, changed and headed to the restaurant. 

“Eve, I’ve got to admit I’m learning more about the French Revolution than I ever wanted to know,” Jim complained as they walked to the restaurant.

“I thought you were the history buff?” she taunted.

“Mile wide and an inch deep,” Jim said as they entered the candle lit building.  They were escorted to their table and a few moments later Jean appeared wearing a fashionable dress and fur wrap.  Conversation centered on where Jim and Eve had been stationed, which countries they had visited and when.  Jean had lived in Europe for several years as well, and they shared stories of their trips throughout the continent. 

At last Jean said, “Well, let’s see.  We were discussing French history when we parted this afternoon.  I think I’d left off with the fact that the new French government was broke and ransacking the country for anything they could convert to cold hard cash.” 

“You had just told us about the ransacking of the Royal Ambry.”  Eve prodded.

“Yes, well…here things begin to get interesting.”  She paused, apparently for dramatic effect.  “There has always been a bit of a mystery surrounding the French Royal Regalia.  You see…” 

“Excuse me” Eve interrupted, “What exactly is a Royal Regalia?” 

“The Regalia are the signs of authority or right to the position.  Traditionally things like a crown, a scepter, a thrown, are collectively called the regalia.”  Jean patiently explained.  “Royal regalia applies to kings and queens.  The most famous are the British Crown Jewels, but regalia applies to the symbols of an office or station.  Look at the President of the United States; the office has the Presidential Seal.  Even a town mayor has a seal or the head chair at the town council meeting.  These things are all regalia.” 

“Okay, got it.”  Eve nodded.

“So, the French Royal Regalia, since the Revolution, has always been a bit of a mystery.  We know that before the revolution there were four items that played a key role in the coronation of any new French King.  We know this from surviving official papers of the Church, as well as various diaries, and even from the examination of several paintings of different coronations.”  By this time they had completed their meal and Jim was wondering about the bill. 

Jean continued her narrative.  “The French were very Catholic and considered themselves to be, if not representatives, at least faithful servants of the Church.  It was very important for them to have a direct tie to the Church.  Therefore, the French kings were blessed by the French Cardinal as part of but prior to the actual coronation.  For this the Holy Ampoule was used.” 

“And what is a Holy Ampoule?”  Jim asked while trying to convert Canadian dollars to US in his head, finally giving up and simply handing his credit card to the waiter. 

“Let me get that!” Jean nearly shouted. 

“Too late Jean, I already did,” Jim said with a smile.

Jean gave him a stern look then continued.  “An ampoule is simply a container.  Clovis the First was the first Frankish king to be baptized as a Christian.  That occurred in about nine hundred, no one is certain of the exact year.  It was said that the unction, or the physical act of the blessing, was performed using Holy Water contained in a Roman glass container alleged to have been found in the sarcophagus of Saint Remi.  The container, or ampoule, was about 5 centimeters tall.  Since the ampoule was associated with a saint it was almost by definition a Holy Relic imbibed with certain blessings.” 

“Wow, that’s a great tradition.  So, you’re saying that the Holy Ampoule is a piece of Royal Regalia?”  Eve asked. 

“Yes, it is,” Jean replied. “And, now we move to the next piece.  The French had a peculiar tradition of crowning the new king with a specific crown called the Charlemagne Coronation Crown.  It was originally a simple gold crown, but over the years four large jeweled fleur-de-lis were affixed to the original piece.  Immediately after the coronation this crown was removed and replaced with a personal crown.  The personal crown was made specifically for the new king.  But, the important one, the one that conferred the thrown, was the Coronation Crown.  So, while both crowns could be called Royal Regalia I want you to think only of the Charlemagne Coronation Crown.”

“And that’s because of what?” asked Jim. 

“Ah…you like these historical mysteries don’t you Jim?” Jean said with a smile.  “Be patient, let’s now talk about the coronation sword.” 

Jim interjected.  “Actually, Jean, Bill told us a lot about the sword.  He said it had been stored in the Ambry and that it was the actual sword of the real Charlemagne.  He said all the subsequent kings used it to legitimize their reigns.” 

“Okay, perfect.  Well then, in answer to your question, it’s the same with the Crown.  It conferred Charlemagne’s image to the new king.  So, we have discussed the three key items.  The Holy Ampoule, the Charlemagne Coronation Crown, and the Sword of Charlemagne.  But, we’ve not discussed the fourth…” 

Her smile broadened and she looked from Jim to Eve.  “How can you crown someone unless you know their of royal blood?”

Jim smiled, “The Patent?”

“Absolutely.  The fourth item is the Royale Patent.  They were always kept together in the Ambry.”  Jean smiled, “So we have a mystery.” 

They spent the next half hour discussing the unique properties that made up the Royal Regalia.  Finally, Eve observed it was very late.  The three new friends agreed to meet again the next morning in Jean’s office.