The Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, will grace us with the telling of this portion of the tale.

After everyone had received their duties and departed, the Comtesse de Genlis and I began discussing the details of our role in the escape.

“Comtesse, I believe you are well-acquainted with members of the theater. Can you obtain the services of a few discreet players?”

“I can indeed, Your Majesty.”

“Tell them they will be rewarded well for their discretion.”

“Yes, Your Highness. It will not be a problem. Especially when a handsome payment is involved.”

“Excellent. Be on your way. Meet me in my Hamlet after sunset.”

“As you wish, Your Highness. This is quite exciting.”

“It will be if it works.”

I told the staff I would be spending the evening in my cottage and that I was not to be disturbed. I tried to busy my mind with reading, but it was no use, so I tended my garden instead. The hours passed slowly until nightfall. Shortly after darkness arrived, so did the Comtesse and three theater players.

After the customary bowing, I gave the players some gold coins.

“These coins are for your silence. If you betray that silence, it will cost you dearly. Do you understand?”

“We do, Your Majesty,” they all replied.

“Very well, this is what you are to do.”

The three players, now dressed as pirates, and I rode to the stockade on horseback. We dismounted and approached the stockade. One of the players held a knife to my throat. A stage prop with a dull edge, but the guards didn’t know that. The other two carried real muskets.

The guard outside the cells raised his musket and shouted, “Who goes there?”

We stepped into the light of the lantern hanging on a hook outside the stockade.

“We have yer Queen. Do as we say, or she gets her throat slit, savvy? Drop yer weapon,” the player said.

The guard looked panicked, and his hands were shaking.

“Throw down your musket, fool,” I shouted.

The guard dropped his gun.

“Lay on the ground,” one of the other players shouted, and the guard quickly obeyed.

Just then, another guard came out of the stockade. He also had a musket raised and ready to fire.

“Drop yer weapon and lay on the ground, or the Queen dies on yer watch.”

The guard looked at me, trying to decide what to do.

I nodded reassuringly at the guard. “Do as he says.”

With the fake knife still at my throat, the player and I entered the stockade. One more guard was waiting inside. We dispatched him outside of the stockade in short order to join the others on the ground.

We found the cell keys and entered the cell block. Britpop saw me and looked shocked.

“This is all a ruse. We are getting you out. Play along,” I said. “Quickly, time is precious.”

We unlocked the cell and let everyone out, then left the stockade and tied up the guards. We took their horses and weapons and rode for the gates. Once outside the gates, we rode hard for a nearby field.

To my great relief, the Montgolfier Brothers’ balloon was ready to fly as we arrived. We dismounted and approached the balloon. Maria ran and embraced Andelbert. I thanked the Montgolfier Brothers briefly for their cooperation, then tuned to Britpop.

“I will never see you again, my friend.”

“Never say never. Who knows? Perhaps The Emperor will pardon me.”

“You are a genius. I shall write to my brother tomorrow.”

Then throwing protocol to the wind, I hugged Britpop.

“Quickly, you must go. Be safe,” I said.

Britpop, Andelbert, Maria, and Captain Peanut Butter climbed into the balloon basket with the Montgolfier Brothers. Moments later, the balloon began to rise.

“Godspeed,” I yelled as they floated away.

“Bless you, Your Majesty,” Maria shouted back.

“Until we meet again, my friend,” Britpop yelled.

I turned to one of the players.

“Put me on a horse, then shove me off.”

“Your Majesty?” The player questioned.

“You heard me. This needs to look real. Do as I say.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The player helped me onto a horse. Then said, “Forgive me, my Queen,” and pushed me off the horse. I fell painfully to the ground. The player quickly helped me up.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

“Not severely,” I replied. “Now ride for Paris as quickly as you can. You must also escape for this to work.”

“As you command. Shall I leave you a horse?”

“No. Real pirates would not. Now go.”

The players turned and rode out of sight.

I began walking across the field toward the road. After about a half-turn of the glass, I was found walking down the road by six soldiers on horseback.

“My Queen, are your hurt?” The senior soldier asked.

“Not terribly. The pirates threw me from a horse in a field not far from here and rode off into the woods.”

Half of the soldiers rode for the field. The other three quickly rode me back to the Palace, where the King was informed of my rescue.

My part was done. I prayed the Montgolfier Brothers would be equally successful.