Book of the duchess: night-time raid

Number 9: Yet another attempt to arrest Raoul for his liberal views decides Michael upon rebellion. The duchess’ guard, not content with an attack in broad daylight, break into the room which Michael and Raoul are sharing for the night

The plot episode 8 (summarised from the text of Lorna’s novel)

Provost marshal Guillot ignored Duchess Jacqueline’s order not to harm Michael. Instead, he ordered the palace guard to stage a raid on Michael's lodgings in the middle of the night and murder both Michael and Raoul in their bed.

Michael managed to fight off the men at arms. Then he and Raoul escaped to new lodgings in a poor part of town where no one would think to hunt them down.

Lorna’s remarks

I said this series owed something to the films. Certainly the explanations are becoming something like the old silent film captions. If I added rhetorical questions, the illusion might be complete, such as ‘What is he to do?’ or ‘What will happen next?’ ‘See next week!’

However, most of this - if I remember rightly - was copied from a picture in a history book of Richard Coeur de Lion in similar awkward circumstances. The colouring and the shadows were not, however, copied, and the introduction of light and shade shows an advance.

Raoul’s physiognomy, as usual, has suffered. I honestly believe that I was - and possibly am - wont to spend so much thought and labour upon Michael, as being the ‘hero’ that when I came to his assistant I was tired and discouraged, and merely scamped him. Compare, or rather recompile, the sturdy man at arms with Number 4.

Nevertheless, I think the bed looks comfortable.