Our train pulled into Gare de Nord at twenty three twenty six local time. The platform swarmed with life as we disembarked, passengers intermingling with the always over excitable station employees. Elizabeth insisted on keeping her baggage, a bastard collection of handbag, shoulder satchel and small wheeled case. Not wishing to make a scene I indulged her but affirmed to George the Hotel chauffeur their disposal at his earliest convenience, Elizabeth I could stomach presently, her collection of trivia and poor taste certainly not. The ride to the Hotel took but a few minutes, Elizabeth an erupting volcano of exclamations and questions, the latter which I amicably enough attempted to both discern and answer. Roderick I was pleased to note had disappeared as succinctly from her consciousness as he had from life and I smiled inwardly at the service I had done for her and humanity in general.
The Rabelais was neither gratingly traditional nor garishly modern, managing remarkably to keep genuinely service orientated yet charmingly unimposing. The entrance was modest, more in keeping with a Gentleman's club than a hotel, yet opened into a lobby wonderfully welcoming and uniquely Parisian.
"Your suite is ready Monsieur."
Names have little importance in the world we had entered, one either had or didn't have privilege and automatic admission, perceived rank or financial substance had little sway. My arrival at the Hotel was always expected but never formally arranged, a convenience I preferred. Appointment diaries are for the social pages of the newspapers not the consternation of single Gentlemen.
"We will eat in the main restaurant in an hour. Please have something suitable prepared."
The elevator to the fourth floor was at the end of a row of three. The operator, a retired legionnaire understood fully whom had access and whom did not and the chance of any interloper ever reaching beyond his questioning gaze was unlikely at the least and probably fatal for the antagonist at worse.
"Salaam alaikum."
"Alaikum salaam."
Politeness costs nothing and buys much favor. That the man was Muslim as opposed to Jewish or Catholic was of no real import except to recognize his faith showed respect for his beliefs and by extension his work ethics. The man who guards your back is the one who saves your life more often than not.
"Good evening Monsieur."
Bowing without acquiescence is an art for only the most experienced practitioner, Michel Fabeaux had been my manservant and confidante for over twenty years and successfully walked the razors edge of servile submission and personal pride quite perfectly. Dressed impeccably as always his gaunt frame could fill the foreground yet disappear into the background instantaneously. Ever as the elevator doors opened he would be immediately in view, I had concluded long ago he slept thus just in case I should dare to arrange a surprise appearance.
"We will be dining in an hour Michel, please have the girls make Mademoiselle Elizabeth comfortable and presentable for the salon."
Marie and Cecile stepped from the shadows and eagerly took charge of their mistress. The costumes they had chosen to wear for the welcoming were spectacular, somewhere between Turkish Seraglio and a Sadomasochist convention. Momentarily I was distracted then thinking better of the occasion turned with Michel to attend to my own preparations.
"Monsieur?"