Jean and Louis are sat by the fire. Louis is watching Jean’s face intently, who has his eyes closed deep in thought.
Finally, Jean nods his head. ‘And that’s how it can be done?’
‘That’s how it can be done.’
‘Can it fool Cromwell?’ Jean asks concerned.
‘What choice have we?’
Jean opens his eyes. ‘The more I see of him, the more I dislike him. A political mercenary who will happily stab anyone in the back to gain an advantage. A man without scruples.’
‘Yes.’ Louis makes a slight movement of his head, gives his arms a good stretch and rises. ‘I had better be going and find Vincent. We can rehearse it tonight.’
***
The green near the Tower is under torchlight. Entertainment and celebration are still taking place, the green surrounded by makeshift stalls and vendors carts. Everything is bright, colourful and cheerful, the area full of the sound of laughter.
Louis is performing in a small enclosed area. Behind him is a magicians table on wheels holding his props and behind that, his wagon.
He holds the audience spellbound as he presents them with a blank piece of parchment paper which he folds, then places inside another piece of parchment. This he carefully wraps in a ribbon and dangles from one stretched hand while he makes magical passes over it with his other. He calls to a tall man in the audience in a loud, confident voice. ‘Good sir, would you call out a name. Would you like to make it a lady’s name?’
Amused, the man looks fondly at the woman next to him. ‘Janet!’ He shouts back to the magician.
The pale featured, fair haired woman beside him laughs and playfully slaps his arm while the surrounding onlookers applaud and laugh.
Enjoying the sense of mystery he is creating, Louis comes forward making rhythmic movements with the parchment and presents one end of the ribbon to Janet, holding the other end. She gives it a tug and the parchment drops into Louis’s other hand. With a flourish, he makes an elaborate show of unfolding it, then with another dramatic flourish, opens the paper. All look on, wide eyed in amazement and applaud. The name “Janet” is emblazoned across it.
While the applause continues Louis indicates to Vincent leaning on the wagon who is wearing a long, dark robe with a hood and carrying a basket. Vincent approaches the table and places the basket at its foot on the ground. He then climbs onto the table to lie face down. Louis places a finger to his lips and looks around. Everyone goes quiet then he next covers Vincent’s body with a sheet.
Maintaining the audience’s full attention, he explains in a mesmerizing voice, ‘What you are about to witness is a miracle of life, and of death, and of life.’
From under the table Louis quickly produces an axe, bringing a gasp from the audience. He holds it out for all to see, the light reflecting on its blade. He swings it a couple of times in menacing fashion, then theatrically tests its sharpness by pretending to nick his thumb, which brings a murmur of amusement from the audience. After another practice swing, he roars and savagely brings the axe down on Vincent, seeming to behead him. The audience gasps again as blood spurts out and something is heard to fall into the basket.
Louis hurls the axe under the table, then with one hand, reaches under the table, to reveal a large dinner platter.
Slowly, teasing, with a secret smile on his lips, Louis positions himself at the edge of the table and bends forward to pick something out of the basket. He suddenly produces a decapitated head to everyone’s astonishment. This he places on the platter which he holds up with outstretched arms and to more gasps of amazement, the disembodied head begins to sing ‘Pastime With Good Company.’
With the head still singing in full flow, Louis places the platter down on the covered form of Vincent on the table and waving, wheels it away toward the back of the wagon with Vincent’s feet twitching beneath the sheet. There is great applause from the audience.
Seconds later Vincent, intact, appears at the front of the wagon with the platter in his hands and jumping down to the ground goes among the audience, using the platter as a collection plate.