The Trap Is Sprung
Baron Britpop Blastfurnace • Chapter 24
The sailor, Moubray, will take the narrative for the following events, which occurred in The Port Belly Inn. Snoffduffle was not present for most of them.
It was late, and me and the mates was finishing our dinner when, sure enough, the butler walked in. He scanned the room, saw us, and headed over to the table and sat down.
“I just heard the news of Baron Blastfurnace’s accident,” Stenfelt said as cool as you please.
“Twernt no accident. We did just what you asked. We waited until there was a storm to avoid suspicion and sent them both over the side to their deaths,” I replied.
“I won’t pay extra for the other one,” Stenfelt said.
“Don’t expect ya to.”
“Very well. Meet me outside, and you will get your silver,” Stenfelt said. Then he got up and walked out the door.
We waited a minute and headed out after him. He was standing in the dark of the street waiting. We walked up to him. He handed us a sack of silver and said, “Our business is concluded.”
Constable Beatwalker and the other sailors hurried out of the inn. The constable ran up to Stenfelt and said, “Claudius Stenfelt, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Baron Britpop Blastfurnace.”
In a blink, Stenfelt bolted across the road, jumped on a horse, and started riding away. He didn’t get far before a horse and carriage pulled out in front of him from a side street. Stenfelt’s horse made a quick stop, and Stenfelt went flying into the street. Snoffduffle jumped out of the carriage and onto Stenfelt. Then held him down until Constable Beatwalker arrived and put him in chains.
“Well done, Snoffduffle.” One of the sailors said. Only he wasn’t really a sailor. The man turned to the butler and said, “I am Alarick Jansingh. I am the Lead Advocate for Emperor Joseph. I am sure he will be quite interested in knowing who wished to see Baron Blastfurnace dead, considering the Emperor personally granted him the title of Baron.”
“It wasn’t right. Giving the title of Baron to a blacksmith. Then, expecting me to serve a commoner. I am glad he is dead,” Stenfelt raged.
“Oh, but you don’t understand. The Baron is not dead. This was all a ruse. The constable and I were in the inn and heard you agree to pay for the murder of Baron Blastfurnace. Your payment confirmed your guilt.”
“He’s not dead?” Stenfelt asked.
“Not that we are aware of. Last we heard, the Baron was headed for Spain,” the Grand Duke said as he stepped out of the crowd.
“If he isn’t dead, then I have committed no crime,” Stenfelt insisted.
“We will see what Emperor Joseph thinks about that,” Jansingh said. “Constable, take him away.”
As Stenfelt was being led away, he looked at Snoffduffle and said, “Where did your carriage come from? I never heard it coming.”
“Oh, that was quite simple. The Grand Duke has outfitted all his horses with silent horseshoes and the wagons with silent wheels. They are Baron Britpop’s inventions, you know.”
Snoffduffle smirked, and Stenfelt scowled.
The Grand Duke thanked everyone involved and told us to go enjoy ourselves at the inn.
“I have instructed the innkeeper to send me an invoice.”
Great whoops and cheers went up from everyone, and we all headed back into the inn.
The Grand Duke turned to Snoffduffle and said, “Come with me, Snoffduffle. I will not see the Baron’s staff suffer one more moment than necessary. We must give them the good news.”
They climbed aboard the carriage and headed up the hill.
