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"Jericho
is given a very strange mission by Angel Margret; to discover the truth about
claims made by a collected soul that he played Napoleon's double; until he was
murdered by the Emperor Napoleon I in May, 1821. This, he claims, allowed
Napoleon to escape in time. Human Records show that Napoleon's soul is indeed
missing! The man; a certain Lucas Boucher was born in August 1769 and died, at
the age of 51; which exactly matches the life span of the Great Emperor.
Physically, he did indeed resemble Napoleon. If he's telling the truth; then
what happened to Napoleon Bonaparte and where is his soul now?"
“All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Author’s notes about this episode:
[1] Remember: Please read the 'DISCLAIMER' notice regarding the inter-action of historical characters who are woven into the author's stories! Napoleon Bonaparte is a very well known character in history, but should you wish a little more information, then check out the 'WIKIPEDIA' entry for the great man HERE.
[2] It is Part 2 of a SPECIAL TWO PART story and was written as a HOLIDAY SPECIAL [On-line] with humour to the fore! Rather strangely, this part two was actually written some four years after the first!
[3] This episode is “linked” with episode: “Napoleon’s Chinese Cabinet of magic – Part 1.”
[4]
The original Title for this episode was: ‘THE FRENCH CIRCUS.’
[5]
A ‘Temporal Detectives’ original story.
[6] "NAPOLEON'S CHINESE CABINET OF MAGIC - PART 2." This episode, was conceived and written by the author. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without written permission. The episode illustration is an original drawing created by the author. It is copyright ©2011 - 2025 Stephen Williams. Again, no reproduction of any part without written permission.
Episode details:
Concept
date: 25th May 2020.
First
published: 7th February 2021
Status: COMPLETED & PUBLISHED.
Location:
BOOK SERIES 3 – EPISODE 6.
Revisions:
5 [last revised August 2020]
Version:
Final.
Published Episode No. 30
Previous
episode: “Napoleon’s Chinese Cabinet of
magic – Part 1.”
Next
episode: “Xavier Tabbert’s hospital for
the dead, the dying and the unforgiven.”
Age
recommendation: 12+
Average
reading time: Approximately 75 Minutes.
Angel-in-charge: Margret
Team Assigned: Team 74
Mission: 2 - 093368 - 5 – 1910
Human years:
Episode preview:
1. THE STORY OF LUCAS BOUCHER.
Owen moved his castle and sat back; "I suppose he has to cover Jericho all
the time now; I mean with his promotion to Inspector in the offering. I shall
really miss the big bugger." Alex sighed and moved her Bishop slowly
across the board; "Don't lose any sleep that Wilson will suddenly
disappear out the door; these things take time. He hasn't actually had the
official nod that he's got it yet. It could be ages before he's given a team of
his own, normally, new inspectors have to do time as locum's [stand-in's] on
other teams. So, he'll be around for a while yet."
They both looked up as Jericho and Wilson came through the study door;
chatting. "What do they call this Alex? A gaggle of Inspectors or a
herd?" Owen chuckled to himself. Alex smiled at the pair, ignoring Owens’s
comments. "What have we got?" She asked Wilson, who slumped in his
favourite armchair and wondered if Jericho would let him take the damn
chair - when the time comes! - He gestured to Jericho saying; "Ask the boss, I haven't got my little watch yet!" [Wilson was referring to the Pocket Watch that all Inspectors received upon promotion: it was handed to them by HIMSELF!]
Jericho stood by the fireplace and pulled a brown paper file from his jacket.
"This won't make your day Alexandra; we're after Napoleon Bonaparte -
again." She threw up her hands and laughed; "What's the dirty old sod
up to now?" Wilson smiled; "Murder apparently and illegal time
travel." Now that did catch Alex's and Owen's attention. "But his own
men shot the shit out of his Chinese cabinet, so how's he moving through
time?" Owen asked, stroking Mr. Parker, who had jumped onto his lap and
was now playing with the chess pieces.
"That is a good question baby brother. According to a certain look-a-like
of the Emperor, he apparently laid his hands on another time portal and bumped
the poor bloody 'double' off; to cover his escape." Wilson said to Owen,
but smiled at Mr. Harris, who opened the study door and announced dinner.
"Now this should make for an interesting dinner conversation piece."
Muttered Alex and the team headed for the dining room. Owen left Mr. Parker on
his seat; pushing chess pieces about the board.
Alex was right; the dinner conversation was lively. Jericho outlined what they
had so far: "Most people know and believed that Napoleon died on St.
Helena on the 5th May, 1821 aged 51. It was known that he was suffering some
sort of serious stomach illness for years. But according to a collected soul; a
certain Monsignor Lucas Boucher he didn't. Boucher claims he was Napoleon's double
and physically, he really did resemble the Emperor. He was used by Napoleon in
various situations - like, the double would appear at some big parade or court
function and British and Allied spies would report his whereabouts. But he
would actually be elsewhere; planning battles and getting up to stuff that the
Allies wouldn't hear about. Apparently, the double says he [the double] was so
good at impersonating the Emperor; even the Emperor's mistress and other lovers
fell for it."
Wilson grinned at Alex; "We all wondered how Napoleon managed to leave the
Ball that night and appear quickly in his bedroom to entertain you and
Madame Du Loupe - the double was deputizing for him in the ball
room!" Alex muttered; "Cunning old sod - no wonder he conquered
most of Europe; he could be in two places at once." [See the first part of this episode for details of what they're talking about!] Owen rubbed his chin;
"What do we know about the time portal?" Jericho sipped his wine and
picked up his fork; "What we do know, is that the Time Line was breached
by someone travelling from May 5th 1821 to June 1st, 1910, from St. Helena
to Paris, France." Owen nodded; "Why 1910; why would that year
particularly interest him?"
Jericho shrugged his shoulders - he didn't know; "We've been tasked by
Angel Margret to discover if there's any truth in the allegations made by Lucas
Boucher and discover what has happened to Napoleon's soul. That's one fact we
can accept; his bloody soul is missing, which means, since we have no body, he
must have jumped from his own time or been taken by the 'Dark Side'. We need to
find out which."
Wilson leaned on the table; "Which means we are going to have to jump back
to Paris in 1910 and enjoy the peak of the glamorous, Parisian Edwardian
era." He smiled at Alex; "I have no doubt that Costumes will fit you
up with some stunning outfits - and of course - some equally stunning
hats!" Alex grinned at that; "I'm certainly worth it." Everyone
chuckled and continued with their excellent meal of Vegetable casserole.
Jericho rubbed his face; the time portal that Napoleon could be using bothered
him. His version [Napoleon's] of the Chinese cabinet had been destroyed and
Alex - quick witted and clever, as usual - had checked Covington House for
Portals, especially the Chinese Cabinet in the attic - it had gone. Being
apparently wrecked back in 1814, it did not exist in 1864 now. That had
anchored Lady Covington firmly in her own time.
"Lucas Boucher did say one odd thing to Herbie the Collector; Herbie said
that Boucher told him the Emperor was unhappy that he had shagged his
mistresses {Napoleon's] and some other women, who thought they were sleeping
with the Emperor. But Napoleon never did anything about it because Boucher was
so good at his job." Wilson lifted his wine glass and smiled at Alex
adding; "Maybe it was the bloody double feeling up your bum and not the
great man himself!" Alex grunted and sipped her wine; "Makes no
difference; I was still touched up in the line of duty. That never happens to
you lot; does it?"
"Strangely enough it doesn't." Muttered Owen with a big grin and set
about his meal with some relish. Then added with a rueful smile; “Yeah, but
Jacqueline would agree with you!”
"NAPOLEON'S CHINESE CABINET OF MAGIC - PART 2" CONTINUES IN 'TEMPORAL DETECTIVES' BOOK SERIES 3 [EPISODE 6.]
