An hour later, a pitch-dark carriage emerged from the back gate of Mono's villa, now laden with a large stack of fabrics on the roof.
The carriage made a few more rounds in the city before returning to the Royal Palace after 10 PM.
Covered head to toe in a black hood like a servant, the Duke of Orleans unloaded the fabrics from the carriage and carried them into the warehouse, his head bowed. Only when there was no one around except his personal guard did he carefully make his way back to his bedroom.
In his study, he recalled the complete set of strategies that Mono had told him earlier. He first took out pen and paper and wrote a secret letter to the Paris Municipal Commissioner Levebelle, as well as the Governor of Montpellier, Palmentier, sealing each one with his private seal and wax.
Then, he pulled out another piece of paper and, deep in thought, began writing down a list of names: the Duke of Seville, Count Seyrelier, the Duke of Durelph, the Duke of Mushi...