The French Letter
Viewing comments for Chapter 20 "Rag-and-Bone Man"A Novel
26 total reviews
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Tony, that was fabulous! The action was so real, I could see the whole episode in my mind. What a wonderful rag and bone man, we don't see them anymore. Helen was certainly brave to have tackled those brutes and run, and Henri's dog, Bonaparte was a hero as well. Such a lot happening in this part, it was an exciting read. Well done, my friend, and I'm so pleased I had a 6 for you. Superb!! :) Sandra xxx
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2018
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Tony, that was fabulous! The action was so real, I could see the whole episode in my mind. What a wonderful rag and bone man, we don't see them anymore. Helen was certainly brave to have tackled those brutes and run, and Henri's dog, Bonaparte was a hero as well. Such a lot happening in this part, it was an exciting read. Well done, my friend, and I'm so pleased I had a 6 for you. Superb!! :) Sandra xxx
Comment Written 22-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2018
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Always a pleasure to hear from you, Sandra - especially when you say such nice things! LOL Thanks for the six stars, too - the icing on the cake! All the best, Tony
Comment from lyenochka
Hooray for this wonderful rescue! And hooray for Henri and his horse and his Bonaparte! I did like that touch about the initial refusal of the money as it's considered polite to initially refuse something you want in many cultures. I could almost smell the rubber of the car turn.
I felt I needed one more sentence between him telling Helen to get into the car (did she?) and his jumping out of the car to get to Henri. It's also surprising to me that he has a shotgun. That just seems too American. Lol.
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2018
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Hooray for this wonderful rescue! And hooray for Henri and his horse and his Bonaparte! I did like that touch about the initial refusal of the money as it's considered polite to initially refuse something you want in many cultures. I could almost smell the rubber of the car turn.
I felt I needed one more sentence between him telling Helen to get into the car (did she?) and his jumping out of the car to get to Henri. It's also surprising to me that he has a shotgun. That just seems too American. Lol.
Comment Written 21-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2018
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Thanks, Helen. I appreciate your suggestion about Helen getting into the car and have adjusted the text to make that clearer. I agree that the shotgun is rather unusual - but then Henri is an unusual character. I realise that I was stretching a point a bit there!
Comment from country ranch writer
WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR HER CAPTURE? WHAT HAD THE PLANNED TO GAIN BY IT? WERE THEY GETTING TO CLOSE TO THE TRUTH? SO GLAD THEY ESCAPED.
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2018
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WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR HER CAPTURE? WHAT HAD THE PLANNED TO GAIN BY IT? WERE THEY GETTING TO CLOSE TO THE TRUTH? SO GLAD THEY ESCAPED.
Comment Written 21-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2018
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Many thanks for your review, Country Ranch Writer. The answers to your questions will appear in subsequent chapters. All the best, Tony
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Smiles
Comment from krys123
Cheers, Tony;
>There was an exciting serendipitous situation where I think timing had everything to do with it. Or is that saying goes at the right place at the right time with a little help from Helen and the little but mighty Mastiff Bonaparte.
>I enjoyed the tempo, the rhythm the heartbeat of your writing. Is starting to hold me in suspense and action is real, to me anyway.
>It's not like you pull down the "Deus Machina!" and called upon a god to solve your problem.
>I really enjoyed it very much, Tony, and take care and have a good one. And I'd bless you with rain, if I could.
Alx
reply by the author on 21-Oct-2018
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Cheers, Tony;
>There was an exciting serendipitous situation where I think timing had everything to do with it. Or is that saying goes at the right place at the right time with a little help from Helen and the little but mighty Mastiff Bonaparte.
>I enjoyed the tempo, the rhythm the heartbeat of your writing. Is starting to hold me in suspense and action is real, to me anyway.
>It's not like you pull down the "Deus Machina!" and called upon a god to solve your problem.
>I really enjoyed it very much, Tony, and take care and have a good one. And I'd bless you with rain, if I could.
Alx
Comment Written 21-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 21-Oct-2018
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Thanks, Alex. We?ve had a bit of rain this week, so your blessing must have worked!
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That's great you know, Tony, I'm glad you got the rain. Send some on our way? Take care and have a good on my friend and you're welcome.
Alx
Comment from Ulla
Oh dear, Tony, this was quite the chapter but they all certainly came to Helen's rescue. A lot was happening and it had a great pace. What is really going on is now what I'm asking. I can't wait for the story to continue.
I had not got a clue. = I hadn't a clue. Just a suggestion, but I think it sounds more natural that way. All the best. Ulla:))
reply by the author on 21-Oct-2018
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Oh dear, Tony, this was quite the chapter but they all certainly came to Helen's rescue. A lot was happening and it had a great pace. What is really going on is now what I'm asking. I can't wait for the story to continue.
I had not got a clue. = I hadn't a clue. Just a suggestion, but I think it sounds more natural that way. All the best. Ulla:))
Comment Written 21-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 21-Oct-2018
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Many thanks for your review and suggestion, Ulla. Both much appreciated! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Mastery
Good solid chapter, Tony. The images you used are spot on, like:
" I heard the rag-and-bone man come clattering down the street. His old carthorse clip-clopped at a leisurely pace, and the old man was whistling. He drew up alongside me and beamed with delight."
I can clearly picture this individual.
Also:"As soon as the car had driven off, he removed the kepi from his head, brushed the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, and strolled across towards Henri with a broad grin on his face."
More dialogue tis time and that is always a good thing.
Bless you, my friend. Bob
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Good solid chapter, Tony. The images you used are spot on, like:
" I heard the rag-and-bone man come clattering down the street. His old carthorse clip-clopped at a leisurely pace, and the old man was whistling. He drew up alongside me and beamed with delight."
I can clearly picture this individual.
Also:"As soon as the car had driven off, he removed the kepi from his head, brushed the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, and strolled across towards Henri with a broad grin on his face."
More dialogue tis time and that is always a good thing.
Bless you, my friend. Bob
Comment Written 21-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Thanks for your continued encouragement, Bob. Honoured that you should think this one worthy of a six. All the best, Tony.
Comment from royowen
Obviously Helen is no pushover, she took on the hoods and escaped, with a "little" help from the marvellous rag and bone man, the gangsters had little chance of winning. An excellently descriptive episode Tony, this is an area of literature I haven't tackled yet, well done, good job my friend, blessings, Roy
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Obviously Helen is no pushover, she took on the hoods and escaped, with a "little" help from the marvellous rag and bone man, the gangsters had little chance of winning. An excellently descriptive episode Tony, this is an area of literature I haven't tackled yet, well done, good job my friend, blessings, Roy
Comment Written 21-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Thanks, Roy. It?s an area that I haven?t tackled before, either!
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Well done, You're doing well
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
I enjoyed this chapter full of action, Tony. I like how the man with the cart and the dog was able to help rescue Helen. This chapter was well-written. It adds great intrigue to the story as to why those men kidnapped Helen and what will happen next. Thanks for sharing. Jan
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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I enjoyed this chapter full of action, Tony. I like how the man with the cart and the dog was able to help rescue Helen. This chapter was well-written. It adds great intrigue to the story as to why those men kidnapped Helen and what will happen next. Thanks for sharing. Jan
Comment Written 21-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Thanks, Jan. I?m hoping that we?ll find out what this is all about soon. Strange goings on!
Comment from Pantygynt
Plenty of cops and robbers action in this episode but still all is shrouded in mystery. I fact I sometimes wonder if you know where this is going but even if you don't know as yet I don't suppose it matters much as this winds around the 'milieu' of the Paris underworld where even the rag and bone go armed to the teeth. I am almost thanking le bon dieu pour le Brexit. Macron he say he will make it hard for les Anglais to visit his country 'en vacance'. But I am not sure I want to tangle with the French underworld anyway. It is all too frightening (but great fun).
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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Plenty of cops and robbers action in this episode but still all is shrouded in mystery. I fact I sometimes wonder if you know where this is going but even if you don't know as yet I don't suppose it matters much as this winds around the 'milieu' of the Paris underworld where even the rag and bone go armed to the teeth. I am almost thanking le bon dieu pour le Brexit. Macron he say he will make it hard for les Anglais to visit his country 'en vacance'. But I am not sure I want to tangle with the French underworld anyway. It is all too frightening (but great fun).
Comment Written 21-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018
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I don?t think the French have ever been all that welcoming to your average British tourist, but that probably goes both ways. I was a bit surprised by the old man?s gun, too. Not quite in the Steptoe image!
Comment from Adri7enne
Lots of action, there. Happened so fast I got mixed up between Henri and Antoine. Had to go back and read it again. So Helen is recovered from her kidnappers and they're hustled off to jail. I'm still enjoying it, Tony. Glad Helen is back on scene.
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2018
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Lots of action, there. Happened so fast I got mixed up between Henri and Antoine. Had to go back and read it again. So Helen is recovered from her kidnappers and they're hustled off to jail. I'm still enjoying it, Tony. Glad Helen is back on scene.
Comment Written 21-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2018
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Very many thanks for dropping by to read and review, Adrienne - also for the six stars. Much appreciated. I'm hoping that things will quieten down a bit now those two sinister men are out of the way for a while. Tony