The French Letter
Viewing comments for Chapter 47 "Queen's Messenger"A Novel
27 total reviews
Comment from Pantygynt
'Avoiding the start of the London rush hour, I arrived at St. Pancras with time to spare and the journey to Paris was smooth and uneventful.'
But had you not heard? St Pancras was closed due to unauthorised activity by a brexiteer protester. That would have delayed your big bang somewhat.
The first part of this reminded me of when I was charged with taking the regimental colour of 45Cdo RM from Aden to London for repair, though before the days of X Ray machines etc. The sacred flag was sewn into a bag padlocked to my wrist and the only way of opening it would have been to cut the stitching.
UK Customs insisted on opening it!
I wouldn't let them!
Oh what jolly japes we had. After lengthy delays and the summoning of some very senior people I was eventually allowed through.
Unlike this excellent chapter though there was no climax.
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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'Avoiding the start of the London rush hour, I arrived at St. Pancras with time to spare and the journey to Paris was smooth and uneventful.'
But had you not heard? St Pancras was closed due to unauthorised activity by a brexiteer protester. That would have delayed your big bang somewhat.
The first part of this reminded me of when I was charged with taking the regimental colour of 45Cdo RM from Aden to London for repair, though before the days of X Ray machines etc. The sacred flag was sewn into a bag padlocked to my wrist and the only way of opening it would have been to cut the stitching.
UK Customs insisted on opening it!
I wouldn't let them!
Oh what jolly japes we had. After lengthy delays and the summoning of some very senior people I was eventually allowed through.
Unlike this excellent chapter though there was no climax.
Comment Written 01-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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I can imagine the scene at Customs. A bit of a standoff!
The TV screens here are filled with scenes of ugly mobs in the UK shaking their fists at one another. It seems almost like a civil war. I shall be glad to see it all settled one way or the other, so people can get on with their lives.
Comment from estory
You ratchet up the tension and the excitement a hundred fold in this chapter, and it comes from nowhere. All this seems innocent enough at first; a package of paintings sent to an art dealer, undercover, by the spy network. Charles seems relatively unconcerned. Then, boom. The assassination. I think you have to have Charles shaken up here. This is jarring. And it raises questions: why? What's realy going on here? This has gone up a couple of levels all of a sudden, into another stratosphere. estory
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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You ratchet up the tension and the excitement a hundred fold in this chapter, and it comes from nowhere. All this seems innocent enough at first; a package of paintings sent to an art dealer, undercover, by the spy network. Charles seems relatively unconcerned. Then, boom. The assassination. I think you have to have Charles shaken up here. This is jarring. And it raises questions: why? What's realy going on here? This has gone up a couple of levels all of a sudden, into another stratosphere. estory
Comment Written 01-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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I appreciate your review and the sixth star, estory. I thought it about time to ramp up the action. Glad you approve.
Comment from HealingMuse
Hi TF,
This is an exceptional write! An MI-6 story. You have my rapt attention. As always, your work is impeccable. I am curious to learn where you will take this story in the next chapter. Thank you for an engaging read. Jan :-)
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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Hi TF,
This is an exceptional write! An MI-6 story. You have my rapt attention. As always, your work is impeccable. I am curious to learn where you will take this story in the next chapter. Thank you for an engaging read. Jan :-)
Comment Written 01-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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Very many thanks for your continued interest, Jan. I?ve just posted the next chapter. It doesn?t take the action very far but might prove to be a good springboard.
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Thank you for the heads up, TF. I've been more off than on recently. I'll give it a read. Jan :-)
Comment from djsaxon
Tony. Suffice to say that I am many chapters in arrears, but it actually matters not for the moment. I find myself literally 'wading' through well rewarded FS writes in a similar genre/category and just can't go there. It is difficult to write a review when you find yourself 'asleep at the wheel.' As always, a minimal use of speech tags and nice wry grabs like "Nondescript Brown paused for breath..." Cheers - DJ
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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Tony. Suffice to say that I am many chapters in arrears, but it actually matters not for the moment. I find myself literally 'wading' through well rewarded FS writes in a similar genre/category and just can't go there. It is difficult to write a review when you find yourself 'asleep at the wheel.' As always, a minimal use of speech tags and nice wry grabs like "Nondescript Brown paused for breath..." Cheers - DJ
Comment Written 01-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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Mastery chastised me for ?Nondescript Brown?! Glad you liked him.
Thanks for the sixth star. Glad I?m still keeping you moderately amused.
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Mastery ALWAYS chastises me.
Comment from lyenochka
Oh no! Was Charles used to be the means of assassinating Arnaud? And really, I don't think the Customs people would cooperate if I asked for something NOT to be x-rayed. They insisted on my placing my mini-laptop in a cavernous container all by itself. Great chapter and wondering what's next.
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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Oh no! Was Charles used to be the means of assassinating Arnaud? And really, I don't think the Customs people would cooperate if I asked for something NOT to be x-rayed. They insisted on my placing my mini-laptop in a cavernous container all by itself. Great chapter and wondering what's next.
Comment Written 31-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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Apparently the contents of a ?diplomatic bag? are exempt from all customs, immigration and security screening. (According to Google anyway! LOL)
Comment from Pearl Edwards
James Bond he is not -My throat was dry, my skin was clammy... made me smile.
probably the easiest £5000 - not going to prove to be true
Great chapter Tony, things are really heating up
cheers,
valda
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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James Bond he is not -My throat was dry, my skin was clammy... made me smile.
probably the easiest £5000 - not going to prove to be true
Great chapter Tony, things are really heating up
cheers,
valda
Comment Written 31-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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I appreciate the sixth star, Valda. It?s always great affirmation. Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Best wishes, Tony.
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
that ending was unexpected, Tony. You did a great job leading up to it. Your lines flowed well with good details. Now that Charles is so involved will he be implicated in the death? Thanks for sharing. Jan
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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that ending was unexpected, Tony. You did a great job leading up to it. Your lines flowed well with good details. Now that Charles is so involved will he be implicated in the death? Thanks for sharing. Jan
Comment Written 31-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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I?m not sure how Charles is going to extricate himself from this mess. He?s in deeper than he ever imagined.
Comment from JudyE
I've been waiting for the next episode and it hasn't disappointed.
I did pick up a few tiny points:
"No, not really. All this cloak-and-dagger rigmarole seems to be way over the top. What's the purpose of it? - speech marks needed at the end
Brown ignored my question. "Tomorrow morning, you are to report to the British Embassy on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, - capital for 'rue'
It was hardly the work of a genius put two and two together and realise the reason behind Mr. Brown's 'tamper-evident seal'. - insert 'to' after 'genius'
Thanks for an interesting read.
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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I've been waiting for the next episode and it hasn't disappointed.
I did pick up a few tiny points:
"No, not really. All this cloak-and-dagger rigmarole seems to be way over the top. What's the purpose of it? - speech marks needed at the end
Brown ignored my question. "Tomorrow morning, you are to report to the British Embassy on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, - capital for 'rue'
It was hardly the work of a genius put two and two together and realise the reason behind Mr. Brown's 'tamper-evident seal'. - insert 'to' after 'genius'
Thanks for an interesting read.
Comment Written 31-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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Thanks very much for your review, Judy, and for picking up those errors. Much appreciated. Best wishes,Tony.
Comment from royowen
Well, now our friend Charles is an unwitting terrorist? Perhaps, perhaps not. How amazing that he is involved in a an international incident, but how are things going to pan out? An excellent episode Tony. Could this be another Ian Fleming? Well done, blessings, Roy
reply by the author on 01-Apr-2019
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Well, now our friend Charles is an unwitting terrorist? Perhaps, perhaps not. How amazing that he is involved in a an international incident, but how are things going to pan out? An excellent episode Tony. Could this be another Ian Fleming? Well done, blessings, Roy
Comment Written 31-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 01-Apr-2019
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Thanks for the review, Roy. Charles seems to have got in above his head. I hope that I can find a way of rescuing him before the final page!
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I'm sure you'll find a way, if you haven't already
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Never in a million years did I ever suspect a bomb. WOW!!!!! You took me completely by surprise. How wonderful! I really enjoyed reading this post. GREAT JOB!!!
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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Never in a million years did I ever suspect a bomb. WOW!!!!! You took me completely by surprise. How wonderful! I really enjoyed reading this post. GREAT JOB!!!
Comment Written 31-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 02-Apr-2019
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Thanks, Barbara. I appreciate the sixth star. I have to confess that the bomb was a bit of a surprise to me, too! LOL