Invitation

Narrataor: It is early on the 25th instant at Chateau Charade, home of the Foreign Minister of Gallia. The Prince de Charade is up very early dressing when his Secretary Bernard arrives carrying a silver salver.
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Bernard: "Excuse me Your Excellency. Correspondence from Monsieur von Bergmann of Tradgardland and and another from the Fortress of Louisbourg Governor-General l'Duc de Silhouette arrived after you went to bed last night. Here on the silver salver."

Charade: "Open them and read aloud, if you please."

Bernard: {Opens Silhouette's message.] 'My Dear Minister, I have the honour to hope you will find my news of some importance from the colonial Administrator of New Tradgardland. You will be the better judge. Yet I find information from him very attractive because it may potentially serve the mutual interests of both Tradgardland and Gallia to the disfavour of the foe, Britannia, here in The New World. The frigate l'Vengeance sails within the hour with a message from the New Tradgardland Administrator with his shall I say, points de view, which I trust will arrive in your care as I remain, etc. etc. etc."

Charade: "And the note from the New Tradgardland Administrator Bernard?"

Bernard: "Not here Your Excellency. Perhaps the message from Monsieur von Bergmann will answer your question. [Charade nods as he straightens his neck cloth. Bernard opens von Bergmann's envelope and reads.] Your Excellency. I beg to be forgiven for this dreadfully brief message, but I hope you will agree a personal meeting will be of more advantage. I am delighted to have finally arrived here at Versailles to continue my diplomatic mission. I have news from my Sovereign and also a message from our Colony of Ny Tradgardland given to me at the Naval Hospital of LeHavre when its means of conveyance aboard the frigate l'Vengeance arrived in harbor. May I beg to hope for an audience to explain ideas of mutual importance to our two nations? Awaiting your reply when convenient for you at my apartments in Versailles, etc. etc. etc."

Charade: "Bernard, go the Monsieur von Bergmann's apartments after the noon hour to convey my personal and sincere compliments and greetings. Express my joy at his recovery from the wound inflicted on him in the battle at sea in June. Finally, tell him I would be pleased to receive him if he finds it convenient, on the 26th instant at seven in the evening to hear his vital news. He is invited to dine."

Bernard: "Anything else Your Excellency?"

Cahrade: "Oui. When at Versailles, please pay my compliments to Lady Diana Pettygree and I will be honoured to receive her in audience with the Frankzonian missive on the 27th. at three in the afternoon."

Bernard: "I beg your pardon Your Excellency. She sent a note saying she is called away to the Isle Pettygree to see her father. He was suddenly taken ill and requested her to return home at once. The Frankzonian note is with her particular friend Lady Cherish Masquerade. Lady Pettygree left in some haste when she learned the galley conveying Monsieur von Bergmann had arrived in the capital. She took advantage of its return to LeHavre and thence to hire a boat to go to her father's Channel Island. I believe she departed yesterday."

Charade: "Very well. Ask Lady Masquearde when she would find it convenient to bring the Frankzonian note to me."

Narrator: And so the busy and dear reader, we must now leave the Chateau of l'Prince de Charade awaiting the arrival of von Bergmann and Masquerade at another time.
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FYI
Gallian Foreign Minister: Prince de Charade
Charade's Secretary: Bernard
Gallian Minister of War: l'Duc de Formidable
Gallian Diplomat: Comte de Legerdemain
Gallian Diplomat: Comte de Rapprochement**
Rapprochement's Doorward: Pierre La Port
Saxe-Raschstein Prime Minister: Graf von Bruhl
Imperium Foreign Minister: Count von Kaunitz
Gallia: Col. Enigma (??)
Governor-General/Fortress of Louisbourg: l'Duc de Silhouette
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** Rapprochement was the Gallian diplomat sent to initially receive von Bergmann last June at a secret seaside rendezvous. He was also aboard l'Vengeance taking von Bergmann to Versailles when the unfortunate naval battle with the Britannian frigate Invinceable fired bow chasers at long shot range. It was one of these shots which damaged the foretopgallant yard of the Gallian frigate causing splinters to shower the deck of l'Vengeance. One splinter cruelly wounded von Bergmann. The latter was taken to the naval hospital at LeHavre. Recovery was not expected but in spite of this, he did recover with a small disability. If you go back to June's BLOG correspondence you will find several strands of correspondence about the rendezvous and the exciting naval battle.