(Perfect, let's visit a bar, get the boys and all accounts settled quickly, and leave them to their devices)
«Is this any good?» Jerome waves his hand towards an arbitrary bar. he hands a small pouch of silver to Mireilla gesturing for her to enter first. «This should cover the expenses, but you handle it please,» he says, knowing all to well how innkeepers tend to react when he approaches first.
The drinks are not overly expensive, and you get the boys paid, they thank you profusely for the additional drinks, and settle down to count the coins. You note their furtive expressions when they realize you have included and extra coin, apparently believing it was a mistake on your point and not wanting to draw attention to it while you are present.
If Mireilla notices their furtive looks, she winks, and says "Surely one of you gentlemen did something to deserve it.
In any case, she sidles up and whispers "Now we are all friends, here, aren't we? If we happen to meet again, any of us head nod includes Jerome and Carles , we have established goodwill and a willingness to listen and help. haven't we? she smiles knowingly
Jerome watches the exchange with admiration, trying to stay out of way.
They nod "Yes ma'am, always helpful we are."
Jerome walks to the door, and turns to see that Mireilla and Carles follow, before he steps into the street.
When they are safely outside, he says «thank you, Mireilla. Do you know how to find my contact in the university too?»
You are familiar with the area of the university. The contact you don't know how to contact...considering the information you have is essentially a drop box service and an alias for the "contact" that is hardly surprising...
I'm afraid not, sir. What can you share about this business? Care has been taken to maintain privacy, looks like.
A lady can inquire, but pauses and looks seriously at Jerome, and there's perhaps a twinge of uncertainty I dread if this is a matter between...scholars, such as yourself? Are we likely to get pricked, by the querying, do you ken?
«I have no idea whatsoever. Such a rare occasion that I leave Bentalone. If you think it is better, I can do the asking. My contact has a drop box at the University. I thought I had given you the details, but never mind. I have to go there first, whether to find him or to leave a note.» Jerome gives the details he has, and they try to find the place, asking around if necessary.
«Where do you stay, Mirella, when you are in Paris?»
Master Jerome! My plan was to see you get settled in one of the inns nearby; a confortable one for scholars of every stripe. Stay for a week, perhaps in the same inn, though it would be more usual for an unchaperoned lady to stay elsewhere. And then I would return to Avignon, the way we came.
I have some business I will attend to here, mostly to ensure supplies for our budding enterprise, but please feel free to avail yourself of my time!
Hmm, you could leave a note, but first we could hire the services of some likely snoop to learn where it is taken. Or would that likely breach some trust, some agreement of which I am unaware?
«We don't have much of an agreement. Other than to meet in Paris. It would take a skilled snoop to cater for the eventuality. The letter is not necessarily brought immediately to my contact. Maybe he picks it up tomorrow or the day after. Do you think such specialist services are for sale? I might be better off watching it myself for a while. »
It is in the university- today it would be considered a mail system, but it is closer to what you would see at a hotel front desk- a student takes messages, along with a few coins, and puts the name of the person on it so they can pick up the message when they stop by. Apparently the Paris University has an anonymous version of this where pseudonyms are used.
«OK, Mireilla, can you recommend an inn where I can invite my contact to meet?»
Once he is settled in an inn, Marcus leaves not that he will be waiting in the afternoon the next couple of days.
Two days later, in the early afternoon, a young man with a large hat and wearing a cloack approaches you "I understand you seek a path through the garden?"
«I do indeed. Are you X¹?»
¹ I am sure a name was used in the letters ...
"I am not Mr. Gardner, but he has sent me to bring you to him."
(Meanwhile, Mireilla will seek suppliers and buyers for her wares, asking around. She will still make herself available to Jerome if need be.)