A Certain Threat (The Merriman Chronicles Book 1)

by Roger Burnage

“Quite right, I’ll call Helen down to do that, she stitched you up so she can unstitch you. Her fingers are so much more nimble than mine.”

  The Doctor rang a bell and when the maid appeared he asked her to ask his daughter to join them.

  “Helen is reading to my sister at the moment. Jane has a slight indisposition and has taken to her bed for a day or two. No, nothing serious,” he said as Merriman began to murmur the usual condolences, “She’ll be up and about again tomorrow. I must say that she has hardly stopped talking about our visit to your family. She enjoyed it immensely and hopes to have found a friend in your Mother.”

  Merriman laughed, “I know that my Mother enjoyed your sister’s company, They didn’t stop chattering all the time they were together.”

  Just then Helen entered the room. As she offered her hand, Merriman rose to make a bow and surrender his seat beside the fire.

  “The Lieutenant has come to tell us that he has been called to London and he will need to have his wound unstitched before he goes,” said the doctor.

  “So soon Lieutenant? It seems such a short time since we travelled home. Are you sure that you are quite well?”

  “Yes Ma’am, I feel quite well thank you, and my hand is improving daily thanks to your father’s ministrations and the hand exercises. Besides, I am a serving officer and when duty calls I must go, well or not.”

  “Well I don’t think it fair that you should have to go away again after so few weeks at home with your family. Can you not ask for more time?”

  “Ma’am, I cannot refuse. Although I have no idea why I am wanted in London I would be risking my career not to go. If their Lordships have some appointment for me it would go to some other officer. I would lose the opportunity, and probably not get another.”

  “Oh, you men, all you think about is duty. I had thought that we could be friends as I know no one else here. I shall miss your company.” She coloured slightly as she said it and poor Merriman, not knowing what to say, said nothing, which only provoked her still further.

  “I see that I’m as good as talking to the wall Lieutenant. I’ll remove those stitches and then you can go back to your precious navy.”

  She flounced out of the room and Merriman turned helplessly to her father, who simply raised his eyebrows, shrugged his shoulders expressively and held his hands in the air in a gesture which said “I don’t understand women any more than you do.”

  Helen returned with a bowl of hot water and commanded him to remove his coat and roll up his sleeve. She unrolled the bandage and the Doctor inspected the arm.

  “Yes, all’s well and those stitches must come out now. James, hold your arm over the bowl and Helen will remove them.”

  The girl’s touch was so gentle as she snipped the stitches and carefully pulled them out, that when she suddenly bathed the wound with the hot water, Merriman yelped in pained surprise

  “Come Sir, that didn’t hurt you a bit, stop making a fuss.”

  The Doctor intervened, “Keep the wound covered with this clean bandage for the next day or two. You are unlikely to have full mobility in the arm again for some time, but it’s certainly better than it was. The muscles of both the hand and arm will continue to strengthen if you continue to squeeze the little ball as I have shown you.”

  “Thank you Doctor, I’m deeply grateful for all you’ve done for me. Now I must take my leave of you. I leave for London tomorrow and I have a lot to prepare before then. I don’t know where I shall be going or for how long but I do hope we shall meet again soon.”

  He shook hands with the doctor and turned to Helen and took her hand.

  “Good bye Ma’am, thank you for the best stitching I have ever seen.”

  She smiled sadly, “Good bye Lieutenant, take care of yourself.”

  Merriman felt a gentle pressure on his fingers and thought he saw a trace of moisture in her eye before she turned away.

  “Imagination” he told himself gloomily as he rode home. “She has no patience with the like of me and my duty, she made that very clear.” The unhappy Lieutenant evidently had a lot to learn about women.

  Chapter 10: News of French Agents

  When the Royal Mail coach arrived in London, Merriman immediately secured a room at an hotel to clean himself up after the journey and to prepare for the forthcoming visit to the Admiralty.

  Precisely at five minutes before two o’clock, Merriman presented himself at the entrance to the centre of British sea power, the Admiralty. There an harassed, pink cheeked young lieutenant ushered him into a room where several other officers were waiting. All eyed each other warily, wondering which of them would be leaving with a new appointment and who would not. Many were lieutenants, older men than Merriman himself and doubtless with more seniority. Three of the officers were captains.

  Merriman did not have long to consider why he was there. He had hardly settled himself, in anticipation of a long wait, when the lieutenant returned. “Lieutenant Merriman Sir, if you would please follow me.” The assembled officers all stared at Merriman, doubtless wondering why such a junior officer was being given preference over themselves.

  The lieutenant opened a door and almost pushed Merriman in, saying “Captain Edgar, Sir, Lieutenant Merriman.” The Captain proved to be a tall, stooped officer, almost completely bald, who remained at the window for several minutes before turning and staring hard at Merriman for several more minutes. Merriman was beginning to think that he was in trouble when the Captain’s face split into a surprisingly warm smile and he crossed the room to a chair on the long side of a beautifully polished mahogany table.

  “Sit down here Mr. Merriman.” He picked up a wig lying on the table and crammed it on his head. “Damn all wigs, I hate the wretched things, make my head itch most abominably don’t you know.”

  “Yes Sir, I don’t care for them much myself,” replied Merriman, whose own strong growth was held at the nape of his neck by a fashionable bow.

  “Now, Lieutenant”, continued the Captain, turning over the pages of a document on the table before him, “I must ask you a few questions. First of all, have you recovered sufficiently from your wound to take up service again and secondly, how do you imagine that your career might suffer if you were out of the mainstream of life in the navy?”

  Merriman was taken aback. His first thoughts that he had been summoned to the Admiralty because he was in trouble were dispelled by Captain Edgar’s words which seemed to indicate he would be leaving the navy, a prospect that filled him with dismay, although there was the hint of some new appointment.

  “Tolerably well Sir, my arm has improved beyond all expectations and inconveniences me not at all. As to your second question, I had not thought of leaving the navy, indeed Sir, I was looking forward to continuing sea service and eventual promotion if I should be so fortunate.”

  “Good, good, and what do you say to the prospect of fighting His Majesty’s enemies in a more discreet and less obvious way?”

  “Spying, do you mean Sir?”

  “Possibly, Lieutenant, possibly, but only as part of a broader scheme.”

  “I can only reply Sir, that I am a loyal officer and will do whatever Their Lordships might order me to do.”

  “Very well then Mr. Merriman, I hoped and expected that would be your reply. Now, I must leave you alone for a few minutes.” With that Captain Edgar gathered the documents together and left the room.

  Merriman walked to the window and stared unseeingly at the view of the busy street outside, his mind a jumble of thoughts about what had seemed to be said. Unconsciously he clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace up and down in his accustomed ‘quarter deck walk’, unaware that the door had opened and Captain Edgar and three other people had returned to the room.

  A mild voice gently reproved him, “Upon my word Lieutenant Merriman, we shall need to replace the floor if you wear it out like this.” Merriman recovered himself with a start, realizing that he was confronted by an Admiral and Lord Stevena
ge and surprisingly, Mr. Grahame, his acquaintance from the inn at Oxford who acknowledged him with a nod.

  “My apologies My Lord, I was deep in thought about what Captain Edgar said.”

  “I’m sure you were Mr. Merriman, you must be wondering what has brought us together again. Let’s be seated and I’ll ask Admiral Edwards to enlighten you.”

  Merriman had immediately recognized the Admiral as that same Captain Edwards, the friend of his father who had taken him into his ship as a twelve year old midshipman at the start of his naval career.

  “A good many years ago Lieutenant, your father and I were good friends when we were both young Lieutenants and served together on the old Terror. We met on few occasions after he was made post but I’ve not seen him since he retired, I trust he is well, and also his charming wife?”

  “Yes Sir, indeed they are both very well, thank you. My father often speaks of his naval days and your name has often been mentioned. He will be pleased to know you remembered him.”

  “Couldn’t forget him lad, led me into many a scrape I can tell you.” The Admiral suddenly realized he had an audience, coughed, cleared his throat, looked at His Lordship in apology and turned back to Merriman.

  “Before I begin Lieutenant,” said the Admiral, “I must emphasize that what is about to be revealed to you must be held in the strictest confidence and you should be fully aware of the damage which could be caused to the government and certainly to your career if our confidence in you should be misplaced.” He held up his hand as Merriman began to speak.

  “Say nothing Lieutenant, you would not be here if there was any doubt about your ability and loyalty. Your service record speaks most eloquently on your behalf and it was Lord Stevenage himself who suggested you for this appointment.”

  Merriman looked at His Lordship in surprise. Although his father had suggested that Lord Stevenage might prove to be a good friend to him, Merriman himself had not dared to hope that it would be so. Evidently his father had been right, but, Merriman reminded himself, he still didn’t know what was expected of him.

  “You will know Lieutenant, that there has always been trouble in Ireland with nationalists demanding emancipation for the Catholics and parliamentary reform and there were hotheads siding with France in the recent war. Why, only last year a fellow by the name of Wolfe Tone founded a group calling themselves United Irishmen or The United Irish Society or some other damned thing, with the avowed intent of forcing these issues by any means possible.”

  “Yes Sir, I’ve heard my Father speak of this, although as you will appreciate, I have been away at sea for many years and I have no real knowledge of these affairs.”

  Continued the Admiral, “Intelligence we have indicates that these rebellious elements in Ireland are again involved with the French. During the last war French agents landed in Ireland and used the shipping across the Irish Sea to land in England, many of them at Holyhead and Parkgate. Their intent then was to sow discord and dissention and it’s common knowledge that they are trying the same again, indeed we are certain of it. These agents are sowing the seeds of revolution in all quarters, from Ireland and the lowest taverns to the Constitutional Clubs in every city. They are a constant threat to the safety of our country.”

  “We’re not at war with France at the present time, but many of us at the Admiralty and some in other circles are sure that we will be again soon, although it’s difficult to persuade some of the politicians of this, that man Fox for instance, although I’m pleased to be able to tell you that the fleet is better prepared for war than at any time since the end of the American war, thanks to Mr Pitt the Prime Minister. Only recently were orders given to increase the number of seamen from sixteen to twenty thousand.”

  Admiral Edwards paused to clear his throat and take a sip of water, which gave Lord Stevenage the opportunity to interrupt .

  “If I could continue from here Admiral?”

  “Of course my Lord.”

  “I’m sure Lieutenant, that you know that for the last ten years all Europe has been in a ferment, but since the storming of the Bastille and the start of the French revolution the political situation has deteriorated rapidly. In April last year France declared war on Austria. Not that Austria had provoked them, it was political device to divert public attention away from the social problems in France which have been becoming more serious every day. Prussia on the other hand has been looking to gain territorial advantages from France which is why she entered the war on the side of Austria.”

  “There was a request from Austria that Britain should enter the war and join an anti-revolutionary alliance but this government is determined to stay neutral as long as possible. Unfortunately, France has defeated the Prussian and Austrian forces and now occupies Belgium and is poised on the border with the Dutch Netherlands. British foreign policy has been founded on the determination that both parts of the Low Countries, both Belgium and the United Dutch Provinces should be kept out of the hands of the French.”

  He pounded his fist on the table to emphasise his words. “This is critical to our security, not only in the Channel but also on the sea routes to India because of the Dutch possessions at the Cape of Good Hope and Ceylon. As long as Belgium was held by Austria under Habsburg rule it was an ideal situation to prevent French expansion to the north. This country cannot tolerate any further French interference in that area and Mr. Pitt has left the French in no doubt of Britain’s resolution to honour treaty obligations to our ally. Do you understand so far Lieutenant?”

  “Yes my Lord, I do.”

  “Good, to continue. Since the revolution started we had considered the turmoil in France to be in our best interests but there has been, and to a degree still is, a part of public opinion in this country which is vocal in its support for the revolution, and as you may be aware there has been a profusion of radical clubs springing up all over the country. This activity has also been increased as a result of the poor harvest this year and the rise in food prices. Many of these clubs send messages of support to the National Assembly in Paris and Paris is the centre where all subversive elements from all countries of Europe, including our own, have gathered.”

  He paused to gather his thoughts. “However, since the horror of the September massacres in Paris when the mob broke into the prisons and slaughtered the occupants, including innocent tradespeople and aristocrats confined there along with genuine criminals, many of those so called radicals have changed their tune and with the King’s proclamation against seditious writings being enforced, we may see some improvement in that direction. Nevertheless, the official French envoy to Britain, the Marquis de Chauvelin, constantly receives deputations from these radical groups, the Norwich Revolution Society, the Manchester Constitutional Society, the London Independent Whigs and the London Corresponding Society to name but a few.”

  “This last one is expanding rapidly, which shows how great is the attraction of its aims which include universal male suffrage. They have a membership fee of just one shilling and a weekly subscription of only one penny which brings it within the reach of every working man. Our agents keep an eye on their activities which is how we know so much about them. French agents are definitely involved, visiting and addressing meetings and trying to agitate the ordinary people with talk of equality for all and other revolutionary ideas.”

  “I’d no idea that so many potential revolutionaries were active within this country my Lord”, said Merriman. “Can they not be prevented from this traitorous communication with our traditional enemy, France?”

  “As the Admiral has said Mr. Merriman, we are not at war with France and the commerce agreements between our countries allows the subjects of both to reside and travel in either without licence or passport. Another thing you should bear in mind, is that the National Assembly declared that all treaties with other countries to be void and called on all European countries to practise self-determination. This means that France has almost, but not quite, declared war on all other
governments. So you see, although neutrality would suit us best and allow our trade with the world to expand even faster than it’s doing at present, I can see no way that we can avoid another war with France.”

  “And this is where you and Mr. Grahame come into the matter. The Prime Minister, Mr. Pitt, has asked me, because of my connections with the Treasury, to attempt to co-ordinate the efforts of our own people, the Customs, the Judiciary and especially the Navy in preventing more French activity. Similar measures are being implemented elsewhere but you and Mr. Grahame will be responsible between Ireland and England.”

  “Mr. Grahame here, with whom you are already acquainted, is my agent in this matter and it’s through his efforts that we know as much as we do. We believe that there is some one person at the centre of events who is organizing both the smuggling and the moving of French agents, and who is able to call on extra men for special purposes such as the attack on the Revenue cutter off the coast of North Wales. Further, we believe that person or persons to be brilliant organizers, having knowledge of our political moves almost as soon as they are decided. Also, there must be someone involved who is able to move about between England, Ireland and France without arousing suspicion. Although such persons are but shadows we do know they are there.”

  “But,” and here he wagged a finger at Merriman, “We must proceed cautiously and only move on these people when we’re certain of our facts. We cannot speak outright about the French involvement without causing a diplomatic incident which may bring about the war before we are ready.”

  “So you see Mr. Merriman, we think you are just the man for us, not least because your home is where it is, and surely you know the coast and inland area where these events are happening. We also know that your Father is a magistrate and will be concerned about the smuggling. He must have some knowledge of local rogues who might be bribed to give information.”

  Here the Admiral broke in, “If you will allow me my Lord, I’ll tell the Lieutenant what we propose and require him to do.”