The Dark Secret of Josephine rb-5

by Dennis Wheatley

  "Ah!" exclaimed the Vicomte. "Madame la Comtesse shows the most admirable sense, and relieves me from taking a step that I should have found most distasteful."

  Roger had far greater cause for relief; but, all the same, he wished that Georgina had made some attempt to get the amount reduced. He thought it quite probable that de Senlac would have settled for half the sum and the full fifty thousand was an appalling ransom to have to find. There would be no question of Georgina's selling Stillwaters as it was hers only for life, but although her rich father would certainly help her, this great inroad into her resources might make it impossible for her to continue living there; and the least he himself could now do would be to hand over to her as his contribu­tion the bulk of his savings. However, there could be no going back on her offer; so he said to de Senlac:

  "May we take it then that if Lady St. Ermins writes to her father on the lines she suggests, you will provide means for us to continue our interrupted voyage as soon as possible?"

  "No, no, mon ami" the Vicomte cackled. "That is too much to ask. Madame la Comtesse shall write her letter tomorrow, and I will give her to put in it the name of a Genoese banker who is a good friend of mine. It is to him that the money must be remitted; and when the full sum has been paid he will notify me to that effect. Only then can I permit you to depart."

  "But that will take months," Amanda protested.

  "Yes, four months at the least. Perhaps six or more. As we do not enjoy the amenity of a regular mail service here, my correspondence is subject to the additional delays consequent, on being sent to and collected from certain of the larger Caribbean ports. However, we will do our best to make your stay in Tortuga a pleasant one." "

  "You are very kind," Roger forced himself to say. "But should there be such long delay in my taking up my post, my Government may believe me dead and appoint some other in my place, so that I'll lose it altogether. Can you not possibly..."

  "May I remind you, Monsieur," the Vicomte cut him short, "that you are very lucky not to be actually dead. You might well have lost your life at the same time as your friend, the Lord St. Ermins."

  "That is true," agreed Roger. "Yet since I am alive I am naturally anxious to secure my future. Will you not accept our word of honour to do nought which might invalidate the agreement at which we have arrived; and my promise to raise five thousand pounds to send you on account immediately we reach Martinique?"

  De Senlac shook his head. "I regret to disoblige you; but on this point my mind is made up. You must all remain here until I receive definite information that the money is lying to my order in Genoa."

  Roger had made his bid and could do no more. From the beginning he had felt that the chances were against.the Vicomte's letting them go on the sole security of their word, but had hoped for a better bargain. Fifty thousand pounds and six months' detention on Tortuga was a heavy price to pay. Yet it was still cheap compared to the alternative; and there was always a possibility that they might be able to escape. The only thing to do was to try to look cheerful and hope that the future might bring better fortune.

  Having finished his drink, the Vicomte went on: "As a good half of the hottest hours of the day still lie before us I suggest that we should adjourn for the siesta. At sundown it is my intention to dispense justice to the Circe's crew, and afterwards we will dine. The former may provide you with a spectacle of some interest; to the latter I shall look forward, as I rarely have the opportunity of entertaining persons of my own quality."

  Standing up, he made a leg to the ladies and, without waiting for a reply, strutted into the house. Lucette followed him and beckoned the prisoners after her. They entered a wide, airy hall with a broad staircase, up which the Vicomte was mounting to the floor above, but she took them through it and down a passage that ran along the back of the building. Throwing open a row of doors one after the other she said:

  "Here are your rooms. They are not often occupied, but I think you will find them quite comfortable. At least you may count your­selves lucky to be in them instead of in the cells. But don't toy with any idea of escaping. You would only get lost in the forest, and we should be certain to catch you; then M. le Vicomte would have your toe-nails torn out, to prevent your running away again. I will send the slaves to you with your baggage. Ask them for anything you may require."

  As she strolled away, with her usual feline grace, they looked about them. The rooms were sparsely furnished and the plaster was peeling from the walls; but they were lofty, light and airy, and each had a pair of french windows opening on to the veranda.

  Within a few minutes two negroes appeared with their portman­teaux; then a smiling negress who filled all their jugs with water, shook a variety of insects out of the bed curtains, and brought bowls of fruit which she set down on the bedside tables. While she was busy with these chores they stood about discussing in low voices their recent interview; but they were longing to get out of their heavier garments, so as soon as she had gone they pulled them off, had a quick wash and, exhausted by the heat, flung themselves on the beds to rest.

  Roger was roused from an uneasy doze by a knocking on his door. Propping himself up on one elbow he called "entrez" and a tall young man came in. He was a handsome, gaily dressed fellow, and his hair, which he wore long, was golden, but his features were slightly negroid, showing him to be a sangmele, as mulattoes having only a small proportion of black blood are termed.

  With a bright toothed smile he said in lisping Creole-French: "M. le Vicomte is about to hold his seigneurial court. He requests the presence of yourself and your ladies." After a moment, he added: "My name is Jean Herault. My father is M. le Vicomte's bailiff and I assist him in running the estate. We are likely to see a lot of one another; so I hope we shall get upon good terms."

  Scrambling off the bed Roger replied that he was happy to make Monsieur Herault's acquaintance, and would join M. le Vicomte as soon as possible. Then pulling on his clothes he went to rouse the others, and when all of them had dressed they walked through the main hall out on to the veranda.

  The sun had already gone down behind the hills so the house was now in shadow; but a number of large, hanging lanterns had been lit along the veranda, and a trestle table carried out on to it. A paunchy, elderly man was arranging writing materials beside a ledger, at one end of the table, and nearby de Senlac stood talking to two of his pirates; a very thick-set dark-visaged sea-dog with at least five hundred pieces-of-eight forming a great collar of silver round his neck, and a taller fellow who had a great hook nose and diamond ear-drops dangling from his ears.

  As the prisoners appeared the Vicomte introduced his companions as his two Lieutenants: the dark one as Philo the Greek and the other as Cyrano de la Mer, which was obviously a nom de guerre. He then presented the elderly man as his Bailiff, Hypolite Herault, and when they had made their bows he said:

  "I will explain the proceedings that are about to take place. In a domain such as I have established here there are a great variety of duties, varying in their degree of hardship. Apart from our activities at sea, which are our main support, we have cane fields and tobacco plantations farther inland that must be cultivated. There is also the rearing and tending of our livestock, and the repairing and careening of our vessels.

  "I own, of course, a number of permanent slaves, but after each voyage the conduct of my seamen during it is reviewed by me. Those who have shown initiative or special bravery are rewarded by periods of leave, so that they may go on the spree in our nearest ports. Others who have proved unsatisfactory are relegated to menial tasks, and those guilty of definite neglect of duty are sent for a time to labour with the slaves.

  "When we take a prize, as on the present occasion, I have also to decide on the future of the captured crew. Fighting and sickness are a constant drain on our numbers; so good seamen who are willing to join us are welcomed as recruits. Those who show reluctance are enrolled among the slaves; while officers and others who might prove a focus for future tro
uble have to be disposed of. Our ways of disposing of them vary, but it is always by some method which will provide good sport for my men."

  While he was speaking a motley crowd began to gather below the steps of the veranda. Twilight had now fallen, and as it swiftly deepened the full companies of the two ships assembled, including a score or more who were brought forward with their arms tied behind their backs. The majority of the captives were from the Circe, and among them Roger saw Tom, young Doctor Fergusson, the Second Mate, the Swedish purser, the consumptive Supercargo and Jake Harris, but with them were also four of the pirates who had formed part of the prize crew. Anxiously he searched among the rows of upturned faces for Dan's, but beyond the semi-circles of light cast by the lanterns it was now difficult to make out individual features. For some moments he feared that the ex-smuggler must have fallen a victim to the pirates, then he caught sight of him on the fringe of the crowd and his heart felt lighter than it had for days at the knowledge that his old friend was safe and free.

  Dan's apparent treachery had not been mentioned since Roger had come-to after the taking of the Circe, and he had deliberately refrained from speaking of it to the others for his own good reasons. Fearing that the ship might be taken while they were still in her he had given Dan secret instructions that in such an event he was to go over to the enemy, with the idea that it would both save his life and, perhaps, later enable him to help them. To render such a step easier he had told Dan that, should all appear lost, he must bring himself to the enemy's notice by hauling down the Circe's flag. Dan had done so, and the trick had worked. Evidently, with a number of others, he had already been vetted by de Senlac and accepted as a useful member of the pirate fraternity.

  The Vicomte now seated himself at the table between Philo the Greek and Cyrano de la Mer. while the elder Herault took one end of it and the younger the other. Georgina sat down in one of the basket chairs nearby, her companions followed her example and, as they did so, a brawny, bald-headed man came out of the crowd to the foot of the steps. Calling up a succession of men before the tribunal he praised some and blamed others. Most of them remained silent but certain of those accused of faults endeavoured to defend themselves, and at these he bellowed a stream of filthy abuse culled from a dozen tongues.

  Apparently de Senlac was already well informed on the cases brought before him, as he dealt with all of them swiftly, only on two occasions troubling to consult with his lieutenants; and in several he gave his verdict in less than a minute. Within half an hour the bald man had come to the end of his list and Lucette took his place.

  She opened her part of the proceedings by describing how Pedro and Bloggs had conspired to make off with the Circe, and how she had tricked and murdered both in turn. It transpired that once Pedro, was out of the way she had been able to release the members of the prize-crew who had shown reluctance to join him, and later been arrested on suspicion; then with their aid won back some of their companions and some of the Circe's mutineers. She had undertaken to strangle Bloggs during the night, while the others either killed or overcame the men who they felt would remain loyal to Bloggs; and between them in the morning they had brought the ship safely into harbour.

  According to how one looked at it the story was either one of high loyalty, brilliant planning, courage and daring, or of the basest treachery, despicable cunning, villainy and murder; but, from the tremendous ovation Lucette received, there could be no doubt about the view that the Vicomte and his followers took of it.

  She then played the part of presenter, or accuser and witness, against her companions of the past few days. Those who had given her willing aid were suitably rewarded, those who had had to be won over were detailed for the gruelling work of careening, and four pirates of the prize-crew who had stood out against her till overcome were sentenced to slavery for life.

  Finally the Vicomte dealt with those prisoners originally taken from the Circe who had refused to join his following. The seamen, and young Tom, were condemned to slavery, the rest to death.

  Herault pere had already entered all the decisions in his ledger, and on de Senlac's rising from the table the crowd began to disperse. Neither Georgina nor her friends had been able to find Monsieur Pirouet in it; so, stepping forward, she enquired what had become of him.

  "In him, Madame la Comtesse," the Vicomte informed her, "I have to thank you for presenting me with a most admirable chef. He is at this moment cooking our dinner."

  "I am delighted to hear it," Georgina replied, and added quickly: "But why, then, do you throw away an equally excellent valet?

  "I fail to comprehend.."

  "Tom Jordan was my husband's valet. Although he is quite young, he is highly proficient in his work; yet you have condemned him to slavery in the cane fields."

  "I was not aware that he is a valuable servant; but in any case he is one of the recalcitrants who refused to accept me as his master."

  "'Send for him, I beg, and offer to take him into your service. He would, I think, feel quite differently about that to becoming a pirate."

  With a smile, de Senlac told Jean Herault to fetch Tom to him; then Georgina went on:

  "And Doctor Fergusson. During our voyage he proved himself to be both a surgeon and physician of considerable merit You have told us that you lose many of your men from wounds and sickness; so surely...’

  "Enough, Madame!" de Senlac cut short her plea harshly. "He is. of the very type most likely to attempt something against me; so better dead." Yet when Jean brought Tom to him he spoke kindly to the young man, and on Georgina's expressing her wish that the valet should enter his service Tom replied at once:

  "Since you advise it, m'lady, I'm agreeable to do so."

  At that moment one of the negro footmen announced dinner and the Vicomte offered her his arm. Her distress at the brutal sentences he had inflicted lightened a little by the thought that she had at least prevented one of them from being carried out, she took it and, followed by the others, they went into the house.

  The dining-room lay on the opposite side of the hall to the row of bedrooms, and on entering it Roger saw that the table had been laid with ten covers. A quick count of heads confirmed his impression that this was one short of their number, and it suddenly occurred to him that, although the Vicomte had said nothing of it, Jenny being a servant he would not expect her to dine with them. From a similar observation Jenny had reached the same conclusion, and, like the sensible girl she was, had backed away into the passage; but, not knowing where to go, now stood there looking decidedly embarrassed. Fortunately, Tom, having been left without orders, had followed them in and was standing just behind her; so Roger stepped over to them and said with a reassuring smile:

  "Go to the kitchens and find Monsieur Pirouet. He will give you as good a dinner as we get, and later find somewhere for Tom to sleep."

  As Roger turned away from the door he saw that de Senlac had just finished seating the party, and thought his arrangement of it seemed very peculiar. He had taken the top of the table and placed all four women in a row on his left, with the two Heraults and his two Lieutenants opposite to them. Roger was evidently expected to take the bottom of the table, between Philo and Lucette, as that was the only place remaining unoccupied. Quietly he slipped into it, and it was not long before he was able to guess the reason for this unusual placing of the ladies all together.

  If the Vicomte had separated them it would have appeared even more odd had he not placed one on either side of him; so he had evaded a deliberate rudeness to Amanda, who should have sat on his right, by seating the sexes on opposite sides of the table. That enabled him to have Jean Herault on his right; and, as the meal progressed, it became obvious that he had a special affection for the young sangmele..

  Being a man of the world Roger observed it only with calculated interest Ordinarily, his own instincts being entirely normal, it was only when unnatural relationships between others were particularly blatant that he even noticed them; but, when he
saw de Senlac passing the blond Jean titbits off his plate, he hid a smile of cynical satisfaction. It explained why the Vicomte had refrained from claiming a 'Captain's privilege' with Amanda, Georgina or Clarissa, and was a reasonable guarantee that while they remained on Tortuga he was unlikely to force unwelcome attentions upon them.

  For the prisoners it was the strangest dinner party they had ever attended, and at times seemed quite unreal. On the one hand the table appointments were elegant, the food excellent, the service of the negro footmen, under the supervision of a mulatto major-domo,everything that could be desired. In fact the setting could not have been more civilized and luxurious had they been in the house of a nobleman who owned great estates in one of the sugar islands. On the other the presence of Philo, Cyrano and Lucette was a constant reminder that they were sitting at table with men steeped in the blackest villainy and a woman who only that morning had strangled her lover.

  Yet the Vicomte seemed quite unconscious of this anomaly and now gave the impression that he would not willingly have harmed a rabbit. He was telling Georgina something of the history of that part of the world, and how the French had first secured a foothold there.

  Columbus, he said, had formed his first settlement in the great Carib island of Haiti, as Santo Domingo was then called. He had christened it Hispaniola, or Little Spain, and claimed for the Spanish crown all the islands in the Caribbean. But even after the Spaniards had subdued the fierce Caribs in Haiti they had not bothered to colonize its little neighbour, Tortuga. French outlaws and castaways had been the first to do so, and as in the island there were great herds of wild cattle and wild hogs, they had made a living by hunting them and selling the smoked meat to passing ships. It was from their daring handling of the wild bulls that they had got the name Buccaneers.

  After some years the Spaniards had sent an expedition to turn them out; so they had taken refuge in the uninhabited parts of Santo Domingo, where, as there were even greater herds, they had re­-established themselves in their occupation. Later, learning that the Spaniards had vacated Tortuga, some of the Buccaneers returned there. Again the Spaniards despatched troops to dislodge them, but by then the French had.greatly increased in numbers, and they proved the better men. Not only had they remained masters of Tortuga, but they wrested the most fertile third of Santo Domingo from their enemies.