The Dark Secret of Josephine rb-5

by Dennis Wheatley

  "You tell me, Sir, that 1 proved wrong in my prediction that the terrorists in Paris would continue to cut one another's throats, and that the survivors would preserve in their policies of greed, ruthless repression and determination to spread their nefarious doctrines by force of arms. I still find it hard to believe that they have acted other­wise. May I ask your grounds for believing that these leopards have changed their spots?"

  "They are numerous, and I think sound. During the months following Robespierre's fall many laws restricting the liberty of the subject were repealed, and the public journals were again given a substantial degree of freedom. Last November that hotbed of iniquity, the Jacobin Club, was closed. In December the seventy-three deputies whom the Terrorists had expelled from the Chamber were welcomed back to it, thus greatly strengthening the hands of the Moderates. In March then* return was followed by that of such of the Girondins as survived the Terror, either in prison or as hunted outlaws. This spring, too, the sons-culottes, furious at the turn things were taking, twice endeavoured to overthrow the Government, but on each occasion both the National Guard and regular troops sided with it; so these revolts were swiftly crushed. By summer a degree of religious toleration had been granted, and in almost every village the Mass was again being celebrated. Lastly, since June, the French journals have carried many reports of minor Terrorists being lynched by the people they once persecuted. Is that enough for you?"

  Roger smiled. "All of it is most excellent news; but I pray you tell me this. Do the names of Billand-Varennes, Collot d'Herbois, Fouché, Tallien, Fréron, David, Amer, Rewbell, Merlin of Douai, Bourdon of the Oise, Cambon and the Abbé Sieves, still appear as those of active deputies in the reports furnished you of proceedings in the Chamber; and does the real power still lie in the hands of the Committee of Public Safety?"

  "The first two you mention were among a group of Jacobins sen­tenced to transportation after the revolt last May; but, as far as my memory serves me, most of the others are still leading figures; and although the powers of the Committee have been much curtailed, it remains the executive body through which the nation is governed."

  "Then, Sir, I must confess that I am a man who 'convinced against his will is of the same opinion still'. Yet it seems that pressure of public opinion has forced these monsters to disguise their true feelings for the tune being; so advantage might be taken of that while it lasts. What is to prevent you from putting out peace feelers to them through diplomatic channels in some neutral country?"

  "Should we do so and they are met with a rebuff, we would have only encouraged our enemies by disclosing signs of weakness; and my agents in Paris inform me that there is little hope of such overtures being received favourably."

  "That, Sir, as you may recall, was my own opinion; but you maintain that during the past year matters have changed. It can hardly be doubted that after all the French people have suffered during the last six years they must crave beyond all things a cessation of strife. Indeed, it is computed that not less than a mMon of them have died in massacres, purges, revolts and the Vendeean wars; universal conscription has brought ruin to their industries and agriculture; they have lived on the verge of starvation since '93 and the war continues to put an appalling strain upon their man-power. Therefore, admitting your con­tention that since the fall of Robespierre sheer weight of public opinion has forced his successors to give the people a much greater degree of freedom, surely that same weight of opinion might result in compelling them to give favourable consideration to overtures for peace?"

  Mr. Pitt shook his head. "It is not as simple as that. Peace would inevitably lead to a further relaxation of the stranglehold that they still exercise on the nation. Such has been the change of sentiment in France recently that fresh elections would result in the return of a Chamber overwhelmingly in favour of the restoration of the Monarchy."

  "The. reaction of which you speak was sooner or later inevitable; but I am a little surprised to learn that you think such a volte-face already assured of the support of the masses."

  "I am certain of it. They have come to look back on the ancien regime as an era of peace and prosperity. Of course, they would not agree to the re-establishment of an aristocracy; but nine-tenths of them would favour a Limited Monarchy based on the Constitution granted by Louis XVI in '91. The Girondins, and other excluded deputies who have returned to the Convention, still exercise caution in their pronouncements, but I have reliable information that the majority of them are only waiting their chance to bring about a Restoration."

  "The old gang would never agree to that"

  "Exactly. And as long as the war continues they have a reasonable excuse for keeping the Rump Parliament that they still dominate, in being. With peace they would be forced to go to the country. They would lose their seats and a Restoration would follow. Near all of them voted for the late King's death; so, apart from all else, on the count of regicide they would be liable to lose their heads."

  "Then, as I have always maintained, there can be little hope of peace until the hard core of the old Convention is, in some way, deprived of its power."

  "That is the situation, but could it be done I believe our chances of bringing the conflict to an end are excellent."

  Roger remained thoughtful for a moment, then he said: "It seems then, what we need is another General Monk, who will turn his army about, march it on Paris, and declare for the King."

  A slow smile lit the Prime Minister's lined face. "I am glad to find, Mr. Brook, that your sojourn in the Indies has not deprived you of your resource. It makes me all the more happy to be able to tell you that we have already anticipated you in this admirable solution to our difficulties. We have bought General Pichegru."

  "The devil you have!"

  "Yes. I am given to understand that he is not only a fine soldier but a patriotic and honest man, who feels great distress at the sad state into which his country has fallen. As the reward for marching his army on Paris, he has been promised the baton of a Marshal of France, the Government of Alsace, a million francs in cash, an income of 200,000 louis, an hotel in Paris and the Chateau of Chambord."

  "Honest he may be!" Roger laughed. "But for a half of that I'd march an army to Cathay."

  Mr. Pitt waved the remark aside. "In an issue of such importance what matter the size of the reward—providing he does what is required of him? The trouble at the moment is that he makes no move to earn it."

  "He might do so, yet to actually secure all these fine things he would still have nought to rely on save the word of the Bourbon Princes. It may be that he hesitates to trust them."

  "That had not occurred to me, although it may in part explain why he is holding back. The reason, according to the agent handling these negotiations, is that he feels misgivings about the reception he will meet with when he reaches Paris. Apparently he is loath to set out on the venture until fully convinced that by overthrowing the present French government he will be carrying out the wishes of a majority of the French people."

  "His information on the state of things in France should be as good as your own. Are not the sort of things you have been telling me enough for him?"

  "One would have thought they should be. But, remember, until quite recently, he has been a staunch Republican. For such the 'will of the people' is no more than a catch phrase. I think what he really requires before committing himself is a definite assurance that a majority of the more moderate deputies, intellectuals and others out of the common rut, like himself, have also experienced a change of heart, and now favour a Restoration. In short, he will act only if we can provide him with reliable evidence that the type of people he respects will not regard him as a traitor."

  Roger's expression did not change by the flicker of an eyelid but as though a thick curtain had suddenly been reft aside he saw how the Prime Minister had ensnared him. With a skill which, now Roger realized it, he could not help but admire, Mr. Pitt had led the con­versation by gradual stages up to its present p
oint. He assumed, and probably rightly, that Roger was the only man in the world who could " get for him evidence that such men as Barras, Carnot and Dubois-Crancé were willing to commit themselves. To have asked Roger straight out to return to Paris would have been to risk a flat refusal. Instead his advice had been asked, with the foregone conclusion that he would advocate the only sensible course. Then he had been shown how the course he advocated could not be pursued unless certain undertakings were secured in order to set General Pichegru's mind at rest. Into his racing speculations there broke the quiet voice of the tall, grey-faced man on the opposite side of the little table.

  ‘ A penny for your thoughts, Mr. Brook?"

  "They were, Sir, that, unless I am much mistaken, you have played me a scurvy trick by presenting matters in such a way that I could be taken for a coward did I ignore their implication."

  "Nay; do not say that No man who knows you would ever impugn your courage. But in view of your attitude when last we met I felt justified in acquainting you very fully with the great issues at stake before once more asking you to undertake a mission to Paris."

  "Ah, there's the rub!" Roger made a grimace. "Were it to any other capital I would willingly accept your instructions. But these new developments in the political scene of Paris have made it no less dangerous for me. On the contrary, it is now probably even more so. Fourteen months ago I had already enough to dread from Fouché, knowing me to be English and your agent, and probably having had me listed for immediate arrest should I show my face there again. That risk I still run. Now, added to it, since many Royalists have been liberated from the prisons, I might at any time run into some gentleman who would recognize me as the Chevalier de Breuc, once honoured with the friendship of Queen Marie Antoinette; and, be­lieving that I had betrayed her cause, seek to bring about my ruin."

  Mr. Pitt nodded. "It may be true that during the past year conditions in Paris have not changed to your advantage. But you have changed. When you refused to serve me further you were sick in mind and body. Today I rejoice to find that this is no longer so. Surely, now that you are fully restored, you will not refuse my plea once more to encounter danger, when by doing so you may be able to render a great service to your country?"

  For a moment Roger did not reply, then he said: "I wonder whether what you ask is really necessary. It may not be. I mean, of course, for me to go to Paris. The kernel of this problem seems to be General Pichegru's attitude. Ought we not, as a first step, to obtain more definite information on the cause of his hesitation? Distrust of the Bourbon Princes may well be at the bottom of it. In any case, I feel we should get from him the exact conditions on which he is prepared to act, before proceeding further. To do otherwise would be to put the cart before the horse."

  "There is good sense in that. Will you then undertake a mission to the General's headquarters?"

  - As Roger nodded, the Prime Minister stretched out a long bony hand and patted him lightly on the knee. For such a shy and undemon­strative man it was a most unusual gesture. With a smile, he said:

  "I felt sure that I could count upon you, Mr. Brook; but I am none the less grateful." Then he went on in a brisker tone. "Now with regard to your journey. These secret negotiations with Pichegru have, of course, been handled through the Prince de Conde, who commands the emigre army on the Rhine. It would be best if you went to his headquarters first, in order to ascertain if there have been any further developments in the matter of which I have not yet heard. Have you still the Letter of Marque I gave you some years ago, stating that on the affairs of our country you speak in my name?"

  "Yes, Sir. It is safely locked away in the vaults of Hoare's Bank."

  "Then that will be sufficient introduction for you to His Highness. I will, however, give you another letter to a gentleman you will find at his headquarters, named the Comte de Montgalliard."

  Roger suddenly sat bolt upright "I pray you, Sir, do nothing of the land—at least if it is of the same man we are thinking, for I believe there are two brothers both of whom bear the title and the name."

  "This is Count Maurice. He is a man of medium height with jet-black eyebrows, an over-long chin and slightly hump-backed."

  "That is the rogue I have in mind. While I was involved with the Baron de Batz in an attempt to rescue Queen Marie Antoinette from prison, the Baron once pointed Montgalliard out to me. He bid me eware of him as the most plausible and unscrupulous villain unhung; then gave me chapter and verse for many of his treacheries."

  "What you say perturbs me greatly, Mr. Brook. He is certainly most plausible and possesses both brains and charm, but it is he who initiated this affair and, having acted as go-between for the Prince de Condé and myself, holds all the threads of it"

  "Then, Sir, you may be certain that he intends to betray you both, and General Pichegru into the bargain, for what he can get out of it. This makes it all the more imperative that negotiations with the General should be opened through a new channel. It is quite on the cards that Montgalliard has lied to him, and kept for himself any sum that he was supposed to have handed over as earnest money. In any case, I have always sought to minimize my own risk by working alone; so I would much prefer that my mission should not be disclosed to any Royalist agent."

  "In that no doubt, you are wise; and it seems now that Montgalliard would prove a special source of danger to you. To relieve you of it, I will give you a letter to him, asking him to come immediately to London for further consultation. Then when he arrives I will find some pretext for keeping him here."

  "For that I should be grateful, Sir. I take it you wish me to set out as soon as possible?"

  "Yes. I will have a word with my cousin Grenville. Be good enough to wait upon him tomorrow at the Foreign Office. He will provide you with ample funds and make such arrangements for your journey as you may think best."

  During a further half-hour Mr. Pitt gave Roger much useful in formation on the general situation, then Roger took his leave. As he came out from Number 10 a chill autumn wind was blowing gustily up Downing Street His blood having become thinned by the heat of the tropics, he shivered slightly.

  He was hoping that Montgalliard, for his own evil purposes, had lied about General Pichegru's attitude. If so, with the Count out of the way, a firm and frank understanding with the General might prove all that was necessary. If not Roger knew that he would then have no option but to proceed to Paris. Grimly he faced the fact that he was once more in the toils of a great conspiracy; and he wondered a little unhappily when, and if, he would ever see Martinique again.

  chapter XVIII

  ENTER ROBERT MacELFIC

  In Whitehall Roger picked up a sedan-chair and had himself carried to Amesbury House. The great mansion showed few signs of life: as, with the exception of Droopy Ned, the family was still in Wiltshire, and he had returned only the day before after his annual surfeit of mulberries. But the skeleton staff had been apprised by Dan of Roger's coming, and a footman in undress livery took him straight up to his friend's suite.

  Droopy, in his favourite morning deshabille of a turban and oriental robe, had only just risen. He welcomed Roger with delight, then laughed at the sight of his beard; on which Roger promptly declared his intention of having it off before the morning was out A table was wheeled in with Droopy's breakfast and as it was now getting on for ten o'clock, Roger felt quite ready for a second, more sub­stantial, meal; so the two old cronies sat down to a brown trout brought in ice from the Avon, a big venison pasty and a couple of bottles of claret

  Roger had no secrets from Droopy; so as soon as they were alone he described how Mr. Pitt had recalled him from Martinique and, that morning, inveigled him into a new mission. When he had given particulars of it Droopy nodded his bird-like head, and said:

  "Seeing that this may prove the key to the pacification of all Europe, you could not possibly have refused. I'll vow, too, that despite the long face you are pulling about it you are by no means altogether displeased to find yourself
back in your old harness. A nature such as yours could not remain content with the humdrum life of the Indies.*'

  r'Humdrum!" Roger laughed. "I have yet to tell you how near the women all came to being raped and myself murdered, first by pirates then by revolted negro slaves. Still, I’ll not deny there's something in what you say. I had been privy to half the intrigues in Europe for too long not to miss the spice that compensates for the danger of dabbling in them. In fact it the truth be told, most of my misgivings evaporated on the way here from Downing Street, and one-half of me is already agog to get to grips with this new problem."

  Droopy smiled. "I'd have wagered a monkey on that proving so. As to your harrowing experiences on the voyage out, I greatly look forward to hearing your account of them; although the beautiful Georgina gave me the main particulars soon after she got back here late in March."

  "Of course! How fares she now? Poor Charles's death was a sad blow to her."

  "Aye, she took it mighty hard; and on her arrival went direct into retirement. She bade me to Stillwaters for a night, but only to give me news of you. Dowered with such vitality as she is, I'd not nave thought her capable of grieving so long for any man; except perhaps yourself. In the circumstances it was a great blessing that she had the carrying of her child to occupy her mind."

  "Child!" exclaimed Roger.

  "Yes. Did you not know? She told me she had written you that she was expecting one. You should have had her letter sometime in May."

  Roger shook his head. "It never reached me; so I suppose the ship carrying it must have been lost or taken by a privateer. As Georgina was ever an erratic correspondent I did not wonder greatly at not hearing from her; though I wrote to her myself three times from Martinique."

  "Then it will also be news to you that you are now a godfather. But that, of course, you could not know; as her son was not born until the 17th of August I acted as proxy for you at the christening; so can vouch for it that the little Earl is a right lusty fellow, and Georgina herself looking even more lovely now that she has become a mother."