The Rape of Venice

by Dennis Wheatley

  ‘I am your most distressed, humble, obedient ...’

  Breaking off, Georgina gave a little gasp of dismay, and looked in consternation round the table.

  7

  Alarms and Excursions

  For a moment there was a grim silence, then Roger turned to Clarissa, who was seated beside him, and said: ‘For reasons you will appreciate, I have so far refrained from opening this matter to you; but all of us have been dreading the possibility of such an outcome to it. Now, it would be futile to pretend that, should you remain here, you will not be exposed to grave danger. There will shortly be a warrant out for your arrest, and if we allow it to be executed I greatly doubt whether we could save you from being sent to prison.’

  As Clarissa paled, he gave her a smile and went on, ‘But be of good heart. Within a month or two, Malderini will have left the country, and you may be sure that the Sheriff of Guildford will not pursue the affair with vindictiveness. You have only to disappear for a while and Georgina will see to it that he conveniently forgets that the warrant was ever issued. But leave here you must and, first thing tomorrow, I propose to escort you down to my old home at Lymington. You have kinsfolk of your own across the river at Walhampton; so you should be able to spend the rest of the summer very pleasantly there while everyone outside south Hampshire, except ourselves, will remain in ignorance of your whereabouts.’

  ‘I thank you, Roger, for your thought for me,’ she said, a little breathlessly. But Colonel Thursby commented uneasily:

  ‘When we first discussed it, I thought that plan a good one, but now I am far from certain that it is. In seeking you the Sheriff’s men are hardly likely to neglect a visit to your father’s house. Gossip, in so small a town as Lymington, might easily inform them that Clarissa was living there. If so they’d nab her.’

  ‘I agree that would be a risk, Sir, were they seeking me. But I count negligible the odds against their doing so.’

  ‘Surely you heard Georgina read out Dick Sheridan’s warning, that Malderini intends to invoke the anti-duelling laws against you?’

  Roger shrugged. They are rarely applied in practice, except when a death has occurred as a result of a meeting, and it has not done so in this case.’

  ‘True, but they are the law; so when this accursed Venetian applies for a warrant for your arrest, no bench of magistrates, however great their reluctance, could possibly refuse to issue one.’

  ‘Moreover,’ Droopy added, ‘the law has its minimum penalty for every infringement of it. That you would be found guilty is self-evident, and even a sympathetic judge would have to inflict on you a prison sentence.’

  ‘You paint a gloomy picture, Ned, but I’m not scared by it,’ Roger smiled. ‘No man can drag his opponent to a meeting and force him to fight against his will; so Malderini is as guilty as myself. You seem to have forgotten that should he set the law in motion he too will have to answer to it. When he realises that he’ll be anxious enough to let sleeping dogs lie.’

  The Colonel shook his head. ‘It is you, Roger, who have forgotten a salient feature of the affair. Malderini is a Plenipotentiary Extraordinary, accredited to the Court of St. James by the Serene Republic, and so immune from prosecution by diplomatic privilege.’

  At that Roger frowned; and, after a few seconds, he said: ‘You are right, Sir, and have caught me out. I agree now that there would be a risk in Clarissa’s going to Lymington; so we must think of some other refuge for her.’

  ‘If Miss Marsham would do me the honour,’ Droopy bowed, ‘I would willingly become responsible for her. One of my aunts, and her two girls, who are much of Miss Marsham’s age, have been installed for some time at Normanrood. She would, I think, find them pleasant company, and our Wiltshire air hard to beat in the summer months.’

  Clarissa returned his bow. ‘Indeed, Lord Edward, I gladly accept your offer. It is most handsome of you to take pity on a hunted criminal, as it now seems I am.’

  Their laughter lightened the atmosphere for a moment, but Georgina asked quickly, ‘What of yourself, Roger? This news of Dick Sheridan’s now makes it imperative that you, too, should go into hiding until Malderini has left the country. Where will you go?’

  ‘Why not accompany Miss Marsham to Normanrood?’ suggested Droopy.

  Roger shook his head. ‘I thank you, Ned, but I am greatly averse to being driven into hiding by this rogue. I’ve much of a mind to remain here and accept the summons.’

  ‘I’ll not allow you to!’ cried Georgina. ‘Such wanton folly could have but one end. You would find yourself shackled to a ball and chain in Guildford Prison.’

  ‘Not necessarily m’dear. Did I fight the issue in the courts, I’d have everyone’s sympathy and ...’

  ‘You have no means of proving that he hypnotised you,’ the Colonel cut in.

  ‘And I’d not attempt to, Sir. But all of you, and Sheridan and Beckford, too, could bear witness to the events that led up to the duel—I mean the demonstration in the afternoon, by which he lured his fellow guests here into wagering two thousand guineas that he could not levitate his wife, and then his complete exposure as a fraud. We would brand him publicly for the swindler and charlatan he is, and so ensure that he would never again be received into decent society in this country.’

  ‘Since he refused to pay up, I have already circulated the leading London Clubs to that effect; and though you might derive much satisfaction in giving far wider publicity to his villainy, that would not save you from being guilty of the charge, and receiving a sentence.’

  ‘Of that I am aware. But it does not follow that I would have to serve it. Any sentence can be quashed by the King’s pardon, and I hardly think that Mr. Pitt would hesitate to obtain one for me.’

  ‘Ah, that’s another matter!’ said the Colonel more cheerfully. ‘And I agree. After your many services to him he could not stand by and see you sent to prison for conduct which, law or no law, all persons of quality would account him justified in obtaining a pardon for you.’

  Droopy Ned still looked somewhat dubious, as he remarked: ‘Seeing that Mr. Pitt hopes to do business with the Venetian, I fear he will be far from pleased when he learns what has taken place here.’

  ‘It is a private quarrel; so I see no reason why it should prejudice his negotiations. In fact, it may even be of some value in revealing to him that the Senate of the Serene Republic has, no doubt unwittingly, picked a knave to represent them. In any case, I count the Venetians a decadent worthless lot with whom he would do better to have no dealings.’

  ‘Roger,’ Georgina’s voice was low and urgent. ‘On one thing I insist. You must see Mr. Pitt before you embark on this dangerous course and get his assurance that he will secure you a free pardon.’

  ‘Certainly, m’dear,’ he smiled at her. ‘I’m not quite such a fool as to neglect so elementary a precaution. I will accompany Droopy and Clarissa to London tomorrow morning.’

  Now satisfied that he would not run his head into a noose, out of casual bravado, she tinkled the little glass bell that stood on the table before her. The servants returned, bringing in the ‘remove’, and the dinner proceeded without further reference to the matter that still occupied their minds.

  Later that evening, as Clarissa had so much packing to do, she asked if it would be possible to postpone her departure till the following afternoon. It being considered unlikely that Malderini would be sufficient recovered for some days actually to apply to the bench for a warrant for her arrest, the postponement was agreed to. In consequence, it was not until three o’clock on the Thursday that, accompanied by Roger and Droopy, she set out for London.

  They arrived at Amesbury House, the family mansion in Arlington Street of Droopy’s father, in time for a late dinner. Roger was well known to all his inmates, as he always stayed there when in London, and Clarissa was given a warm welcome. Droopy’s invitation to her to stay at Normanrood for an indefinite period was at once endorsed by his father, the Marquess; and as, having been remove
d from Stillwaters, she was no longer in any immediate danger, it was decided that Monday would be time enough for Droopy to escort her down to Wiltshire.

  Next morning, Roger strolled along to Downing Street, and enquired for his master. He was informed that the Prime Minister was at his country home, Holwood House, near Bromley. It would have been easy for Roger to secure a mount from the Amesbury House stables and ride down there, but on learning that Mr. Pitt had business that would bring him to London on Saturday morning, he decided to save himself the journey and call again next day.

  Twenty-four hours later he again waited on the Prime Minister. For over an hour he was kept kicking his heels in the downstairs lobby, then a footman took him up to Mr. Pitt’s sanctum on the first floor. As he entered it he felt instinctively that the atmosphere was loaded with trouble but, until the storm burst, he had no premonition that it would be upon himself.

  For a few minutes Mr. Pitt continued writing without looking up from his big table desk. Suddenly throwing down his quill, he lifted his glance, gave Roger a cold stare, and exclaimed:

  ‘Mr. Brook, I am near speechless from amazement that you should have the effrontery to present yourself before me.’

  Only the iron nerve that had more than once enabled Roger to keep his head attached to his shoulders enabled him to reply with a calm lift of the eyebrows, ‘And I, Sir, am even more amazed at your reception of me. Pray inform me what I have done to merit your displeasure?’

  ‘Done!’ repeated the Prime Minister, coming slowly to his feet. ‘Did I not charge you to exercise your charm upon the Venetian envoy. And how have you observed my wish? First you inveigle him into wagering two thousand guineas, then with the help of your unscrupulous friends at Stillwaters deprive him of a fair chance to win his bet. When he protests you and your cronies fall upon him. On his striking out in selfdefence you taunt him until he reluctantly agrees to give you satisfaction by meeting you in a duel. Finally, you concert a despicable plot, as a result of which he is shot by an arrow in the back and is thus made easier for you to half butcher without risk to yourself.’

  Roger’s blue eyes had gone as hard as ice and his voice was equally cold as he refuted the charge. ‘Knowing me as you do, Sir, I marvel that you could for one instant believe such lies.’

  ‘Know you!’ came the irate rejoinder. ‘Having employed you for so long how can I fail to do so? Your intelligence, your gift for languages, your ready wit, unscrupulousness and easy charm make you the best secret agent of your generation. But you are self-willed, and lecherous and, at the least provocation, will whip out the sword you have trained yourself to use with such dexterity. There have been previous occasions when a woman’s smile has caused you to forget all else. And I gather there is one involved in this. I have no doubt but that it was due to your pursuit of her that you threw my interests to the winds.’

  ‘Damme, Sir! You go too far. All men are not so sluggish blooded as yourself, and ...’

  ‘How dare you stand there and indulge in such personalities!’

  With a stiff little bow, Roger rapped back, ‘I withdraw that, and will admit that of all the joys of this world I have found none to compare with a woman one loves beside one in a bed. Yet in the final outcome, of no mission you have charged me with have I allowed my love for one of the sex to interfere. In the present instance, no such predilection plays any part at all. As a matter of simple justice I must ask from what source this tissue of lies was poured into your ears?’

  ‘My cousin Grenville passed the night at Holwood with me, and he was full of it. Before he left London the Ambassador of the Serene Republic had requested an urgent audience of him. The Venetian brought with him a letter from his colleague, Signor Malderini, containing this account of your scandalous treatment of him. Bearing in mind the mission with which I had charged you, I could hardly credit your behaviour; yet chapter and verse was given for it.’

  ‘Be good enough to remember, Sir, that on Saturday morning last you relieved me of my mission. The events to which Malderini’s letter refer occurred subsequently to that, and ...’

  ‘No matter. You knew my mind, and the importance I attached to winning the good-will of the envoy of this powerful State.’

  ‘Should you succeed ’twill do you no more good than securing that of the rottenest Borough in England,’ Roger replied tartly.

  ‘How dare you! I am convinced that the Serene Republic could prove a most powerful ally; and it is not for you to question my assessments or decisions.’

  ‘Believe it if you like; but time will prove you wrong. That, though, is beside the point. Such action as I took against the Venetian was fully justified. He is a rogue, a liar and a swindler. He is a faker of occult phenomena and ...’

  ‘How can you expect me to believe such charges when he has been selected by his Senate to represent them?’

  ‘That he is rich, powerful, cunning and ambitious would be enough to account for that. I can prove to you that his unscrupulous greed is at the bottom of this whole business and I have come here for the especial purpose of requesting your protection from him.’

  ‘My protection?’

  ‘Yes. I have been warned that Malderini intends to invoke the anti-duelling laws against me.’

  ‘You should need no telling that once the law is set in motion, even a Prime Minister cannot interfere with its course.’

  ‘Nay; but a prisoner having been convicted, there is naught to prevent His Majesty granting him a free pardon.’

  ‘I fail to grasp what you would be at?’

  ‘’Tis this. Continue to disbelieve me, if you choose. But no judge and jury will reject the evidence of such reputable persons as Colonel Thursby, Lord Edward Fitz-Deverel, Mr. William Beckford—aye, and even Sheridan, for he’s too decent a man to perjure himself. I wish to stand my trial and show up this blackguard.’

  Mr. Pitt sat down again. For a moment he was silent, then he said:

  ‘Your willingness to do so shows that I have been over-hasty in my judgment. For that you must blame previous occasions on which you have temporarily neglected my interests to pursue your love affairs; and you cannot deny that a young woman is involved in this.’

  ‘True, but not in the way you think. May I take it now, Sir, that I can count on your protection? It goes without saying that I’ll be found guilty and, eager as I am to expose this villain, imprisonment for myself is too high a price to pay.’

  ‘So you wish to go into Court with the King’s Pardon as good as in your pocket?’

  ‘Exactly, Sir. And to you there is not the least possibility of His Majesty refusing it.’

  ‘That I admit and, were this a private matter, I would obtain one for you; but it is not.’ The Prime Minster shook his head. ‘It has become an Affair of State. The Ambassador of a friendly power has asked that justice should be done upon you. By now, I imagine a warrant for your arrest has been issued. Should the Bow Street Runners catch you, your trial and condemnation must follow. How, after you have been found guilty, can I possibly take steps to prevent your punishment? To do so would be to inflict a deliberate insult on the Venetians, and at the very time I am most eager to draw them into an alliance.’

  Roger’s face expressed his consternation. ‘But, Sir,’ he burst out, ‘consider the alternatives. To escape prison I must go into hiding, or take refuge abroad.’

  ‘I appreciate that; but you are used to travelling, and in a few months this affair will have blown over.’

  ‘Perhaps! But in all but having broken a law which it is common practice to ignore, I am innocent. And I resent being driven from my country.’

  Mr. Pitt spread out his slim hands. ‘I fear there is no help for it. The best I can do is to ensure you a clear start. I will give instructions that on some technicality the execution of the warrant should be suspended for a week. Meanwhile I will speak to my cousin Grenville and see if he can suggest some suitable employment for you while you are in exile.’

  Roger, as
was usual on such occasions, had been standing in front of the Prime Minister’s desk, with his hat beneath his arm. Cramming it violently upon his head, he cried:

  ‘You may save your breath, Sir! If into exile I must go, it will not be in your service.’ Then he strode out of the room.

  He had arranged to meet Droopy Ned at White’s, to which they both belonged, and tell him there over a pint of sack the result of his interview with Mr. Pitt; so, still seething with rage, he walked across the Park and up St. James’s Street.

  Droopy was already in the Club and listened sympathetically while Roger poured out his disgust at his master’s having sacrificed him rather than give offence to the Venetians. When he had done, Droopy said:

  ‘I hesitated to say so the other night, but I had a feeling then that Mr. Pitt would put his interest with them before yours. What will you do? My invitation to lie low at Normanrood is naturally still open.’

  ‘Thanks Ned, but no.’ Roger shook his head. Tor one thing, the constant presence of Clarissa might prove too great a temptation to me. I’ve no wish to marry again, and I’d be ashamed of myself did I make her my mistress. For another, I have never been a great lover of country pursuits and after a week, with no company but woman, I’d be prodigious bored. I see nothing for it but to go abroad.’

  ‘At least Mr. Pitt is giving you seven days in which to make your arrangements; and that is something. To what country will you go?’

  ‘Heaven knows! If I return to Paris I’ll get myself involved in political affairs, and I’ve no mind to start tightrope-walking again as yet. I could go to my little château near St. Raphael in the South of France. I bought it early this year so that I might tell Barras and his cronies that I’d been sojourning there for my health as cover for returning in secret to England whenever I wished; but I’d be even more lonely there than I would confined to the estate at Normanrood. I’d like to go to Italy or the Rhineland again, but the war, with its hordes of soldiery marching and counter-marching, must keep both those countries in a constant turmoil. It seems that I must go further afield.’