The Shadow of Tyburn Tree

by Dennis Wheatley

  ‘If we are called upon to face hardship together no worse equipped than we are at present, we shall have little cause to grumble,’ he smiled. ‘However did you manage to arrange for us to journey into exile in such comfort?’

  Glancing up at him in surprise, she replied. ‘Wherever we were bound we could hardly travel with less than two coaches; and were you in truth taking me to honeymoon on your Tula estate the arrangements would not have differed. ’Twould have been all of eight hundred versts, and in Russia towns having inns of good enough standard to accommodate persons of quality are often several days’ journey apart; so even in the depths of winter one must be prepared to take most of one’s meals on the roadside.’

  ‘Even so, seeing that, like myself, you were confined to the Peterhof until your going to church this morning, I marvel at your having succeeded in smoothing the first stage of our rough path so altogether admirably.’

  ‘ ’Twas quite simple,’ she confessed. ‘In order to conform to the Empress’s orders, I told my grandfather yesterday that you were averse to abiding for even a night in Petersburg, and I asked him to provide travelling coaches for us this morning. Then I sent my maid in with orders to pack such things as I might require for several months’ absence and to make all other arrangements.’

  ‘Did you not tell even your grandfather that we had been ordered into exile?’

  ‘Nay, I dared not. Had I done so he would have gone to the Empress and made a scene, which would have achieved nothing except to mar our prospects of an early reprieve. Clearly it is her wish that no one should learn of our disgrace until sufficient time has elapsed for it to be no longer connected with your brief stay at the Peterhof. When we have been at our destination long enough for my friends to expect to have news of me I intend to write to them, saying that the Empress, banished us in a fit of temper brought about by an indiscretion of yours. I’ll say that you were rash enough to demand that on marrying you, I should cease my attendance on her, and she retorted that since you were so greedy for my company you should take me to a place where you would have no other. She will, I am sure, appreciate the cleverness of such an explanation, and when my relatives then urge that you erred only through lack of knowledge of her Court she will pardon and recall us.’

  ‘All that you say seems to me the essence of wisdom,’ Roger agreed. ‘But in the meantime, whither are we bound?’

  ‘Our first stage is to Tosno, a township some forty versts from Petersburg upon the Moscow road, which we should take were we going to Tula. But from Tosno we shall turn east, and by way of Vologda, Viatka and Perm, come to Ekaterinburg; the new city which has been founded by the orders of the Empress in the gap through Ural mountains. It is the gateway to Asiatic Russia, the residence there is accepted as exile in Siberia. Few people of our station go further east unless definitely ordered to do so, and the offspring of a considerable number of the nobility who settled there on being banished by the Empress Elizabeth now form a by no means uncultured society.’

  Roger gave her a gentle squeeze. ‘You have planned well, sweetheart; but I think I can offer you a bright future. That is, if you are prepared to leave Russia?’

  ‘Leave Russia!’ she exclaimed. ‘But in our present situation that is impossible.’

  ‘On the contrary, my love, I have already arranged passages in a ship that is sailing from Petersburg in a few days’ time. We have but to return there and go aboard in secret tonight’

  She considered that for a moment, then she said: ‘I would not be averse to leaving Russia for a year or two; but I am greatly attached to my country and ’twould break my heart were I never to see it again. To do as you suggest would be such flagrant disobedience of the Empress’s orders she might decree that I was never to return.’

  ‘Since she loves Russia so dearly herself I cannot think that she would be so harsh as to place a permanent ban on one of her subjects returning to the country of their birth. Particularly as you would be able to urge your marriage vows as your excuse for leaving without her consent. ’Tis a wife’s duty to obey her husband and go with him wherever he chooses to take her.’

  ‘True, and Katinka is not by nature given to bearing malice for long. So be it then; we will return to Petersburg after dark. I have heard so much of the Court of Versailles and the fair land of France, that ’twill pleasure me greatly to see it all with you as my cicerone.’

  Her words gave Roger a nasty jolt. He had forgotten for the moment that in spite of the ceremony in the English church she still believed him to be a Frenchman. His mind had been so occupied with more urgent matters that he had entirely overlooked this complication, and he wondered anxiously what he had better do about it.

  His first impulse was to tell her the truth, but on second thoughts he saw that to do so would be to invite a score of awkward questions. Knowing her passionate love for Russia he dared not admit that he had come there as a spy. She would realise at once that he had used her as his catspaw and the result would be disastrous. Worse, she might guess the unpalatable truth, that he had never really loved her, but became her lover only in order to ferret out Russia’s secrets. Her love for her country might then prove stronger than her passion for himself and feeling herself utterly humiliated and outraged, the violence of her anger might even lead her to denounce him.

  Swiftly he decided that he must leave that skeleton in its cupboard at least until he had her out of Russia, so he said: ‘ ’Twill be the greatest joy to show you Paris and Versailles; but this is a British ship, so first we go to England. I also know that country well and have many friends there. London is near as gay as Paris and I’ll be as proud as a peacock to show you off in its most fashionable salons.’

  They were now on the outskirts of St. Petersburg and as the coach rumbled on into the country he told her about life in the western capitals, and thoroughly enjoyed answering all her eager, excited questions.

  At four o’clock they halted by the wayside and the servants cooked a meal for them. Then, while they ate it, Roger raised several points that had been troubling him considerably.

  ‘Our ship,’ he said, ‘may not sail for two or three days. We shall remain concealed on board, of course; but what of your two servants and the coachmen? Can you rely on their discretion? What, too, of the coaches? Their premature return to your grandfather’s stable is certain to arouse comment; moreover, if the progress of our journey is not reported by the police in the towns through which we are expected to pass, a hue-and-cry may start, and that might lead to a search for us in all the ships in port.’

  ‘The servants will say only what I tell them,’ she replied at once. ‘They are my serfs and brought up to die rather than disobey me. But the matter of the coaches presents a most tricky problem.’

  He smiled. ‘If you can trust your people, I think I have a way to prevent the suspicions of the police being aroused. After the coaches have taken us to the port we will send them off again to Ekaterinburg. Whenever they halt near a village or town the maid and valet can make purchases of poultry, eggs, fruit and so on, just as they would if we were still with them; but you must instruct them to say that what they buy is for us, and to keep the blinds of this coach down whenever it is driven through a street. The police, who seem to miss little in this country, will then believe us to be pursuing our journey as intended and duly report our progress.’

  ‘What a clever husband I have,’ she laughed. Then, when they had finished their meal she called the servants round her, gave them their orders, and made each of them kiss her ikon in token of obedience.

  As soon as dusk had fallen the coaches were turned about and set out on their three-hour drive back to St. Petersburg. On reaching the outskirts of the city they took a circuitous route to avoid all the main streets, and soon after ten o’clock reached the timber-wharf without incident.

  The White Rose out of Hull was lying there with only a mast-light burning. While the servants began to unload the baggage under Natalia’s supervision Roge
r went aboard and introduced himself to Captain Tommy Bell. The Captain proved to be a jolly, red-faced, downright little Yorkshireman. He damned the Russians for a set of ‘scurvy cheating knaves,’ called Roger ‘lad’ and told him to bring aboard ‘the Missis.’

  Within an hour they were installed with all their belongings in a clean roomy cabin under the poop, and for the next three days they did not leave it. On Wednesday, the 12th of September, the White Rose set sail for England, and Captain Bell took them down to a cubby hole normally used for confining drunken or mutinous seamen, where they remained hidden while the ship was cleared by the Customs off Cronstadt. By mid-day the formalities were completed, sail was set again, and they were able to come up on deck as the ship headed for the open waters of the Gulf.

  It transpired that Tommy Bell had a great fund of racy stories, and as soon as he found that Natalia was not easily shocked he kept his passengers in fits of laughter at every meal, their gaiety being added to by her attempts to imitate his Yorkshire dialect.

  They had left St. Petersburg with the chill of autumn already upon it, the first snow being expected in a few weeks, but the weather remained good and became somewhat warmer as the ship steadily ploughed her way south. She called at Reval, Libau and Dantzig, then on the morning of Wednesday, the 19th, dropped her anchor in the roads of Copenhagen.

  Although Roger’s honeymoon had been thrust upon him, he had to admit to himself that he had thoroughly enjoyed it. Captain’ Bell’s unfailing good humour and Natalia’s own happiness had both contributed to making things easy for him, and not a single incident had occurred to arouse the sadistic viciousness that he so hated in her.

  But now he had to give his thoughts again to his own work. Had he been free to do so he would have gone straight from St. Petersburg to Stockholm in order to acquaint King Gustavus with the Danish plan of campaign. As it was he considered that he had been lucky in losing so comparatively little time; since, although he had overshot the mark by being carried so far south as the Danish capital, he felt sure that Mr. Hugh Elliot would find swift means to send a despatch to Stockholm. He must therefore see the British Minister as quickly as possible, and once this duty had been performed, he would be able to return with a clear conscience in the White Rose to England.

  On learning that the ship was to lie for two nights off Copenhagen, he decided that it would be worth while to take Natalia ashore and put up at the Silver Hart, as it would both make a pleasant break in the voyage for her and enable them to enjoy themselves in the city more easily.

  By two in the afternoon a hackney coach deposited them with their baggage at the inn. As soon as their things had been carried up to a room, he asked her if she would mind unpacking while he went out for an hour or so, as he wished to change some money and also to call on Baron le Houze, the French Minister, who was an old acquaintance of his.

  She agreed without demur; so he ran downstairs, picked the carriage with the most promising-looking horse from a line of vehicles awaiting hire outside, and told its coachman to drive at top speed out to Christiansholm.

  On arriving at Mr. Elliot’s house, he learned, to his relief, that the Minister was at home and would see him at once. After greeting Roger as an old friend, Hugh Elliot asked him to sit down and tell him how he had enjoyed his trip to Russia.

  Roger laughed. ‘Strap me, Sir! But I am monstrous lucky to have got back here alive. To be brief, I penetrated the Russian lines with news of import for King Gustavus, narrowly escaped being tried for murder, had to poison myself to avoid becoming the lover of the Empress, got married to Count Andrew Razumofsky’s daughter, and was exiled to Siberia. I trust within the next two days to find an opportunity of entertaining you with a full account of these trifles; but at the moment I must beg leave to return as swiftly as possible to my inn. No doubt you are already aware that the Danes intend to attack Sweden. The purpose of this flying visit is to give you the essence of the Danish campaign, so that you may transmit it with all speed to Stockholm. Instead of advancing direct on the Swedish capital, as one would naturally expect them to do, they intend to overrun the south and capture Gothenborg.’

  ‘Good God, man!’ Hugh Elliot exclaimed, springing to his feet. ‘Are you sure of this?’

  ‘Indeed I am. I had it from the Czarina Catherine’s own lips.’

  ‘Then we are undone!’ The Minister’s face showed acute alarm, as he hurried on. ‘Prince Charles of Hesse-Cassel and the young Crown Prince of Denmark have been in Norway for weeks past raising an army there. They are said to have mustered twenty thousand men, and are expected to march against Stockholm any day now. But if they march south Gothenborg will fall to them without a blow, and with it will founder all hope of Sweden proving the buckler of the Triple Alliance in the north.’

  ‘Why so, Sir?’ asked Roger, utterly astounded.

  ‘Because Gothenborg is Sweden’s greatest commercial city. Its loss will deprive Gustavus of more than half his supplies of war-like stores, and his credit will be ruined. Seeing his cause so utterly lost his discontented nobles will then declare openly against him and force him from the throne. His overthrow would so strengthen Russia, Austria, France and Spain that the security of every other country in Europe would be menaced.’

  Hugh Elliot paused for a second, then added with swift decision. ‘This Danish plan will render the King’s position desperate, but speedy news of it may yet enable him to save him self. ’Tis imperative that you should leave instantly to carry a warning to Stockholm.’

  20

  For the Honour of England

  ‘Hold fast, Sir!’ Roger exclaimed. ‘I’d gladly oblige you, but to journey into Sweden at a moment’s notice is more than I can undertake.’

  ‘Why so?’ Elliot shot at him. ‘Despite your extraordinary experiences in Russia you have survived them looking monstrous fit. What is there to prevent you setting out immediately I have made the necessary arrangements?’

  ‘The fact that I brought my wife out of Russia with me. She is awaiting my return at the Silver Hart; but we lie there for two nights only, then rejoin the ship that is carrying us to England.’

  ‘Then you must tell her that duty detains you here, and that you will follow her as soon as you are able.’

  ‘Nay, Sir. That is impossible. How can I send her, a Russian, who as yet can only speak a few words of English, alone to a strange land where she knows no one?’

  ‘Then let her remain in Copenhagen. I will see to it that she is well cared for; you should be back here within a week.’

  Roger shook his head. ‘To require that I should desert her after being married less than a fortnight is asking too much. Besides, she knows nothing of my work. In fact I have not even broken it to her yet that I am an Englishman. How could I possibly explain my leaving her so suddenly?’

  ‘That is deuced awkward,’ muttered the Minister. ‘But we will think of a way to get over it. I can only repeat that I consider it imperative that you should carry this warning to Stockholm with the least possible delay.’

  ‘Why myself and not another?’

  ‘Because you alone can vouch for the truth of the news you bring, and convince Gustavus of his peril.’

  ‘I’d do it readily, Sir, but for the appalling complications arising from my marriage. My wife has as great a love for her country as we have for ours. Think of the state to which she would be reduced were I to confess that, having wooed and married her under the guise of a Frenchman, I am English, and all this time have been secretly a servant of the British crown.’

  Elliot shrugged his narrow shoulders. ‘I sympathise with your predicament, Mr. Brook; but, in any event, you will be compelled to reveal your nationality to her when you get her to England. And, since you have mentioned your love for your country, I must appeal to you on that.’

  He paused then went on very earnestly. ‘It is but fair that I should reveal to you the true state of affairs; and I vow it has near turned my hair grey with worry during recent weeks
. Since your departure from Copenhagen the Government at home have at last seen the sense in my reiterated arguments, that the only way to prevent her Czarina Catherine from turning the Baltic into a Russian lake is for Britain to give active support to Gustavus in his war against her. This being agreed by the Cabinet, they have, through me, secretly promised him this help in the form of a Fleet to be sent to his assistance. That was months ago; yet, owing to dissensions in our parliament, and Mr. Fox’s opposition, nothing has been done. I have had to sit here, watching the situation of the Swedes go from bad to worse, turning a deaf ear to their appeals and unable to lift a finger to aid them. If King Gustavus is finally overcome and compelled to abdicate, not only will our plan for maintaining Sweden as the outpost of the Triple Alliance in the north be brought to nought but it will leave an indelible stain on British honour. Gustavus is a man of great resolution and resource. Even at this eleventh-hour, if warned in time, he may devise a means of cheating his enemies. But you and I alone have the combined authority and knowledge to place new weapons in his hands. Now, Mr. Brook! Will you, or will you not, accompany me to Sweden?’

  ‘Accompany you, Sir!’ Roger repeated in surprise. ‘ ’Tis the first that you have said of going thence yourself.’

  The tall Scotsman smiled at him. ‘I took the resolution only in these last few moments. But desperate situations require desperate remedies. Although I am accredited to the court of Denmark, I am also charged with a watching brief over British interests at the court of Sweden as long as the post there remains unoccupied. We are far from London and despite my appeals no guidance has been forthcoming from my Lord Carmarthen. The step I contemplate may mean the premature ending of my career, but since our Government hesitates to fulfil its obligations, ‘tis all the more fitting that their representative should stand beside the King of Sweden in his hour of trial. If they repudiate me afterwards at least I’ll have the satisfaction of having saved my own honour.’