Evil in a Mask rb-9

by Dennis Wheatley

  No scruples about failing to serve Alexander troubled him. His code had always been 'all's fair in love and war', and he had considered himself fully justified in misleading the Czar in order to obtain his freedom.

  On the morning of his fourth day at Finckenstein, he was walking along a corridor when he suddenly saw the Emperor approaching.

  Napoleon's face lit up, and he exclaimed, 'Ah! mon brave Breuc! I feared you dead. When they told me you had fallen prisoner to these devilish Russians and could be exchanged, I was truly delighted. And at this juncture you are more than welcome here. The Turks and the Persians have both sent missions to me. This has led to my conceiving a plan by which I can stab that young fool Alexander in the back. So I am sending General Gardane on a mission, first to the Great Turk, then to the Shah. It will consist of a number of officers. But I need one personally attached to me, who will privately keep me informed how well or ill the mission is progressing.'

  Suddenly, Napoleon lifted a hand, seized the lobe of Roger's left ear and tweaked it. 'You, Breuc, with your know­ledge of the East, are the very man for this. Procure for yourself everything you may require, at my expense, and be prepared to set off for Constantinople.'

  The Greatest Statesman of his Age

  Roger made a grimace of pain, for the way in which Napo­leon tweaked people's ears, although always a gesture of ap­probation, was far from gentle.

  At the same moment he took in the disastrous effect that this idea of the Emperor's could have on his own plans. No carefree, lazy days in the sunshine of the Riviera; no bathing in the warm sea from a sandy beach; no pleasant expeditions into Nice and St. Tropez, where he might make the acquaint­ance of some charming lady who would become his mistress and add rapture to his days and nights. Instead, an intermin­able journey over bad roads, staying overnight at pestiferous inns, down through the semi-barbarous Balkans to countries in which all desirable women were kept under guard in harems, and the food would probably prove disgusting. Some­how or other, he must dissuade the Emperor from sending him on this mission, which threatened to ruin the daydreams with which he had been entertaining himself for the past few weeks.

  As soon as he had recovered, he said, 'Sire, I have been extraordinarily lucky in that, with the chest trouble by which you know I am afflicted, I escaped pneumonia and death while a prisoner of the Russians; but I suffered severely at their hands, as you can see from my gaunt appearance. I was about to ask you for two months' leave, so that I might re­cuperate in the South of France.'

  Napoleon shrugged. 'But, my dear Breuc, this mission on which I am about to send you will serve that purpose equally well. You will recall that, in the winter of '99, at your own suggestion, instead of going to your chateau at St. Maxime you went as my confidential representative to the Caribbean, to report on the validity of the excuses made by my miserable Admirals for their lack of success against the English. This mission to Turkey and Persia is of a similar nature. It will take you from the cold and mists of this ghastly country to warm lands where there is the sunshine you need.'

  Actually, it had been for Roger's own personal, urgent reasons that, at that time, he had agreed to go out to the West Indies. But he could not admit that; so, hastily, he ventured on another tack. 'Sire, I fear that I should be of little use as a member of such a party. I have never been to Turkey or Persia, and speak the language of neither country.'

  Impatiently, the Emperor waved aside his objection. 'That is of no importance. Well-qualified interpreters will be at your disposal, and ample funds to bribe those who act between Gardane and the Pasha and such people, to inform you of their conversations; so that you can report to me whether our mission is really making progress or if the despatches I receive are designed to keep me in a good temper.'

  Roger did not at all like this proposal that he should act as a spy on his brother officers. His report on the efficiency of the French Navy in the West Indies had been quite a differ­ent matter and one in which, by misleading Napoleon, he had been able to aid his own country. But, knowing his master's lack of scruples, he made no protest about his own. Instead, he said:

  ‘I greatly doubt whether I would prove a sound judge of such negotiations; for I know nothing of the politics of these countries or the manner in which their leading men are accus­tomed to transact business.'

  Napoleon immediately overrode these objections. 'You will be passing through Warsaw. Talleyrand is there, and he will be able to tell you all about the aspirations of the Turks and Persians. As for their statesmen's manner of doing business, the East is the East and you are better acquainted with the ways of Orientals than any other man on my personal staff.'

  Again Roger was caught out. He owed his appointment as an aide-de-camp to the fact that he had travelled exten­sively in India and home by way of the Red Sea and Egypt. Napoleon had always been fascinated by the East, and it had so happened that after his first triumphant campaign in Italys Roger, having just returned from India, had again been brought to his notice. Bonaparte, already visualising himself as Sultan of the Nile and another Alexander the Great, had spent several evenings listening enthralled to Roger's accounts of his journey. Then, realising that he had many valuable qualities, the General had made him a permanent member of his staff.

  In desperation, Roger declared, 'Sire, you cannot lump all the countries of the East together as though they were in­habited by one people. In India alone, there are more different races, languages and religions than there are in Europe; and none of them has the faintest resemblance to the Persians, or the Turks.'

  The Emperor's face suddenly assumed a cunning look. 'In that no doubt you are right. But that this mission should cause these countries to stir up trouble for the Czar is but one half of my intent. Gardane's instructions are, while in Persia, to explore ways by which, after I have defeated Russia, in alliance with the Shah, we could most rapidly make a descent on India. And who, Breuc, knowing India so well, is better qualified to advise and assist him in such a reconnaissance?'

  For Roger to point out that, although he was one of the comparatively few Europeans who had crossed the sub-con­tinent from Calcutta to Bombay, he had no knowledge of one in a hundred of the cities and rivers in that vast territory was, he knew, futile. The Emperor assumed him to be as much an authority on it as a man who had ridden from San Sebastian to Gibraltar would be on Spain. And when Napoleon had formed an opinion on a matter, there was no altering it.

  Maintaining his usual deferential and cheerful expression when in his master's presence, but inwardly seething with rage, Roger realised that unless something quite unforeseen occurred, his hopes of luxuriating in the sunshine of the South of France had evaporated into moonshine, and that within a few days he would be on his way to Constantinople.

  Nothing unforeseen did occur. On the contrary, the next morning Roger was sent for by Berthier. Like Murat, the Marshal had a passion for gorgeous uniforms, which he desig­ned himself; but, unlike the handsome cavalryman, the ugly little Chief of Staff, with a head much too big for his body, succeeded only in making himself conspicuously grotesque. After congratulating Roger on having regained his freedom, he said:

  'His Majesty tells me that he has ordered you to join General Gardane's mission which is proceeding to the East. He wishes me to inform you of the situation there and what we hope to achieve. The English have been attempting to detach the Turks from their alliance with us. So far they have failed, but the Sultan is having difficulties with his own people, so it is highly desirable that we should strengthen his position and attach him more firmly to us. This wc intend to try to do by furnishing him with supplies of modern weapons and, in due course, sending French troops to his support. But Turkey alone is not powerful enough to make serious trouble for the Russians in that theatre, so the arrival here of a mission from the Shah has inspired the Emperor with the idea of bringing about a triple alliance consisting of France, Turkey and Persia.

  'Since the Persians are well disposed tow
ards us and the Russians are their hereditary enemies, there is a good prospect that they would welcome the idea of joining the Turks and depriving the Czar of considerable territories adjacent to their countries while he is fully occupied by us up here in the north.'

  'To put it another way,' Roger said, 'the intention of our master is to create so much trouble for the Czar in the south that he will be compelled to despatch forces there that will seriously weaken his army opposed to us.'

  Berthier nodded his massive head. 'That is the intention; and, since the Persians have a considerable army of troops who have the reputation of stout fighters, it should succeed.'

  'I pray you may prove right. But, as they are only just emerging from the era of using bows and arrows, I foresee a few regiments of well-disciplined Russian Grenadiers making short work of attacks by such rabble.'

  'I disagree. If any horsemen in the world are the equal of the Cossacks, it is the Persians. Moreover, it is the intention of the Emperor not only to send large consignments of arms to the Sultan, but also to the Shah; and with them officers qualified to instruct the Generals of those Oriental sovereigns in the most modern methods of waging war.'

  With a slightly cynical smile, Roger remarked, 'I am happy to learn that our master's new preoccupation has not alto­gether robbed him of the ability to enhance the probable suc­cess of his brilliant conceptions by supporting them with practical measures.'

  Having no sense of humour, Berthier frowned. 'His Majesty has laboured indefatigably on behalf of France; so no man is better entitled to a few weeks of relaxation. We come now to the question of India.'

  'Yes. The Emperor mentioned to me his designs upon that country.'

  'So he told me; but without specifying particulars. The Persians have waged war against the northern states of India for even longer than they have against the Russians. Once we have settled with the Czar, it is His Majesty's intention to use them to facilitate our chasing the English out of India.

  'Gardane's officers are to reconnoitre the routes to Delhi from Egypt, Syria and Persia, also the ports on the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, with a view to expeditions being des­patched both by land and sea. The Shah is to be persuaded to form a Corps of twelve thousand picked men, armed with French weapons, who will attack the Russians in Georgia; the bait being held out to him is the permanent annexation of that country. This Corps, later supported by twenty thou­sand French troops, will form the army for our advance to the East; and it is thought possible that the Mahratta Princes might be induced to join us. If so, we shall have forces of sufficient strength to overcome not only the British, but every other Maharajah who is sufficiently ill-advised to oppose us.'

  This grandiose conception made it clear to Roger that, however much of Napoleon's time might be going to dalliance with the litde Polish Countess, he still found enough to evolve plans calculated to take his enemies by surprise and fill them with the greatest apprehension.

  After a moment Berthier went on. 'General Gardane is a very able man, and well suited to head such a mission; but His Majesty is of the opinion that you will prove of great assistance to him.'

  'In that he is entirely mistaken,' Roger said earnestly, 'and I beg you, Marshal, to disabuse his mind of this idea. It is true that I once travelled across India; but of Persia and Tur­key I know nothing.'

  'Oh come, mon Colonel I How can you possibly say that? Both the Emperor and I are blessed with good memories. I recall that, while you were in Cairo, he had you arrested be­cause you had broken into a Pasha's harem, and made off with a lovely houri who turned out to be no less than a daugh­ter of the late Sultan. Afterwards fortune favoured you and you came to know her—er—intimately.'

  'True,' Roger admitted. 'But the Princess Zanthe's mother was a French lady, born in Martinique, and Zanthe herself was married when very young to the Sultan's Viceroy of Egypt. While in Constantinople, she had never been allowed outside the seraglio, so from her I learned nothing about the Turkish people—let alone the Sultan's relations with other countries. She was, of course, a cousin of the present Sultan, Selim III, but no more than one of the countless relatives that result from the polygamy practised by these Oriental monarchs.'

  Berthier shrugged and spread wide his square-fingered hands with their knobbly knuckles. 'It is clear to me, Breuc, that you are averse to accompanying General Gardane to the East. But it has been decreed by the Emperor that you should; so that is the end of the matter. As frequently as possible, you will send confidential reports to me upon how matters are progressing. Now, you must forgive me if I terminate our interview, as I have a thousand things requiring my attention.'

  His last hope of escaping this new assignment gone, Roger 109 left the busy little Chief of Staff, and sought out General Gardane, whom he had met on several occasions, but knew only slightly.

  The General had already been informed that Roger was to accompany him and, although he naturally had no idea that this additional member of his mission had been charged to make confidential reports on his activities, he talked to him freely and as an equal, knowing Roger to be a member of the Emperor's personal staff. Over several glasses of hay-scented vodka, they chatted for an hour on the situation in the East, and Roger was favourably impressed. Gardane was some years older than himself and, while he had not travelled so widely, appeared to be well informed about conditions in the countries at the eastern end of the Mediterranean. He was, moreover, forceful but well-mannered and urbane, which confirmed Roger's view that Napoleon's practice of frequently sending his more intelligent Generals as Ambassadors— where military matters were concerned—instead of profes­sional diplomats, was a sound one.

  To Roger's surprise and chagrin, as they were taking leave of one another, the General said, 'You are aware, of course, that we shall be setting out first thing tomorrow morning?'

  It was the final blow to Roger's hopes that he might yet think of a way to wriggle out of this unwelcome business. He could only bow and reply, 'Mon General, I look forward to accompanying you.'

  Hurrying to the office of the Quartermaster General, he requisitioned everything he could think of that might make his long journey more endurable. In the afternoon, he paid Berthier another visit and secured from him an order on the Paymaster's department. There he drew two hundred Napo­leons in gold, which he stowed away in a money belt, and a draft on the French bankers in Constantinople for a further thousand.

  That night, unhappy but now resigned, he went early to bed, wondering what this new twist of fate held in store for him.

  It was the 12th April when General Gardane's party left Finckenstein. It consisted of no fewer than fifty persons: the senior officers were Roger, Colonel Couthon of the Engineers, a lanky, gloomy man; Colonel Ladue of the Artillery, a spry fellow with an impish sense of humour; Lieutenant-Colonel Rideau, a bewhiskered veteran of the Egyptian campaign and Lieutenant-Colonel Montdallion who, a few years earlier, had accompanied General Sebastiani on an exploratory mission in 1802, sent with the object of raising trouble for the British in Algiers, Egypt, Syria and the Ionian Isles. There were a dozen junior officers; the rest were cooks, grooms, servants and interpreters detached from the Turkish and Persian Mis­sions, the greater part of which, after again being received by Napoleon, were to travel in easy stages back to their own countries.

  Two days later, Gardane's mission reached Warsaw, where they were to stay a night and supplement the meagre supply of provisions that was all they had been allowed to take with them from Finckenstein. Excusing himself to Gardane, Roger made straight for the ancient Palace which had for centuries housed the Kings of Poland and in which, after the Emperor had left it, Talleyrand had become the master.

  After only a short delay, Roger was most warmly received by the ex-Bishop, now His Serene Highness the Prince de Benevento. Immaculate in black silk, lace ruffles and cravat, a square, gold quizzing glass dangling from his neck, and leaning on a jewelled malacca cane, this most potent survivor of the ancien rigime, now
just over fifty-three years of age, limped forward smiling, and said:

  Cher ami. The news that you had survived Eylau reached me only two days ago. I was more delighted than I can say. But I see with concern that you, too, now have a limp.'

  Roger returned his smile. Tf only I can acquire the habit of making it as elegant as that of Your Highness, I'll not com­plain. I suffered much hardship while I was a prisoner; but that I am still alive and again free is the great thing. How fares it with yourself?'

  'By no means happily. I still rejoice in technically holding the office of His Imperial Majesty's Minister for Foreign Affairs; but in fact I am become no more than his chief sutler for the Army. Not a week passes but he replies to my recom­mendations about the foreign policies we should pursue. "I give not a damn for diplomacy. Send me bread, meat, any­thing you can lay your hands on for my troops, and fodder for the horses."'

  With a laugh, Roger replied, 'Surely that suits you well? Such contracts should serve greatly in adding to your already considerable fortune.'

  Talleyrand sighed. 'Alas, no. Unlike our friend, Fouche, it goes against my principles to acquire money by selling goods of poor quality to our own army. To support my modest tastes, I have had to make do by accepting now and then a pittance from one or other of our allies to further their in­terests—if, that is, their interests coincide with those of France.'

  Roger glanced round, taking in his old friend's conception of 'modest tastes'. The room was a lofty, sixty-foot-long salon, with blue walls, gilded panels and a beautifully-painted ceiling, from which hung two large, crystal chandeliers. The carpet was Aubusson, the chairs covered in the finest petit-point. On a huge buhl desk stood a pair of solid gold, six-branched candelabra and, open near one of them, an oval velvet-lined case in which sparkled a fine diamond necklace —doubtless intended as a gift for some lovely Polish lady who had recently become the fastidious statesman's latest mistress. He was, admittedly, living at the moment in commandeered 'lodgings', but the room was typical of the luxury with which he habitually surrounded himself, and it was well known that the bribes he had extracted from foreign Ambassadors during the past ten years had run into several hundred million francs.