'You argued your case superbly, Your Grace,' he said.
Marlborough was despondent. 'I failed, Daniel.'
'You persuaded some of them. I heard them say as much.'
'There was animosity in the eyes of the rest of them. General Slangenberg was more obstructive than ever. What kind of a commander believes that his personal baggage is more important than an artillery train? By causing that delay, he wrecked the whole enterprise.'
'Perhaps they'll agree to an attack tomorrow,' said Daniel.
'There's not the slightest hope of that,' conceded Marlborough. 'If they're afraid to attack the enemy when it's at its weakest and most disordered, they'll not even consider action tomorrow. The French will be too well-fortified. No, Daniel,' he continued, 'the only option for us is to withdraw and let Marshal Villeroi claim a victory. The moment he sees us pull back, he'll write to King Louis to boast that he scared us into an ignominious retreat.'
'But that's not what happened at all.'
'That's how it will be portrayed at Versailles and we can do nothing to stop it. I know that you have Dutch blood in you,' said Marlborough, bitterly, 'and I hope you'll not take offence at my opinion of your fellow-countrymen.'
'I'm as much English as Dutch, Your Grace.'
'Then I speak to you as an Englishman because I know that you fight like one. The conduct of this war has nearly driven me insane.' Pursing his lips, he shook his head dejectedly. "There are times — and this is certainly one of them — when I'm forced to conclude that the Dutch, our allies, have caused us far more trouble than the French.'
Johannes Mytens was a big, fleshy man in his forties with heavy jowls that shook as he talked. As a member of the States-
General, the Dutch parliament, he had considerable influence and had garnered support both inside and outside the chamber. A wealthy man, he lived in a large house in the most fashionable quarter of The Hague. He was glad to welcome a visitor from Amsterdam that day. They sat either side of a walnut table in the sombre interior of the voorhuis.
'How is business, Willem?' asked Mytens.
'My business is thriving,' replied Willem Ketel, 'and it would thrive even more if we were not caught up in this damaging war. When roads are closed and enemy soldiers sit on our borders, merchants like me are hemmed in. When will it end? That's what I ask.'
'It's a question we often discuss in the chamber.'
'Are you any nearer to resolving the problem, Johannes?'
'No,' admitted the other.
'Then the war could drag on indefinitely.'
Mytens sighed. "There's every indication that it might.'
'What a sickening prospect!'
Ketel was an old friend of the politician's. Short, angular and now in his fifties, he had small darting eyes set in a wizened face. His wig covered a head that was bald and mottled. While Mytens chose relatively flamboyant attire, Ketel preferred dark clothing that gave him a clerical air. He had a habit of sucking his teeth before he spoke.
'Nothing of consequence was gained this year,' he said. 'We were all misled by the happy outcome at the battle of Blenheim.'
'It was happier for the Duke of Marlborough than it was for us, Willem,' observed Mytens. 'He claimed all the glory while we lost a large number of men.'
'He's never given our army any credit.'
'All that we ever get from him are complaints. After the retreat from the River Yssche, he had the gall to write to Heinsius to demand that General Slangenberg be dismissed.'
'What did the Grand Pensionary do?'
'He foolishly acceded to the demand.'
Ketel was outraged. 'He dismissed a man of the general's ability?'
'Slangenberg was persuaded to retire. That kept his reputation intact and pacified the Duke. In my view, Slangenberg would have made a better commander-in-chief.'
'We need someone to end the war not to continue it.'
'What's the feeling in Amsterdam?'
'We've always been less hostile to France than you here in The Hague. We see the advantages of trade with her. I used to export almost a third of my goods to Paris. What we need is a peace treaty.'
'The Duke will not hear of it.'
'That's because he puts British interests before ours, Johannes. The French are ready to parley. They have no wish for this war to go on. It's very costly and they've suffered heavy casualties. I believe that King Louis wants peace as much as we do.'
'On what terms, Willem — there's the rub!'
"They must be honourable terms that satisfy both sides.'
'There's no such thing. Someone must lose and someone gain.'
'End the fighting and we're all beneficiaries,' said Ketel, eyes blazing with certainty. 'I know that the Duke will not give in until France renounces its claim to the Spanish throne but that will never happen. It's pointless to hold out for something that can never be attained.'
'I felt at the start that it could be attained,' said Mytens, his jowls wobbling. 'The thought that France could annexe Spain and take control of its empire was terrifying. It would have a monopoly on trade in all those colonies.'
'Nobody was more worried than me, Johannes. Yet now that it has happened — now that Spain has a French king — it doesn't seem quite so terrible. Besides,' he went on, adjusting his wig, 'we could gain concessions. Were we to sue for peace, we could insert terms in the treaty that would protect our merchants. We're a trading nation, for heaven's sake. That's our destiny. In fair competition, we're the equal of anyone.'
'You speak to the converted, Willem. For some time, I've been talking about the need to open negotiations with France.'
'What's been the response?'
'I hear that tired old slogan — No peace without Spain!'
'We strike too hard a bargain.'
The door opened and the maidservant brought in a flagon of wine and two glasses on a tray. When she had set the tray down on the table, Mytens dismissed her with a flick of the wrist. He poured wine into both glasses then handed one to Ketel.
'What shall we drink to, Willem?' he asked.
'To the only thing worth having,' said Ketel, 'and that's the prospect of peace.'
'It's a very long way off, I fear. Unless the Duke is dismissed from his command, there's no hope of an end to this war, even though it's killing our soldiers and bleeding our coffers dry.'
'Then the Duke must go. He's the barrier to peace.'
'Heinsius will not hear of it.'
'Why must the decision be left in his hands?'
'He'll always overrule critics like me, Willem.'
'Then let's find another way to remove the obstruction,' said Ketel, slyly. 'It's in everyone's interest to do so, after all. Let me ask you a straight question, Johannes.' He sucked his teeth. 'How far would you go to get rid of the Duke of Marlborough?'
Mytens met his gaze as he considered his reply. Instead of putting it into words, however, he simply raised his glass in a silent toast. Ketel gave a thin smile. They had sealed a bond.
Chapter Five
Tom Hillier had learnt his trade quickly. He had mastered the drum calls and could march in step with the others. Since he'd begun to stand up for himself, life in the army was much less of an ordeal. He no longer had cruel jokes played on him every day and had started to feel accepted. Even though hostilities against the French had now been suspended, the drummers did not rest. Like everyone else in camp, they continued to go through their drills so that they would be ready in the event of a sudden call to action. Longing to be tested in battle, Hillier brought a youthful zest to his playing. Henry Welbeck watched him from the shelter of some trees as his nephew marched up and down with the other drummers. The sergeant was startled when a firm hand fell on his shoulder.
'I've caught you, Henry,' said Daniel Rawson. 'In spite of what you pretended, I knew that you'd take an interest in the lad.'
'I just happened to be passing, Dan.'
'You never do anything by accident.'
'V
ery well,' confessed Welbeck. 'Perhaps I was curious to see how Tom was getting on. But that's all it was,' he added, wagging a finger. 'Curiosity.'
'And what have you discovered?'
'He seems to be faring quite well.'
'Things have settled down now,' explained Daniel. 'Ever since he had that fight with Hugh Dobbs, he's a different person.'
Welbeck was bemused. 'Who might Hugh Dobbs be?'
'He's one of the other drummers and he decided to make Tom's life a misery. You've seen the kind of japes that new recruits have to suffer. Dobbs even stole his drum and stuck it at the top of a tree.'
'How do you know all this?'
'I helped him to get the instrument down. I also advised him to give Dobbs a taste of his own medicine. What I suggested was putting a dead rat in his boot but Tom decided on something more drastic.'
'What did he do?' asked Welbeck with genuine interest.
'He challenged Dobbs to a fight and knocked him senseless. Tom may look spindly,' said Daniel, 'but, like me, he grew up on a farm. He's tough and wiry. Doing all those chores builds up your muscles. Also, of course, he comes from Welbeck stock. He's got your will to win, Henry.'
'How on earth did you get to hear about this fight, Dan?'
'He came and told me. It cost him a black eye but the other lad fared much worse. Dobbs won't bother him again.'
'I'm glad that Tom is finding his feet.'
'You might try talking to him yourself.'
'There's no need. I have no responsibility towards him.'
'But you do,' said Daniel. 'What really inspired him to join this regiment was that letter you wrote to your sister after the battle of Blenheim.' Welbeck flushed guiltily. 'I know your little secret, Henry. You do preserve family ties, after all.'
'I write a few lines once in a blue moon.'
'You're responsible for firing Tom's imagination and giving him the urge to be a soldier. The least you can do is to be a proper uncle to the lad. He's not asking for favours.'
'He'll get none,' said Welbeck.
'Stop treating him as a leper.'
'I've got far too much on my hands to bother about him.'
'Do you want him to go on thinking that his mother was right?' said Daniel. 'She told her son that you'd hate him simply because he was related to you. According to your sister, you never enjoyed being part of a family. It embarrassed you.'
'That's enough!' snapped Welbeck, interrupting him. 'I don't want to talk about my past. It doesn't exist anymore. As for Tom, I'll… watch him from a distance. It's all I'm prepared to do, Dan.' He took a last look at Hillier. 'In any case, I don't need to speak to him when I've got you to do that for me.'
'Oh, I won't be talking to him for a long time.'
'Why is that?'
'I'm leaving camp today. That's why I came looking for you. I wanted to bid farewell. His Grace has work for me.'
'What sort of work?'
'I've no idea,' said Daniel, shrugging. 'I'm on my way to find out.'
Seated at a table, the Duke of Marlborough finished the last of many letters he'd written that morning. He was alone in the tent with Adam Cardonnel. His secretary had been equally busy with correspondence. He sealed a letter then looked up.
'I wish that we had something of significance to report,' he said.
'Yes,' agreed Marlborough. 'It's been a fruitless campaign.'
'We did break through the Lines of Brabant.'
'Granted, but we were unable to build on that achievement. We had a chance to liberate the whole of the Spanish Netherlands and it disappeared into thin air. We both know why.'
'Our allies let us down, Your Grace. On the other hand, the retreat from the River Yssche did have one good result. You managed to get rid of General Slangenberg.'
'Not until he'd ruined the entire campaign,' said Marlborough, pulling a face. 'And while he may not be able to hinder us in the field again, he may well do so by other means — whispering in the ears of his friends in the States-General, for instance.'
'You still have their unreserved support,' said Cardonnel.
'But how long will it last, Adam? That's what worries me. War is hideously expensive. Like our own parliament, the States- General needs to feel that they're getting value for their money. That means we have to deliver a string of victories. We failed to do that this year.'
'The French failed equally, Your Grace.'
'King Louis will be well aware of that. We've reached a standstill. When the winter comes, I fancy he'll start to make peace overtures to the Dutch. He'll offer them all kinds of blandishments. He knows he can never tempt us.'
'The Dutch will surely hold firm and so will our other allies.'
'That's why we need to keep our relations with them in good repair, Adam. When we can no longer fight, we must turn diplomat.'
'It's a role in which you excel.'
The tent flap was pulled back and a guard stepped in.
'Captain Rawson is here, Your Grace,' he said.
'Show him in,' ordered Marlborough.
The guard retired and Daniel immediately entered the tent. After an exchange of greetings, he was offered a seat. He looked at the mound of correspondence on both tables.
'Have I been summoned to act as a messenger?' he asked.
'No, Daniel,' said Marlborough. 'We have a more important task for you. These letters are destined for our allies to warn them of my proposed visits. I have to go first to Dusseldorf to persuade the Elector Palatine to supply troops for service in Italy next year. Then we move on to Vienna so that I can meet the new, young Emperor Joseph. It seems that I'm to be invested with the Principality of Mindelheim.'
'It's a well-deserved honour, Your Grace,' said Cardonnel.
'It will entail pomp and ceremony and I never like that.'
'Will you be going to Berlin?' said Daniel.
'Of necessity,' replied Marlborough. 'We must keep Prussia on our side. I'll have to smooth King Frederick's ruffled feathers a little. I know how upset and angry he is at the behaviour of the Dutch and the Austrians. I share his feelings. When I've calmed him down, I hope to coax 8000 men out of him for the next Italian campaign. After that, we go to Hanover to meet Electress Sophia then on to The Hague.'
'It's a long journey, Your Grace.'
'Adam has calculated that we'll travel over 2000 miles.'
'Including the best part of a week sailing on the Danube,' said Cardonnel. 'We may find that tedious.'
'I'm sure that we will,' said Marlborough, picking up a sealed letter from the desk. 'You, Daniel, will have a much shorter journey to make but one that may be fraught with more danger.'
'Where am I to go?' asked Daniel.
'Paris.'
'You're sending me back again?'
'It's because you know the city so well that you are the ideal person for this assignment. I should warn you, however, that on this occasion, it will not be necessary for you to seduce the wife of a French general in order to gather intelligence. You did that last year and we profited greatly by the information you brought back.'
'Yes,' said Daniel, recalling his dalliance with Berenice Salignac. 'Unfortunately, the lady's husband took exception to my methods. He was bent on revenge and hired two men to murder me. When they took me prisoner instead, General Salignac tried to kill me in a duel.'
'You have a gift for survival,' noted Cardonnel.
'He'll need it,' said Marlborough. 'I foresee many hazards. What I wish you to do, Daniel, is to find someone for me and bring him back to The Hague. Since he's a Dutchman, you'll be able to speak to him in his own language. I just pray that he's still alive.'
'Who is the fellow, Your Grace?'
'Emanuel Janssen.'
Daniel was thunderstruck. 'Do you mean the tapestry- maker?'
'The very same,' confirmed Marlborough. 'He's a master of his craft. King Louis was so dazzled by his artistry that he commissioned a tapestry to hang in Versailles alongside all the Gobelins tapestries. Th
at shows how highly he prizes Janssen's work. He was prepared to pay a high price for it.'
'Emanuel Janssen is a traitor,' said Daniel, coldly. 'He was bought by the enemy and turned his back on his country. Instead of sending me to Paris to bring him home, you should be asking me to slit his throat.'
'Janssen is a braver man than you take him for, Daniel. The first thing he did when he was approached in secret by the French was to inform us. He's a fierce patriot. No amount of money would have made him defect to the enemy.'
'Then why did he do so?'
'Because that's what I asked him to do,' said Marlborough. 'It was too good an opportunity to miss. Janssen was going to be working at Versailles where all the major decisions are made. He would have direct contact with King Louis. Being a tapestry- maker was the perfect disguise behind which to hide.'
Daniel was sobered. 'Are you telling me that he is a spy?'
'He is indeed, Daniel, and quite an efficient one. He lacked the charm to extract information in the way that you do but he kept his ears open and heard much that was of value to us.'
'Why do you want me to bring him back, Your Grace?'
'We fear that he may have been found out. At all events, he's vanished and nobody has any idea where he is. It's very worrying. Having talked him into accepting such a risky business, I feel it's our duty to go to his rescue — if, that is, we can find him.'
'Where was he last seen?'
'Here are all the details,' said Marlborough, handing him the letter. 'When you've committed them to memory, destroy this.'
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