Dennis Wheatley - The Rape Of Venice

These final details had only just been settled when Boneparte's travelling carriage, escorted by a troop of cuirassiers, clattered into the yard. General Baraguay d'Hilliers received him, and he inspected the guard of honour, pausing here and there to speak to an old soldier and giving his ear a tweak. Then without a glance at Roger, he went inside with the General.

The handsome curly haired Junot was with him and, dropping behind, gave Roger a grin, winked and whispered, 'All well for this evening?'

Roger had good cause to fear that by this time all might be far from well, but he showed no sign of his anxiety and replied in a low voice, with a grin, 'Yes, the lady awaits his pleasure. What sort of a mood is the little man in?'

Junot pulled a face. 'Bad. The first snow was to be seen on the mountains up there this morning, and if we mean to break the armistice we are under obligation to give the Austrians twenty-​five days' notice. That would mean another campaign in deep snow and after the soft living the troops have had this past six months they're not up to it.'

'Then he's no alternative but to agree to a peace pretty quickly now.'

'That's just the rub. I think he'd give a lot to, but these damned Austrians have dug their toes in over Venice. A despatch reached Cobenzl last night. The Emperor has agreed everything except that he insists on being given the city.'

They went into the mess together, had a glass of wine and talked to the officers there for an hour while Boneparte was in d’Hilliers office shooting questions at him about the state of his Command. Shortly after seven the two Generals emerged. The guard presented arms, Boneparte gave a glance round, beckoned to Roger and strutted to his carriage. Roger and Junot followed him, got in, and took the seat opposite to him. As the carriage drove off, he frowned at Roger and said:

'Well?'

"All is arranged, mon General', smiled Roger, with a cheerfulness he was very far from feeling. 'The Princess Sirisha awaits you in a charming casino on one of the smaller islands named Portillo.'

'What! We are not going to Venice then?'

'No. I thought it unwise for you to take the risk of going into Venice in case you were recognised and attacked.'

'Nonsense. Who would wish to attack me? The Venetians have much to thank me for.'

Perhaps; but I learned from Villetard that some of them are showing base ingratitude, and even conspiring to overthrow the Republican regime you gave them.'

Boneparte grunted. 'A few malcontents. There are such in every city.'

'In any case, mon General, for you to spend the night on this island will be more discreet.'

'True. And that is important. I only hope this Princess proves up to my expectations. I am badly in need of a little relaxation.'

The drive to the wharf was a short one. A few minutes later the carriage pulled up and they descended from it. Twilight had fallen but there was still sufficient light to see some distance, and it was still hot and oppressive. The Embassy barge was drawn up at the bottom of some steps about thirty yards from where the coach had halted. In front and behind it were two other barges in which were seated the guard of twenty men that Roger had sent ahead. As the General-​in-​Chief appeared, a sharp order rang out, everyone in the barges stood up and came stiffly to attention.

Boneparte gave them a glance, halted, and swung round on Roger. 'What are those men of the Hundred and Thirty-​First doing in barges?'

'They are your escort, man General' replied Roger promptly.

Escort! I want no escort!'

Roger was as stricken as if he had had a heart attack. Before he had recovered sufficiently to speak, Bonepart went on peevishly:

'Do you think I want the whole Army of Italy to know how I am spending the night?'

'No,' Roger stammered. 'No. But you must have an escort you must.'

'Must! Who in thunder are you to tell me what I must or must not do? Tonight I need you. Tomorrow I shan't. On our return in the morning you will consider yourself under arrest.'

'Yes. Very well. As you wish.' Roger held up a "protesting hand. 'Do what you will with me in the morning. I don't care. But I implore you to take an escort tonight in case… in case,…'

'In case what?'

'Well, the Venetians. The conspirators I was speaking about in the coach. They might find out that you were on Portillo and try to kidnap or kill you.'

'Fiddlesticks! How can they find out? You are behaving like an old woman.'

'But… but…'

'Stop acting like a fool, Breuc. All the escort I require is yourself and my orderly sergeant. Dismiss those men in the barges at once, and take me to this island,'

Chapter 28

In the Trap

For a moment Roger's mind went blank with sheer horror at the thought of the position in which he had landed Boneparte and himself; then it began to work with a speed at which it had rarely worked before. Somehow, he must get them both out of this terrible mess; but how? And he had only seconds in which to think. If Boneparte were given his way, they would be seven on the island, including Crozier and the three sailors. As the conspirators would expect to have to overcome a guard, they would be many more than that. The little Corsican was brave as a lion and would not submit tamely to being kidnapped. He would put up a desperate fight, so the odds were they would all get killed or seriously wounded.

There seemed only two ways to prevent that: either by stopping the conspirators from carrying out their plan, or by stopping Boneparte going to the island. For a second Roger wondered if he could get a message through to Villetard, telling him that there had been a hitch and that he must send Malderini off on a wild-​goose chase by giving him the name of some island other than Portillo. But it was already past seven. It would take the best part of an hour for a messenger to get to Venice and Malderini was to be given the place of Boneparte's rendezvous within the next half-​hour; so he would be on his way to Portillo before the message reached Villetard.

Then Boneparte must be stopped. But how could he be unless he was told the truth? If he was, would he accept the situation, agree to take the escort and see the matter through? No, he would not, because it would have to be disclosed to him that his intention to spend the night at the casino with a lovely woman had got out; otherwise the conspirators would not know about it. And he had been insistent that there should be no scandal. His only means of scotching it would be to dine with the officers in the mess at Mestre and spend the night there.

With lightning speed, Roger assessed the results of confessing the truth. An end to his prospects of revenging himself on Malderini; the poor Princess Sirisha left, after all, in her evil husband's clutches; himself clapped into a fortress for a term of years; and all chance gone of using the conspiracy, as he had hoped to do, as a pawn for England in the great game of international statecraft.

It was this last, more than anything else that made him suddenly decide to take a final gamble. He had taken so many to bring his plans up to their present state; why not one more? Boneparte was already walking towards the steps. Junot took a pace forward to follow and see him off. Roger grabbed him by the arm, pulled him back, and whispered:

'One moment!'

'What is it?' Junot said, testily. 'You seem in a great state today.'

'I've reason to be. I've no time to explain; but you must take charge of the escort and come after us.'

'Sacre bleu! Disobey his orders! Is it likely?'

'You love him, do you not?'

'Of course. If I had nine lives, like a cat, I'd give them all for him.'

'Very well then. Tonight his life may be in danger.'