Dennis Wheatley - The Rape Of Venice

Ten o'clock came, and eleven, while they hung about wondering where Malderini was and what had happened to prevent him being brought back to the House. Then, shortly after eleven, Sheridan arrived on his own in a hired carriage. He told them that he had come to fetch the Princess and Malderini’s baggage, as the Venetian had refused to return to Stillwaters. At Ripley, only a little over a mile away, there was a good coaching inn called 'The Talbot'; so they had taken him there and Pietro had put him to bed.

Tackled at once by the Colonel, Sheridan said that, although he considered Clarissa's part in the affair most reprehensible, he had no intention of giving her away. Then he went upstairs to see the Princess and supervise the packing of his own bags. By half-​past twelve all was completed. Georgina was present to see them off and, accompanied by the Princess and his pretty young wife, Sheridan drove away.

The remainder of the Sunday passed uneventfully, but the atmosphere was by no means a happy one, Clarissa took her meals up in her room and the others found it difficult to conceal their anxieties. On the Monday morning Beckford departed, but Droopy, having no important engagements in London, agreed to stay on for another few days. On Monday evening they learned from Dr. Chudleigh that Malderini had been taken with a slight fever on the Sunday afternoon, but as it had completely abated within twenty-​four hours, Sheridan had decided to remove him on the following morning from the inn to the greater comfort of his house at Polesden. It was on Wednesday, while they were sitting at dinner, that a groom arrived from Polesden with a letter marked 'urgent' from Sheridan for Georgina. When it was brought to her, she glanced through it; then, having sent the servants from the room, she read it aloud. It ran:

'Believe me, sweet friend, it is with the deepest regret that I now address myself to you upon a subject which must prove highly distasteful to us both. Having enjoyed so many hours of happiness under your hospitable roof, the last thing I would wish is to disturb the tranquillity of its inmates. But, alas, I have no choice; for despite my most earnest representations and endeavours, the matter has gone beyond my powers of control.

'It has now emerged that Signor Malderini's servant, Pietro, also observed Miss Marsham, bow in hand, a few moments after she had discharged her arrow at his master. He, of course, had seen Miss Marsham about the house, and from his description of her, Malderini had no hesitation in identifying his assailant. My appeals to his chivalry have proved in vain. This forenoon he sent for the Sheriffs officers from Guildford and has since made a deposition to them.

Further to this, while there are many matters upon which Mr. Brook and 1 most sharply disagree, I feel that, as gentleman to gentleman, I would be failing in honourable conduct did I not convey a warning to him through you that he should also look to the continued freedom of his person, Signor Malderini is so set upon being revenged upon him that, again despite my vigorous protests, he now asserts that their meeting was forced upon him and declares it to be his intention to invoke the anti-​duelling laws against Mr. Brook.

'I am your most distressed, humble, obedient…'

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

Chapter 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.'