Dennis Wheatley - The Rape Of Venice

'Not necessarily m'dear. Did I fight the issue in the courts, I'd have everyone's sympathy and…'

'You have no means of proving that he hypnotised you,' the Colonel cut in.

'And I'd not attempt to, Sir. But all of you, and Sheridan and Beckford, too, could bear witness to the events that led up to the duel I mean the demonstration in the afternoon, by which he lured his fellow guests here into wagering two thousand guineas that he could not levitate his wife, and then his complete exposure as a fraud. We would brand him publicly for the swindler and charlatan he is, and so ensure that he would never again be received into decent society in this country.'

'Since he refused to pay up, I have already circulated the leading London Clubs to that effect; and though you might derive much satisfaction in giving far wider publicity to his villainy, that would not save you from being guilty of the charge, and receiving a sentence.'

'Of that I am aware. But it does not follow that I would have to serve it. Any sentence can be quashed by the King's pardon, and I hardly think that Mr. Pitt would hesitate to obtain one for me.'

Ah, that's another matter!' said the Colonel more cheerfully. 'And I agree. After your many services to him he could not stand by and see you sent to prison for conduct which, law or no law, all persons of quality would account him justified in obtaining a pardon for you.'

Droopy Ned still looked somewhat dubious, as he remarked: 'Seeing that Mr. Pitt hopes to do business with the Venetian, I fear he will be far from pleased when he learns what has taken place here.'

'It is a private quarrel; so I see no reason why it should prejudice his negotiations. In fact, it may even be of some value in revealing to him that the Senate of the Serene Republic has, no doubt unwittingly, picked a knave to represent them. In any case, I count the Venetians a decadent worthless lot with whom he would do better to have no dealings.'

'Roger,' Georgina's voice was low and urgent. 'On one thing I insist. You must see Mr. Pitt before you embark on this dangerous course and get his assurance that he will secure you a free pardon.'

'Certainly, m'dear,' he smiled at her. 'I'm not quite such a fool as to neglect so elementary a precaution. I will accompany Droopy and Clarissa to London tomorrow morning.'

Now satisfied that he would not run his head into a noose, out of casual bravado, she tinkled the little glass bell that stood on the table before her. The servants returned, bringing in the 'remove', and the dinner proceeded without further reference to the matter that still occupied their minds.

Later that evening, as Clarissa had so much packing to do, she asked if it would be possible to postpone her departure till the following afternoon. It being considered unlikely that Malderini would be sufficient recovered for some days actually to apply to the bench for a warrant for her arrest, the postponement was agreed to. In consequence, it was not until three o'clock on the Thursday that, accompanied by Roger and Droopy, she set out for London.

They arrived at Amesbury House, the family mansion in Arlington Street of Droopy's father, in time for a late dinner. Roger was well known to all his inmates, as he always stayed there when in London, and Clarissa was given a warm welcome. Droopy's invitation to her to stay at Normanrood for an indefinite period was at once endorsed by his father, the Marquess; and as, having been removed from Stillwaters, she was no longer in any immediate danger, it was decided that Monday would be time enough for Droopy to escort her down to Wiltshire.

Next morning, Roger strolled along to Downing Street, and enquired for his master. He was informed that the Prime Minister was at his country home, Holwood House, near Bromley. It would have been easy for Roger to secure a mount from the Amesbury House stables and ride down there, but on learning that Mr. Pitt had business that would bring him to London on Saturday morning, he decided to save himself the journey and call again next day.

Twenty- four hours later he again waited on the Prime Minister. For over an hour he was kept kicking his heels in the downstairs lobby, then a footman took him up to Mr. Pitt's sanctum on the first floor. As he entered it he felt instinctively that the atmosphere was loaded with trouble but, until the storm burst, he had no premonition that it would be upon himself.

For a few minutes Mr. Pitt continued writing without looking up from his big table desk. Suddenly throwing down his quill, he lifted his glance, gave Roger a cold stare, and exclaimed:

'Mr. Brook, I am near speechless from amazement that you should have the effrontery to present yourself before me.'

Only the iron nerve that had more than once enabled Roger to keep his head attached to his shoulders enabled him to reply with a calm lift of the eyebrows, 'And I, Sir, am even more amazed at your reception of me. Pray inform me what I have done to merit your displeasure?'

'Done!' repeated the Prime Minister, coming slowly to his feet. 'Did I not charge you to exercise your charm upon the Venetian envoy. And how have you observed my wish? First you inveigle him into wagering two thousand guineas, then with the help of your unscrupulous friends at Stillwaters deprive him of a fair chance to win his bet. When he protests you and your cronies fall upon him. On his striking out in self-​defence you taunt him until he reluctantly agrees to give you satisfaction by meeting you in a duel. Finally, you concert a despicable plot, as a result of which he is shot by an arrow in the back and is thus made easier for you to half butcher without risk to yourself.'

Roger's blue eyes had gone as hard as ice and his voice was equally cold as he refuted the charge. 'Knowing me as you do, Sir, I marvel that you could for one instant believe such lies.'

'Know you!' came the irate rejoinder. 'Having employed you for so long how can I fail to do so? Your intelligence, your gift for languages, your ready wit, unscrupulousness and easy charm make you the best secret agent of your generation. But you are self-​willed, and lecherous and, at the least provocation, will whip out the sword you have trained yourself to use with such dexterity. There have been previous occasions when a woman's smile has caused you to forget all else. And I gather there is one involved in this. I have no doubt but that it was due to your pursuit of her that you threw my interests to the winds.'

'Damme, Sir! You go too far. All men are not so sluggish blooded as yourself, and…'

'How dare you stand there and indulge in such personalities!'

With a stiff little bow, Roger rapped back, 'I withdraw that, and will admit that of all the joys of this world I have found none to compare with a woman one loves beside one in a bed. Yet in the final outcome, of no mission you have charged me with have I allowed my love for one of the sex to interfere. In the present instance, no such predilection plays any part at all. As a matter of simple justice I must ask from what source this tissue of lies was poured into your ears?'

'My cousin Grenville passed the night at Holwood with me, and he was full of it. Before he left London the Ambassador of the Serene Republic had requested an urgent audience of him. The Venetian brought with him a letter from his colleague, Signor Malderini, containing this account of your scandalous treatment of him. Bearing in mind the mission with which I had charged you, I could hardly credit your behaviour; yet chapter and verse was given for it.'

'Be good enough to remember, Sir, that on Saturday morning last you relieved me of my mission. The events to which Malderini's letter refer occurred subsequently to that, and…'

'No matter. You knew my mind, and the importance I attached to winning the good-​will of the envoy of this powerful State.'