Dennis Wheatley - The Rape Of Venice

'Should you succeed 'twill do you no more good than securing that of the rottenest Borough in England,' Roger replied tartly.

'How dare you! I am convinced that the Serene Republic could prove a most powerful ally; and it is not for you to question my assessments or decisions.'

'Believe it if you like; but time will prove you wrong. That, though, is beside the point. Such action as I took against the Venetian was fully justified. He is a rogue, a liar and a swindler. He is a faker of occult phenomena and…'

'How can you expect me to believe such charges when he has been selected by his Senate to represent them?'

'That he is rich, powerful, cunning and ambitious would be enough to account for that. I can prove to you that his unscrupulous greed is at the bottom of this whole business and I have come here for the especial purpose of requesting your protection from him.'

'My protection?

'Yes. I have been warned that Malderini intends to Invoke the anti-​duelling laws against me.'

'You should need no telling that once the law is set in motion, even a Prime Minister cannot interfere with its course.'

'Nay; but a prisoner having been convicted, there is naught to prevent His Majesty granting him a free pardon.'

'I fail to grasp what you would be at?'

' Tis this. Continue to disbelieve me, if you choose. But no judge and jury will reject the evidence of such reputable persons as Colonel Thursby, Lord Edward Fitz-​Deverel, Mr. William Beckford aye, and even Sheridan, for he's too decent a man to perjure himself. I wish to stand my trial and show up this blackguard.'

Mr. Pitt sat down again. For a moment he was silent, then he said:

'Your willingness to do so shows that I have been over-​hasty in my judgment. For that you must blame previous occasions on which you have temporarily neglected my interests to pursue your love affairs; and you cannot deny that a young woman is involved in this.'

'True, but not in the way you think. May I take it now, Sir, that I can count on your protection? It goes without saying that I'll be found guilty and, eager as I am to expose this villain, imprisonment for myself is too high a price to pay.'

'So you wish to go into Court with the King's Pardon as good as in your pocket?'

'Exactly, Sir. And to you there is not the least possibility of His Majesty refusing it.'

'That I admit and, were this a private matter, I would obtain one for you; but it is not.' The Prime Minster shook his head. 'It has become an Affair of State. The Ambassador of a friendly power has asked that justice should be done upon you. By now, I imagine a warrant for your arrest has been issued. Should the Bow Street Runners catch you, your trial and condemnation must follow. How, after you have been found guilty, can I possibly take steps to prevent your punishment? To do so would be to inflict a deliberate insult on the Venetians, and at the very time I am most eager to draw them into an alliance.'

Roger's face expressed his consternation. 'But, Sir,' he burst out, 'consider the alternatives. To escape prison I must go into hiding, or take refuge abroad."

'I appreciate that; but you are used to travelling, and in a few months this affair will have blown over.'

'Perhaps! But in all but having broken a law which it is common practice to ignore, I am innocent. And I resent being driven from my country.'

Mr. Pitt spread out his slim hands. 'I fear there is no help for it. The best I can do is to ensure you a clear start. I will give instructions that on some technicality the execution of the warrant should be suspended for a week. Meanwhile I will speak to my cousin Grenville and see if he can suggest some suitable employment for you while you are in exile.'

Roger, as was usual on such occasions, had been standing in front of the Prime Minister's desk, with his hat beneath his arm. Cramming it violently upon his head, he cried:

'You may save your breath, Sir! If into exile I must go, it will not be in your service.' Then he strode out of the room.

He had arranged to meet Droopy Ned at White's, to which they both belonged, and tell him there over a pint of sack the result of his interview with Mr. Pitt; so, still seething with rage, he walked across the Park and up St. James's Street.

Droopy was already in the Club and listened sympathetically while Roger poured out his disgust at his master's having sacrificed him rather than give offence to the Venetians. When he had done, Droopy said:

'I hesitated to say so the other night, but I had a feeling then that Mr. Pitt would put his interest with them before yours. What will you do? My invitation to lie low at Normanrood is naturally still open.'

'Thanks Ned, but no.' Roger shook his head. 'For one thing, the constant presence of Clarissa might prove too great a temptation to me. I've no wish to marry again, and I'd be ashamed of myself did I make her my mistress. For another, I have never been a great lover of country pursuits and after a week, with no company but woman, I'd be prodigious bored. I see nothing for it but to go abroad.'

'At least Mr. Pitt is giving you seven days in which to make your arrangements; and that is something. To what country will you go?'

'Heaven knows! If I return to Paris I'll get myself involved in political affairs, and I've no mind to start tightrope-​walking again as yet. I could go to my little chateau near St. Raphael in the South of France. I bought it early this year so that I might tell Barras and his cronies that I'd been sojourning there for my health as cover for returning in secret to England whenever I wished; but I'd be even more lonely there than I would confined to the estate at Normanrood. I'd like to go to Italy or the Rhineland again, but the war, with its hordes of soldiery marching and counter-​marching, must keep both those countries in a constant turmoil. It seems that I must go further afield.'

For half- an-​hour they discussed the attractions and drawbacks of numerous countries, then Droopy suggested, 'Why not make a voyage to India? I am told that society in Calcutta is now both civilised and gay. You could winter there in the sunshine and return here by next summer.'

At that, Roger brightened and, after a moment's thought, said, 'Strap me, Ned; I believe you've hit on it, I've always wanted to see the gorgeous East, and I'll have no better opportunity. What of a passage, though? I've an idea that most of the sailings take place during the first half of the year, and that after June there is only one more in September.'

'You are right in that, but I think with luck you might just catch the summer convoy. Only yesterday someone mentioned in my hearing that it had not yet completed mustering in the Downs. The rub is that all the best accommodation must already be bespoke.'

'Oh, I'd share a cabin if need be; though, naturally, I'd rather have one to myself.'

'You really mean, Roger, that you are set on making this voyage to the East?'

'Indeed, yes. The prospect of seeing Rajahs weighed down with diamonds, and going tiger shooting on an elephant, holds such fascination for me that I am already near inclined to forgive Mr. Pitt his churlishness.'

Then, as I have some influence with the Company, I will do my best to get you a comfortable passage. This afternoon I have an appointment in Hatton Garden to view a ruby ring said to have been fished up from a Spanish galleon sunk at the time of the Armada. I'll go on from there to the India House in Leadenhall Street.'

When they had finished their wine they left the Club and crossed the road to Arlington Street. In the big library they spent some time hunting out books on India that had illustrations of the country and its peoples. Later, Droopy suggested that Roger should accompany him down to the City, but he had other plans for the afternoon; so he declined and, as soon as Droopy had gone, went in search of Clarissa.