Dennis Wheatley - The Rape Of Venice

Swiftly he saw that they must again stand and fight until help came. The No. 1 troop had had orders to remain in the garden and hold it; so that should Laker fail in his attempt on the main gate. Roger and his squad, having rescued Clarissa, could be certain of getting out that way. Parrying a pike thrust he shouted to the corporal.

'We must stand here, or we'll be cut up in the hall. Get back to the garden. Bring up half the troop! Tell the rest to keep by the door in the wall. Off now, and quickly. Waste not a minute.'

As the corporal backed out of the scrimmage, another hussar went down beside him. That left only Roger, Damaji and seven of them against at least thirty of the Rajah's guard. Only the narrowness of the passage saved them from being overwhelmed in the next few minutes.

During them, while the sweat poured down Roger's face on account of his exertions, his mind sought frantically for a way out of the desperate situation in which he now found himself as a result of having agreed to the Begum's plot. Had he stuck to his original plan, they might by this time, ill as Clarissa was, have wrapped her in a cocoon of blankets and carried her off on some sort of emergency stretcher.

No sign or sound suggested that Laker had yet forced the main gate, so Roger had good reason to believe that he might have on his hands the majority of the palace troops. Even with the help for which he had sent the corporal, the struggle must now become a fighting retreat. How if they had to defend themselves all the way back to the garden door, could they possibly manage to construct a rough litter for Clarissa, collect her, and get her away?

Two more of the guards went down and another hussar. Then Roger heard the sound of running feet behind him. Flickering his sword point at a brown moustached face, he suddenly jabbed it into a fierce dark eye then, with a gasp of thankfulness, threw a glance over his shoulder. The gasp turned to one of dismay, it was not the corporal returning with help, but another crowd of veiling natives. He and his men were trapped in the narrow passage.

There was only one thing for it. 'Quick!' he shouted. 'Into the room on the left. We'll barricade the door!'

As the men behind him backed into the room, there suddenly came a cry from the crowd of white-​clad figures that had just appeared on the scene. It seemed to him at that moment like angels' music. Above the swift pattering of sandaled feet as they rushed forward, their voices chanted 'Cla-​rissa! Cla-​rissa!' He knew then that they must be some of Rai-​ul-​daula's men.

Near exhaustion from ten minutes' unceasing cut and thrust, he backed after his remaining hussars into the room at the side of the passage. The furious onrush of the newcomers swept back the guards. For another ten minutes a frightful struggle raged. The passage was now half blocked by dead and dying the floor slippery with new spilt blood. Then the dozen guards who were left standing suddenly panicked, turned and ran pursued by Rai-​ul-​daula's yelling men.

Still panting, Roger led his little band out again. They followed the victors at a run. After traversing another long echoing corridor and an empty hall they burst out into the great forecourt of the palace. Dawn had now come. By its light, Roger saw that the main gate was hanging broken from its hinges. Laker's troopers were inside, sabring little groups of the palace guard that, here and there, were still putting up a resistance. For another ten minutes sporadic fighting continued with its sounds of shots, screams and curses; then they died away.

Laker caught sight of Roger, waved his long curved sword rode up to him and cried: 'I met with no serious opposition in the city, and the palace is now ours. We have only to round up the prisoners. What of Mrs. Brook?*

'I found her,' Roger replied hoarsely. 'She is ill desperately ill: but safe. I've been searching for that fiend Malderini.'

At that moment a big palanquin with red curtains came through the gate. Roger ran towards it expecting that it carried Rai-​ul-​daula’; but, as the bearers halted, one of the curtains was drawn aside and the Begum looked down on him.

'I have come,' she said, 'to do what I can for your poor wife.'

He frowned up at her. 'You knew, then, how ill she was?'

The old lady nodded. 'I knew; but it would have been no kindness to tell you. It would have disturbed your mind while all your thoughts should have been on our plan to seize the palace. But be sure that from now on she could not be in better care than mine.'

'I am most grateful to Your Highness.' he murmured. Then he added, "I pray you excuse me now. I am seeking the man who is responsible for her state.'

She leaned forward and shook her head. 'You will not find him. He is gone from here.'

'Gone!' he repeated, then suppressed a blasphemy that had risen to his lips. I understood he had got himself made Wazier in your son's place.'

"He did, two mornings since. But perhaps in some way he got wind of your intended attack. I learned only half an hour ago from a eunuch who is in my pay that the Venetian left the city last night.'

Roger could have wept with fury: but there was nothing he could do about it. Even if the direction that Malderini had taken was known, he must now have six or eight hours' start, and to set off in pursuit of him with Clarissa in her present state was out of the question.

He was still endeavouring to fight down his rage when Rai-​ul-​daula. surrounded by a little crowd of richly dressed nobles, emerged through an archway from an inner court. On seeing Roger, he hastened towards him, opened his arms, embraced him and cried:

This day is heaven sent. Last night I believed myself abandoned by gods and men. I was impious, for dawn finds me safe and free. I owe you my life, and vow eternal friendship to you.'

'Excellency,' Roger replied, 'you owe me nothing. Had you not saved my life ten nights ago, how could I have lifted even a finger to aid you. But I joyfully reciprocate your friendship; the more so as I have been appointed a political agent of the Company, and am charged with putting matters to rights in Bahna.'

Rai-​ul-​daula's eyes, with their awful squint, appeared to be fixed on opposite angles of the courtyard, but the white teeth under his fine upturned moustache flashed in a smile, as he cried, 'No news could be more welcome. Within an hour I will have sorted the sheep from the goats. We will then hold a diwan, and you shall make known the Company's pleasure.'

The Begum's palanquin had already moved on. Pointing after it, Roger said hurriedly, 'I thank you. Pray excuse me now; I wish to accompany Her Highness, your mother, to my sick wife.' Then, still followed by the remains of his squad, he ran to catch up the palanquin.

He found Clarissa much as he had left her. Angus McCloud was bathing her face but she was still delirious. The Begum forced a few drops of dark liquid between her teeth from a thin phial, and after a few minutes she ceased her low-​voiced babbling. To Roger, the old lady said:

'Her state is much worse than was reported to me. It is her chest. There is inflammation there. It is shown in the manner of her breathing. We must rub her with hot oils. But first we will move her.'

'Move her?' repeated Roger with a quick frown.

'Yes; she must have more light and air, more room for attendants to be with her, and be in a place where she will not be disturbed by the nearness and chatter of other women. It is not far, and she will take no harm. The divan can be lifted and carried without disturbing her.'

Damaji was still with them. The Begum turned and spoke to him. He salaamed then, pointing to the divan, looked at Roger. After only a moment's hesitation, Roger called in his men and told them to pick it up. Following the mute, they carried it down the corridor, through a hall and out into a smaller garden that Roger had not yet seen. On the far side of it there stood an ornate pavilion. On entering it, Roger guessed that it was here that the Rajah had slept, sending when he wished for whichever of his houris he favoured at the moment to be brought to him, for its central room contained a big elaborately carved bed, and there were other rooms off it for guards and servitors.