Dennis Wheatley - The Rising Storm

"What think you of Sieyes ?" Roger enquired.

"I have no personal liking for him. He is a dry, withered little man to whom nature gave a cold, calculating brain instead of a heart. Beyond self-interest he has few passions, except for his bitter hatred of aristo­cracy in all its forms. As a Churchman he is no better than myself, and his own Order passed him over in the elections. But I understand that in view of his great services to the opponents of absolutism he is being permitted to offer himself for election as one of the deputies for Paris; so no doubt he will secure a seat in the Third Estate."

The Bishop paused to refill the wine-glasses, then went on. "As an Englishman you may not have seen his pamphlet which began: 'What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been until now in the political order? Nothing. What does it ask? To be something’ Its circula­tion ran into many thousands and instantly placed him in the forefront of the struggle for reform. I would not trust him an inch, and do not believe that he has the courage required to become a great leader; but if we achieve a Constitution he may go far. His specimen cahier has cer­tainly exerted an immense influence on the drafting of a high proportion of those which will be brought to Versailles."

"And what of your own?" smiled Roger.

De Perigord laughed. "I have no worries on that score, for I drafted it myself."

"It would interest me greatly to hear its contents."

"Mon ami, I would not dream of boring you with it. 'Tis full of the the sort of clap-trap that fools swallow readily, and I have no intention of giving it another thought."

"Tell me what other men besides Monsieur L’Abbé Sieves you think likely to make their mark."

"Malouet should stand out from the integrity of his character, if men of moderate views are listened to. Mounier also, for he is the best-known politician in France, and esteemed an oracle on all questions of parliamentary procedure. Then there are Dupont de Nemours, the economist, Bailly, the much-respected astronomer, Louis de Narbonne and Clermont-Tonnerre, all of whom you will recall having met here when you used to frequent my breakfast parties, and all men of con­siderable ability. But, as I have already told you, the potentialities of the great majority of the deputies-elect are still entirely unknown to us here in Paris."

"You make no mention of the Comte de Mirabeau."

"I thought it unnecessary. Honore Gabriel Riquetti stands head and shoulders above all the others I have mentioned, not only physically but mentally. As his cantankerous old father, the Marquis, refused to give him even the small fief required for him to qualify for election to the Second Estate, he stood for the Third at both Marseilles and Aix. Both cities elected him and he has chosen to sit for the latter. "Whatever may be the fate of other deputies, in an assembly resembling the Tower of Babel from everyone wanting to air his opinions at once, you may be certain that de Mirabeau will not allow himself to be howled down."

"Think you he has the qualities to make himself a great leader?"

For once de Perigord hesitated, his smooth forehead wrinkling into a frown; then he said: " 'Tis difficult to say. All the world knows that he fellow is a born scamp. That he has spent several years of his life in a variety of prisons is not altogether his own fault, as his father pursued him with the utmost malice, and consigned him to them on a number of lettres de cachet. But whenever he was out of prison he lived in a most shady fashion, resorting to many a degrading shift in order to get money to gratify his passions. I doubt if his immoralities have actually been greater than my own but he has certainly conducted them with greater folly. He deserted his wife and abducted that of a Noble of the Robe. Then he deserted her and ran away with a young woman from a Convent who was near becoming a nun.

"I believe him to be honest and a true patriot. He is certainly a man of great intellectual gifts and fierce determination. I am sure that he would shrink from saying, writing or doing nothing which he believed to be in the interests of his cause. But the Riquetti are of Italian origin, and his hot southern blood goes to that great head of his at times, and I fear that the violence of his passions may prove his undoing."

"Great as is his popularity with the masses," Roger remarked, "one can hardly imagine that, should the King grant a Constitution, he would be inclined to entrust a man having such a history with the formation of a Government."

A cynical smile twitched the corners of the Bishop's lips, as he asked: "Who can tell, mon ami, how much say the King will be allowed in the choice of his future Ministers ?"

"You feel convinced then that the States will not only succeed in forcing him to grant a Constitution, but reduce him to a cipher into the bargain?"

De Perigord nodded. "I do. I think the monarchy, decadent as it has become, rests upon too secure a foundation to be overthrown, and none but a handful of extremists would wish it. But once the States meet you may be certain that they will not rest content with any half-measures."

"I agree with what you say about the monarchy, but what of the present occupant of the throne? Is there not a possibility that the Due d'Orleans may attempt to supplant him; or at least get himself made Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom, with the powers of a Regent?"

The expressive eyes of the wily Churchman suddenly became quite vacant, then in a casual tone he replied: "His Highness of Orleans undoubtedly has ambitions to play a greater part in affairs of State, but I can scarce believe that he could carry them so far as to become guilty of treason to the King."

Roger felt certain that his clever friend was now lying, and so, almost certainly, involved to some extent in the Orleanist plot himself. He therefore refrained from pressing the point and asked:

"Do you perchance know Monsieur de St. Huruge ?"

"Not intimately. He frequents the royal circle, I believe, and for a long time past I have not been persona grata at Court. But why do you ask?"

"Because I was given a letter of introduction to him before I left England," Roger lied; "and I have so far failed to discover his present address."

"You might try the Palais Royal" suggested de P6rigord. "I do not go there often these days, but it chanced that I was there last week, and as I was on my way in to His Highness's cabinet I passed de St. Huruge on his way out. Possibly one of the secretaries may be able to tell you where he lives."

The fact that the villainous de Roubec's sponsor had been seen coming from an interview with the Due d'Orleans in his Paris home was no proof that he was necessarily an Orleanist himself; but it certainly lent considerable support to Roger's theory that he might be. And in view of de P&igord's evident reluctance to discuss d'Orleans he felt that he had been lucky to pick up this little piece of information. Having thanked the Bishop for his suggestion, he added:

"However, since I should still have to enquire of his whereabouts from a third party, I fear I shall not have time to find and wait upon him; as I am leaving Paris quite shortly."

"Indeed!" De Perigord raised his eyebrows. "I am most sorry to hear it. You have been absent from Paris for so long; I was particularly looking forward to the renewed enjoyment of your society."

As Roger bowed his acknowledgment of the graceful compliment, the Bishop went on: "Really; you should at least remain to witness the opening of the States. It will be vastly interesting; and I should be happy to introduce you to all the deputies of my acquaintance."

"I thank Your Grace for your kindness, and most tempting offer." Roger's voice held genuine regret. "But, alas, I must decline it. Her Majesty's disapproval of duelling did not manifest itself in my case only by her causing me to spend a night in the Bastille. When I was released this morning the Governor informed me of her further order, that within forty-eight hours I was to leave Paris."