Dennis Wheatley - The Shadow of Tyburn Tree

"I'd not be far off the mark if I said I had, sir," Roger replied with a worried grin. Then, his quick mind seizing on a way in which he might turn the allusion to his advantage, he added, "The devil of it is that this ghost follows me about."

"Have you come to me to lay it, then?" Pitt smiled.

"I have, sir; if you can give me ten minutes of your time?"

"Next month I'll give you ten days if you wish; but come upstairs and, if you'll be brief, I'll hear what you have to say."

Up in his room Pitt poured two glasses of port, handed one to Roger, and said, "You really look as though you needed this. Drink it down; then tell me what it is that troubles you?"

" 'Tis true, that I have just sustained something of a shock," Roger admitted. "But the ghost that haunts me, sir, is the state of things I left in Sweden."

"Oh that!" the Prime Minister exclaimed a little irritably; but Roger produced Hugh Elliot's letter and hurried on.

"I pray you read this, sir. I ask it on the count that however deplor­able the state of our internal affairs at the moment we still cannot afford to ignore events that are taking place overseas, or we'll have cause to rue it."

Pitt shrugged, read the letter through, refolded it and handed it back. "I have already told you," he said firmly, "that in this matter I can do nothing."

"But you can, sir," Roger protested. "You are still the principal executive of the Crown, and there is nought to prevent you ordering a fleet to sea."

"I could, but I have no mind to commit my successor in office to a policy on which he has not been consulted and of which he would almost certainly disapprove."

Roger stared at the thin, tired face of the harassed statesman; then he suddenly burst out. "How can you put such scruples before the interests of the country? Do you but act now, while you still have the chance, you may yet preserve the independence of two Kingdoms. But if you do not, Catherine of Russia will sweep the board. You know as well as I, sir, that once you are gone that traitor Fox will sell us out to her."

"Charles Fox is no traitor," Pitt replied sharply. " 'Tis merely that his views as to the country's best interests differ from my own. I sent you to Russia to ascertain if a rapprochement with the Empress was possible. Her personal dislike of me may have been the stumbling block. If Fox can secure a permanent alliance with her he will, in that, have served his country better than myself."

"What! By gaining her fickle friendship at the price of the partition­ing of Sweden, and later allowing her to gobble up Denmark? Nay, I'll not believe it!"

After pouring himself another glass of port, Pitt sipped it moodily, and said, "Such fears are based only on the beliefs of men like Elliot and Harris. My Lord Carmarthen thinks quite differently, and events may prove him right. In any case, as things are, it would be morally indefensible for me to commit Britain to a war."

"You do not have to do so," Roger cried, on a sudden inspiration. "Britain is at peace with both Sweden and Denmark. Why should you not despatch a squadron on a courtesy-visit to the capitals of both countries?"

Pitt gave him a sharp glance. " 'Tis unusual without an invitation, yet it might be done. But no! I dare not trust that hot-head Elliot."

"Had Mr. Elliot's head been colder Sweden might by this time have been divided between the Russians and the Danes," Roger retorted. "But if you fear that he may act rashly you could give instructions to the Admiral commanding the squadron that he is not to fire a shot without first receiving orders from home."

"Then 'twould be but a cardboard armada, and useless in a crisis."

"Nay, sir! The very fact of its appearance in the Baltic should be enough. Unless Britain takes some step Prussia will believe herself deserted, and refrain from pursuing the policy that was decided on last autumn. But if we show the flag, she will continue to play her part; and you may be sure that the Prussian General will have no orders that his artillery is not to use its cannon."

"Mr. Brook, Mr. Brook!" The Prime Minister shook his head in mock disapproval. "From whom did you learn to cultivate such ideas? Was it from our mutual friend the Abbé de Talleyrand-Perigord, or during your conversations with the Czarina Catherine; for they are positively Machiavellian."

Roger grinned at him. "What matter, sir, if by their acceptance the status quo in the North may be preserved and the Empress's nefarious schemes brought to naught."

"So be it, then. I confess that you have won me over to your project by providing a safeguard against our irrevocable commitment. I will see the First Lord and arrange with him the dispatch of a squadron. Do you wish to sail with it in order to witness the outcome of the matter?"

"May, I—er, leave that open," Roger hesitated a second. "My private affairs are in something of a tangle; but I should know how I am placed in a day or two."

"Just as you wish. 'Tis unlikely that a squadron could be got ready to proceed to sea until Monday, at the earliest. I trust that by then you will have laid the other ghost that worries you."

Roger thanked him, made his bow, and hurried downstairs. During the last few minutes, almost subconsciously, he had formed the resolution of going to Lymington to see his mother. It was just after mid-day, and, if he set out at once, he thought that he would be able to get there in time for a late supper.

At Amesbury House he borrowed Droopy's Ned curricle as the fastest vehicle available. By one o'clock he was being driven out of London, and soon after nine the last change of horses brought him to his home.

Lady Marie Brook accepted his unannounced arrival with her usual placidity, but one look at her boy's face was enough to tell her that he was in grave trouble of some kind. She made no comment while he ate a meal, then, when he had done, she said quietly: "Now come into the drawing-room and tell me all about it."

He smiled, kissed her, and followed her into the familiar green and white room, that always smelt so pleasantly of lavender and pot-pourri. After raking the log-fire into a blaze he settled himself opposite her and, with a few unimportant omissions to spare her sensibilities, told her the truth about his meeting and marrying Natalia Andreovna.

When he had done she sat silent for a moment, then she said: "And you have come to tell me that you are going back to Sweden to fetch her."

He nodded. "There seems naught else for it."

"Of course there is not, dear boy." She came over and kissed him. " 'Twould be idle to pretend that this is the sort of marriage that your father and I would have wished for you. But you are vowed to her, and your first decision to abide by your vows was clearly a proper one. From all you say it seems she had fair cause to believe you had abanddoned her, so 'twas but natural that she should seek an asylum with her father. Now that she has explained her disappearance and appealed for your forgiveness, I think you in honour bound to rescue her from her present unhappy situation. Bring her to me as soon as you get back to England, and you may be sure that I will afford her a mother's welcome."

In his heart of hearts Roger had known from the moment he had read Natalia Andreovna's letter that he would have to go to her, and what his mother's reaction would be; but he was, nevertheless, greatly relieved now that the decision was definitely taken.

Saturday he spent with his mother, and to reassure him further she set cheerfully about re-arranging the furniture in some of the rooms in preparation for Natalia's reception. Early on Sunday he set out for London and, on his arrival, drove straight to the Admiralty. The duty-captain informed him that the squadron would be sailing from Chatham, probably on Tuesday morning, and added, to Roger's surprise and delight, that his father had been appointed to command it.