Dennis Wheatley - The Shadow of Tyburn Tree

Abruptly the speaker relapsed into silence, evidently becoming absorbed in his memories; so Roger, thinking it to be the end of the tale and that some comment was called for, said: "That was indeed a most satisfactory outcome to your Majesty's fine display of initiative."

"Nay, nay!" cried the King, looking up. "That was but the be­ginning; the testing time which taught me that when called to book the Senate were no more than a pack of craven fools. The affair of the name-stamp occurred over two years before I came to the throne. While still Crown Prince I had to bide my time, but I began to make my preparations for a coup d'etat in secret. When my father died I was in France. The Estates busied themselves against my return by wrangling over the terms of an even more stringent coronation oath than any that had been forced upon my predecessors; those stupid babblers little knew that I was already taking measures for their overthrow. For my project I needed an ample supply of money where­with to bribe key-men and suborn my own troops. I managed to per­suade old Louis XV to subsidise me to the tune of six million livres ; though what that cost me by way of a pourboire to the Du Barry, I shudder to recall."

Gustavus gave a sudden laugh. "Still, 'twas worth it; even though the Comte de Vergennes arrived as the new French Ambassador to my Court having failed'to bring the first instalment with him, and I had to borrow on the promise of it from the Dutch. But I anticipate. On my return I found the Four Estates at loggerheads among them­selves. Those of the Peasants, Burgesses, and Clergy were entirely dominated by the Caps, and so controlled by my enemy Catherine, who was prepared to spend a fortune as long as by so doing she could keep me in chains. Only the First Estate still showed some spark of independence; yet even in that the nobles were thinking not of the monarchy, but of themselves. Things were in the very devil of a mess, and that firebrand Count Pechlin caused me endless trouble. He was an extraordinarily astute political intriguer; as dangerous, self-seeking and unscrupulous as your Charles James Fox. Do you know Mr. Fox?"

"I know him slightly, Sire," Roger bowed in answer to the abrupt question. "He has great personal charm but I consider his political machinations utterly despicable. Tis clear that your majesty had the most appalling difficulties to contend against."

"I had indeed. The people knew nothing then of the reforms I intended for their benefit; so the whole country was against me: except for a few nobles who had the sense to see that we were on the verge of a revolution. Yet even they thought me too young and inexperienced to handle the situation myself, and relegated me to a minor part in the coup d'etat we planned to save the situation. However, they soon learned their mistake."

The King was silent for a minute, then he ceased his excited pacing. " Johan Kristoffer Toll and Baron Sprengtporten, Colonel of the Nyland Dragoons, were the ringleaders. The first has since become my faithful Minister; the other has turned against me. He and Count Yagerhorn are the leaders of the Finnish nobility, who wish to hand their country over to Russia."

" 'Twas Count Yagerhorn who set those rogues upon me, Sire," Roger interjected. "Despite his mask I recognised him plainly."

"That surprises me not at all, seeing that he is Russia's best-paid lackey, and tied both by interest and love, if you can call it that, to Razumofsky's daughter."

"I crave your pardon for interrupting," said Roger after a moment. "Your Majesty was saying. .. ."

"Ah, yes. The plan was that Sprengtporten should proceed to Finland, seize the fortress of Sveaborg and muster an army there. Meanwhile Toll was to secure Christianstadt as a rendezvous for our supporters in Sweden. When both had accomplished their tasks the two armies were to advance from east and south on Stockholm. Then, as Sprengtporten had the impudence to put it to his colleagues, 'we must thrust a weapon into the young King's hand and trust him to use it'."

Gustavus sniffed indignantly. "They had yet to learn that I have two weapons of my own; my sword and my tongue, and that I can use both better than most men. As so often happens with conspiracies, the affair went wrong at the last moment. Contrary winds prevented Sprengtporten from sailing, and before Toll could assemble an army at Christianstadt news of their activities leaked out to the Senate. I was left high and dry in the capital, surrounded by my enemies and with scarcely a man I could count on. On the evening of the 18th of August I learned that on the following day the Senate intended to arrest me."

For a moment the King paused dramatically; then, throwing him­self into his role of hero like a born actor, he cried: "That night and the day that followed were the most exciting of my life. 'Twas my wits against those of the whole governing class of Sweden. If I won, Sweden would have a real King for the first time in seventy years; if I lost, my life would be the forfeit. But my years of secret preparation stood me in good stead. I had taken the trouble to cultivate the goodwill of a number of Army officers. While darkness lasted I sent messages requesting them to meet me the following morning in the great square facing the arsenal. Some two hundred obeyed the summons. I led them to the guardroom of the barracks and there addressed the soldiery. I spoke to them in Swedish, which no monarch had done within living memory. I made the speech of my life, painting in vivid colours the sad state into which our dear country had fallen. I ended by crying 'If you will follow me as your forefathers followed Gustavus Vasa and Gustavus Adolphus, I will venture my lifeblood for the safety and honour of my country'."

Again Gustavus paused, then he threw up his right hand. "On that they cheered me to the echo. The Senate was in secret session debating the question of my arrest. I sent a picket to lock them in, dictated a new oath of allegiance binding the troops to my person, and took possession of the artillery-yard for my headquarters. Then I tied a white handkerchief round my left arm as a mark of recog­nition and bade all my adherents do the same. Within the hour the whole city had donned my symbol. The gates of the capital were closed at my order, the fleet, which was lying off the Skepperholm, was secured, and I returned to my palace absolute master of the situation."

"What a triumph!" Roger could not help exclaiming in genuine admiration.

The King's eyes gleamed. "Ah, but my crowning triumph took place two days later. On the 20th I Sent out heralds to proclaim that the Four Estates should meet in the Riksaal at four o'clock the following afternoon. On the 21st I had my troops line the streets of the city and one hundred cannon trained on the Riksaal with a grenadier behind each holding ready a lighted match. My terrified enemies crept to the meeting place in twos and threes. When they had assembled I appeared before them in my full regalia and from the throne trounced them for their lack of patriotism. Then I read to them the new Constitution, which I had already prepared with my own hand. Not one of those loud-tongued bullies who, all my life, had treated me with such insolence, had the courage to say a single word in protest. To a man they swore to keep the new Constitution inviol­able, and at last there was a real King in Sweden once more."

With that tact which was one of Roger's greatest assets he again went down on one knee, as the most suitable way in which he could express his admiration for the royal actor.

Nothing could have pleased Gustavus more, and this time he gave Roger a friendly pat on the shoulder, as he said: "Rise, Chevalier; or perhaps I should say Mr. Brook, since it was in that name you signed your letter. We still have much to discuss before morning, and the night advances."