Dennis Wheatley - The Shadow of Tyburn Tree

As Roger obeyed he said with feeling: "Your story, Sire, has but added to the high admiration I had already conceived for your Majesty's courage and abilities. This detailed knowledge of your brave handling of the discontented, nobility in '72 also gives me more confidence that if the need arises you will again succeed in circumventing their evil machinations. And in that was my greatest fear for you should it be your royal will to go to war with Russia."

"It is my royal will," declared the King proudly. "The die is cast, and I sail for Finland on the 24th."

Prebendary Nordin gave a deferential but warning cough.

Gustavus swung round towards him. "Be easy, my friend. We know from this young man's letter to Mr. Elliot that his interests inarch with our own. If he is to be of any value to us we must trust him, or he will not know how to serve us best."

Roger bowed. "I thank you, Sire, and vow that I will never abuse any confidence which you may do me the honour to make me. May I be permitted to inquire if Count Razumofsky has yet been officially informed of your intention to go to war with his country?"

A crafty smile flickered over Gustavus's thin hps. "The Count made his demarche to-day. He demanded to know the reason for our military preparations and seemed mightily perturbed about them. He has good cause for his anxiety, seeing that the Empress has entirely denuded her Finnish frontier in order to reinforce her armies on the Black Sea. She knows my hatred of her and of my alliance with the Turks; but she counts upon my not daring to declare openly against her without the sanction of my Estates, and relies upon her paid hirelings in them to thwart me. 'Twas clear to me that Razumofsky counts upon that too, and believes that I intend only a gigantic bluff for the purpose of drawing pressure off my allies. I gave him fresh grounds for continuing to think it."

A little shocked at such duplicity, Roger murmured: "Then your ^Majesty has no intention of sending the Czarina an ultimatum; and intends to attack her without warning?"

The King nodded. " 'Tis a chance in a lifetime, and I am not the man to miss it. With the Finnish frontier virtually undefended I'll be at the gates of Petersburg within a month; and that proud, evil woman will have no option but to submit to such terms as I'll dictate— unless she wants her capital burned about her ears. But I told Razum­ofsky that I intended only to journey to Finland to make further inspections of my troops, and that I had no mind to offer any fuller explanation until I arrived there."

Roger smiled, which brought the swift question: "What matter do you see for merriment in that, Monsieur?"

"Knowing the Russian, Sire, I was thinking how baffled and angry he must have been at receiving so ambiguous an answer."

"Aye, he was angry as a bull before which a matador waves a red cloak." Gustavus gave an abrupt laugh. "But I gave him more reason for that than I have so far said. For once I allowed myself the pleasure of carrying the war into the enemy's camp. I accused him of fomenting internal treachery here, and aiming at sowing discord between my people and myself. Then I ordered him to leave my Kingdom."

"If I may be permitted to say so, Sire, 'twas a bold step; for is not the dismissal of an Ambassador without asking for him to be recalled by his own Court almost tantamount to a declaration of war? Will not the Empress read your intention in it?"

"Nay, I made it a personal matter; and by the time he reached Petersburg 'twould be too late for anything that the Empress might deduce from his return to be of value to her. I was anxious to have him out of the way before I left Stockholm myself. But, unfortunately he foiled me in that. He declared that he would accept his dismissal from his post only on receiving a direct order signed by his Imperial mistress. 'Twould bring discredit on my Crown to seize the person of an Ambassador and forcibly put him aboard a ship; so he remains. But to some extent I have curbed his power to do mischief in my ab­sence. I insisted that, apart from his personal servants, all his staff should go, and his daughter too, since she is one of his principal links with those of my subjects who conspire against me. For the purpose I have placed a ship at their disposal, and she will sail on the after­noon tide to-morrow."

"Have I your leave, Sire, to add a postscript, reporting these latest moves, to my letter to Mr. Elliot?"

"Mort dieu , Monsieur! You lack not for boldness," exclaimed the King, pausing in his stride. "You should consider yourself plaguey fortunate, to have escaped a prison, and I am amazed at your effrontery in even thinking that I would permit you to despatch your letter."

Roger put on his most disarming smile. "I beg your Majesty to reconsider this matter. We are agreed, I think, that while serving you I should not cease to serve my own Sovereign. But, apart from that, there is the question of a long-term policy, to which I humbly draw your attention. This war that you plan with Russia should result in curbing her power in the North, and that well suits the interests of Britain. Therefore, it seems to me, that, in an emergency, your Majesty would have a good case to claim my country's support. Should such an emergency arise I feel sure, Sire, that your chances of obtaining aid from Britain will be far greater if you have, from the beginning, allowed me to keep Mr. Pitt informed as to your projects and your prospects."

Obviously struck with the idea, the King turned to Nordin and asked abruptly: "What think you, Prebendary?"

"I think, Sire, that this young man has a good head on his shoulders," replied the cleric. "I have his letter here; and should you decide to accede to his request, when he has added a postscript under my supervision, I will see that the document is sent to Copenhagen by a safe hand."

"So be it then," Gustavus nodded to Roger. "And now for your instructions. You will proceed to Petersburg with the minimum of delay, using your French identity, and find out all you can which may prove to my advantage. The Russian capital is within two days' ride o! the Finnish frontier, and no regular guards are maintained for the interception of travellers passing between the two countries. When you have aught of interest to report go over into Finland. On arriving there, and not before, set your news down on paper. Sign such notes only with an initial—E for Englishman will serve; superscribe them to me and mark them as of the utmost urgency. Seal them carefully and hand them to the first Swedish officer you may come upon for immediate transmission to my headquarters. Have I made myself clear?"

"You have, Sire," Roger bowed. "But surely once hostilities com­mence the frontier will be closed and pickets posted along it?"

"They will not interfere with the passage of a neutral. Moreover, I do not desire you to make the journey often; only when you have something to convey which you consider to be of prime importance, so there should be no grounds for them becoming suspicious of you through your crossing with any frequency."

"One other point, Sire," Roger said a trifle hesitantly. "If I set out instantly, as your Majesty commands, I must leave Stockholm without such letters of introduction from the French Ambassador, and others, as I would normally have carried with me. Lack of them will almost certainly delay my securing a foothold in Petersburg society, and thus swiftly becoming well-placed for being of service to you."

The King pinched his slightly receding chin between his fingers and thumb, and remained thoughtful for a moment; then he replied: " 'Tis something of a quandary. I would have you there as soon as possible, and you could have sailed to-morrow in one of the sloops that is to act as escort to the ship which is transporting the personnel from the Russian Embassy. Yet I think your contention sound. On balance 'twould be worth your dallying in Stockholm for a few days to arrive in Petersburg well accredited."