The Wanton Princess

'But why?' Roger burst out. 'What possible cause have you for inflicting this ignominy and discomfort on me?'

'The answer to that is simple. When last we met you told me that you had been present at the debate in the House on February 3rd. You must then surely recall that the basis of my reply to Tierney's attack upon me was the necessity for protecting the security of the realm. You, Mr. Brook, threatened to become a menace to that; therefore I had no option but to have you locked up. I must add that my view about you remains unchanged. As an adherent of Bonaparte you could not be other than a danger to this country. In consequence I am determined not to permit you to rejoin him.'

'How do you propose to prevent that?' Roger inquired. 'By returning me to the Tower and holding me a prisoner there indefinitely?'

'I could, but I should be loath to do so. Under the emergency law, should more than four persons congregate in the street to discuss politics they could be transported to the plantations in the Indies. I could arrange such a voyage for you and it might serve to chasten you. At all events it would keep you out of mischief for many months to come. But again, in consideration of your past services, I am reluctant to be harsh with you. Therefore I give you a choice. It is either that, or you will proceed to New Holland—Australia as we now prefer to call it—and furnish me with a report on the facilities for our establishing a Colony there.'

'Should I accept, what guarantee would you have that I would ever go to this outlandish place?'

'Your word as a gentleman, which I am prepared to accept.'

'I thank you, sir, but I'll not give it. I will neither go to New Holland nor allow you to send mc to the Indies.'

Suddenly Roger gave a harsh laugh, ‘I warned you that you had made a grave error in rejecting General Bonaparte's overture. You have made a still greater one in sending for me today. In the field of politics I would never dream of challenging you; but you have had the temerity to challenge me on my own ground. We are face to face here in this room and, to my great regret, as enemies. You are set on thwarting my will. I am determined to regain the freedom of which you have arbitrarily deprived me and to pursue in future any mode of life that I please. In the past had some person sought to prevent me from bringing back to England secret information of great importance, do you think that I should have hesitated to kill him? Why then, since you are proving an obstacle to my plans, should I refrain now from killing you?'

Stepping forward, Roger swiftly snatched up the thick, two-foot-long ebony ruler from the desk that lay between them and waved it threateningly.

The Prime Minister sat back with a jerk, stared at him round-eyed and exclaimed, 'You would not dare!'

'Why should you think that?' Roger smiled. 'While in your service I've killed a score of people. And to kill you would establish me for life in General Bonaparte's good graces.'

'You are gone mad!' Mr. Pitt murmured. 'It must be so. ‘Tis the only possible explanation of this threat to kill me.'

'I pray it may not come to that. But I must hit you on the head to render you unconscious for a while; and should your skull prove thin such a blow could make an end of you.'

Mr. Pitt did not lack courage. Coming to his feet, he held out his hand and said sharply, 'Mr. Brook, give me back that ruler.'

'Nay. I'll not do that unless you agree my terms unreservedly. And, for your skull's sake, heed this warning. Do you raise your voice above normal, or make the least motion towards your bell, I'll strike you down without further parley."

'What are your terms?'

'That you should sit down again and write three brief documents. One, a paper for the officers downstairs stating that you have freed me from arrest. Two, an order to the Admiralty to have me transported back to France. Three, an acknowledgment that without just cause and for your own private ends you had me imprisoned in the Tower of London for a week.'

'Never! Your demands are outrageous.'

'It is through your own folly that I am compelled to make them. Had you allowed me to proceed to France without interference instead of acting against me as though I intended to become a traitor....'

'You gave every indication that you might become one,' the Prime Minister broke in angrily. ' 'Twas clear to me that this ruffian Bonaparte had bewitched you. Once you had broken your ties with England, as you said you meant to do, the fascination he holds for you would have led you into becoming an enemy of your country, and a most dangerous one.'

'There you wrong me grievously. Having played a double game for so long, why should you consider me incapable of continuing to do so? I said only that I was no longer willing to act as a secret agent for you. It docs not in the least follow that I would not aid the cause of England should an opportunity arise. And it well may. Britain and France are both nearly exhausted, and I am convinced that the time is not far distant when they must agree a peace. When that time comes, having the ear of Talleyrand and Bonaparte there is at least a possibility that I may influence them a little into giving us more generous terms than they at first had a mind to do.'

Mr. Pitt frowned, 'I will admit that view of the matter had not occurred to me. Very well, then. I withdraw my objection. You may return to France. But in no circumstances will I sign a paper admitting that I had you imprisoned without just cause. I did so in the belief that it was for the protection of the safety of the realm.'

'In that I believe you. Nevertheless, you must do as I require,' Roger replied firmly. 'You have made it clear that up till a few minutes ago you had lost faith in my integrity. How can I be sure that your trust in me is fully restored, that you will not after all prevent me from going back to France by having me again arrested before I can leave the country? Only your admission that you had me falsely imprisoned will protect me against that.'

'I'll not give it you!' snapped the Prime Minister. 'I'll see you damned first.'

'Then you leave me no alternative but to strike you down and. leaving you either dead or unconscious, make my escape by way of the garden.'

' 'Twould be the act of a madman. What hope could you then have of getting back to France? Within a few hours, on learning of such a brutal assault, every man in southern England would be on the look out to apprehend you.'

Roger gave a grim smile, 'You sadly under-estimate my resourcefulness. I'd not attempt to cross the Channel. I'd go only as far as Brooks' Club and seek sanctuary there. In that hotbed of your political enemies I'd tell my tale, then write it and give it to the newshawks for publication. Later I might hang for having attacked you. But, by God, the story of your having abused your powers to imprison a law-abiding subject would bring about your ruin. You would be hounded from the House.'

For a long moment the Prime Minister stared at this terrible antagonist whom he had made into an enemy. Then he sat down at his desk.

Two days later a British sloop under a flag of truce landed Roger in France.

4

The Rebirth of a Nation

Late in the evening of February 17th Roger arrived at La Belle Etoile. a commodious hostelry no great distance from the Louvre. He had long made it his headquarters while in Paris, and its proprietors, the Blanchards, were old and trusted friends. They had first known him as a young assistant secretary to the Marquis de Rochambeau, seen him blossom into an elegant Chevalier who made one of Queen Marie Antoinette's circle at Versailles, given him shelter while he had lived in Paris disguised as a ragged, filthy sans culotte and. more recently, felt honoured that now, as a Colonel A.D.C. to the First Consul, he should continue to live at their inn rather than seek the more luxurious quarters that he could well afford.