The Greatest Historical Novels. Rafael Sabatini

      CHAPTER XIII

       DEPARTURE

       Table of Contents

      Monsieur de Batz stood once more in the presence of the Regent, in that plain room in the châlet at Hamm. He stood before Monsieur's writing-table, in a rhomb of sunlight that fell from the leaded panes of the window on Monsieur's left. Windows and door were tight shut and the stale atmosphere of the room was heavy with the earthy smell of burning peat from the clay stove. From the eaves outside came a steady drip of melting snow, for the thaw had set in that morning.

      Three other men were in attendance. The delicate Comte d'Avaray, his English air accentuated by plain blue riding-coat, buckskins, and knee-boots with reversed tops, was seated near the middle of the room, on the Baron's left. With him sat the dark, showy, slimly vigorous Comte d'Entragues. The Regent's brother, the Comte d'Artois, slight, elegant, and restless, paced to and fro across the room. He had been invited to attend so soon as the trend of the Baron's proposal was apparent.

      The Baron had been speaking, and now that he had ceased, silence was maintained until the Regent, who had thoughtfully sat biting the end of his quill, invited the opinion of Monsieur d'Entragues on what they had just heard. D'Entragues was at no pains to dissemble his contempt.

      'A wild enterprise. Utterly desperate. A gambler's throw.'

      Monsieur d'Artois halted in his pacing. He could assume airs of an intelligence which he did not possess. He assumed them now, preserving a wise silence.

      The Regent levelled the glance of his full eyes upon de Batz.

      'Agreed,' said the Baron easily. 'Oh, agreed. But for desperate ills, desperate remedies.'

      Solemnly Monsieur d'Artois corrected him. 'It cannot rightly be said that this ill is desperate. It is very far from desperate.'

      'I allude, Monseigneur, to the situation of the royal prisoners. That, I think, it will be agreed is desperate enough, and time will not stand still for them. There is not a day to be lost if her Majesty is to be rescued from the terrible fate which has already overtaken the late King. Monsieur d'Entragues describes this as a gambler's throw. It is admitted. But what alternative does Monsieur d'Entragues propose if the Queen and her family are not to be abandoned to their fate?'

      D'Entragues shrugged impatiently, and crossed his legs again.

      'I think you should answer that,' said Monsieur d'Artois in his cold, level voice.

      D'Entragues complied, perforce. 'So far as an attempt to rescue her Majesty is concerned, my views are no reason why it should not be made. It is even heroic of Monsieur de Batz to stake, as he will be doing, his head upon the gamble. But when it comes to the other wider issues with which Monsieur de Batz wishes to concern himself, I must frankly say that it is disconcerting to the agents already acting under my directions to have this independent meddling.'

      'So that,' said Monsieur ponderously, 'you would advise that, whilst we sanction the Baron's enterprise on behalf of the Queen, we do not authorize him to take any action having a wider scope?'

      'That is what I have the honour to advise, Monseigneur.'

      And this might finally have closed the matter but for a gentle interpolation at that moment by d'Avaray, who, if he seldom intervened in affairs, never intervened without commanding the Regent's attention.

      'But what,' he asked, 'if the opportunity for a bold stroke should present itself? Is it to be neglected?'

      D'Entragues suppressed his annoyance at this opposition from the Regent's favourite whom he detested yet whom he dared not openly flout. He spoke as smoothly as he could.

      'If the opportunity presents itself, my agents will be at hand to take advantage of it. I can assure you, messieurs, that they have the very fullest instructions from me.'

      But de Batz was emboldened by the unexpected support of Monsieur d'Avaray. 'Suppose that they do not perceive an opportunity which presents itself to me, am I still on that account to neglect it? It is not lucky, Monseigneur, to let opportunity go unheeded. If I attempt and fail, I do not perceive how this can thwart the measures being taken by Monsieur d'Entragues's agents.'

      'The measures might be identical,' cried d'Entragues, without waiting for leave to speak. 'And a clumsy failure on your part would create alarm, directing vigilance to the very point where we least desire it, where it may defeat us.'

      Thus began an argument which endured for a full hour by the clock. Monsieur de Batz remained outwardly calm before this crass opposition, whilst Monsieur d'Entragues, growing heated and at moments, consequently, reckless in his arguments, laid himself open to several palpable hits.

      The end of it was that their Highnesses, grudgingly and with all the air of bestowing a high favour, condescended to hear Monsieur de Batz in detail upon the plan which he pretended to have formed for the overthrow of the revolutionary government. But now Monsieur de Batz almost wrecked his chances of risking his neck in the service of these ungracious Princes by stating that he would prefer to unfold his plans with the attendance of one who was largely their author and who was to be his close associate in their execution.

      Peremptorily he was asked the name of this person. When he had supplied it, the Princes and their two advisers looked at one another, whilst Monsieur d'Artois expressed the opinion that they should know something more about this Monsieur Moreau before investing him with authority to act on their behalf.

      Still Monsieur de Batz betrayed no sign of his impatience, which says much for his self-control. He went out to fetch André-Louis, who awaited the summons.

      Their Highnesses considered the neat, trim figure without enthusiasm. Monsieur d'Artois, indeed, who had not remembered him by name, but recognized him now at sight, frowned upon him in silence. It was the Regent who addressed him.

      'Monsieur de Batz has told us, monsieur, of your willingness to coöperate with him in certain measures which he believes are calculated to serve our interests in France. He tells us that you are partly the author of the plan upon which he proposes to act, but of which we have yet to learn the details.' And with that chill welcome he turned to Monsieur de Batz. 'Now, Monsieur le Baron, we are listening.'

      The Baron was brisk. 'Our plan is not so much to clean out the Augean stable as to reveal its noisomeness in such a manner to the people of France as to induce them to rise up and themselves perform the necessary work of purification.' Briefly he sketched the main principles which would guide their task and some of the measures by which they proposed so to corrupt those very corruptible men that their corruption could no longer be concealed.

      Monsieur d'Artois became interested. D'Avaray's delicate face was flushed with enthusiasm. D'Entragues continued coldly hostile, whilst Monsieur turned grave eyes from one to another as if seeking in their countenances the guidance of the reflection of their thoughts.

      Monsieur d'Artois moved across to stand beside his brother's chair. Monsieur's glance interrogated him.

      'The conception is of an engaging audacity,' said the younger Prince. 'Sometimes audacity succeeds. What more can one say?'

      'I perceive,' said the Regent, 'no reasons against the attempt being made. Do you, d'Entragues?'

      D'Entragues shrugged. 'None beyond those which I have already had the honour to express to your Highness. If I were to attach to Monsieur de Batz a man of my own, who is now under my hand here, I should have some assurance that there would be no working at cross-purposes with my own agents in Paris.'

      Monsieur nodded solemnly. 'What says Monsieur de Batz to that?'

      Monsieur de Batz smiled. 'I welcome every recruit, always provided that he possesses the qualities