The Greatest Historical Novels - Rafael Sabatini

Скачать книгу

for the moon.

      'Your proposal, however,' the representative ran on, 'is of a different order. I begin to see that in the manner you suggest I might make a little money honestly. I have made, I confess, a little in the past, a very little, by the favour of two good friends of mine, those good fellows the brothers Frey. And they have reproached me with having neglected my opportunities to make more.'

      He ran on, parading his honesty and the strength with which in the past he had resisted temptation. And he spoke at length of the Freys, whose very adopted name implied, as he pointed out, their patriotism and shining republicanism. Their original name was Schönfeld. But they had discarded this when they had left Vienna, quitting it because with the sentiments that inspired them they could live no longer under a rule of despotism. The elder brother, Junius, who so called himself after the founder of Roman liberty, had refused the office of first minister to the Emperor Joseph because he would not bend the knee to a tyrant. These were men who had given proof of their idealism, abandoning wealth and position so as to come and live in the pure air of liberty that prevailed in France. They had been good friends to Chabot, and but for his scruples might have been still better. They were skilled in finance, being bankers by profession. He would take counsel with them before he made a final decision in this matter in which he was now invited to coöperate.

      If this was a little disappointing to those schemers who had so richly fed the ex-Capuchin and so generously plied him with wine, yet they could offer no further insistence without arousing suspicions that might completely scare away so timid a quarry.

      And then, even as he was disposing himself to depart, Chabot was assailed by yet another doubt.

      'After all, citizens, I was overlooking in my ignorance of finance the fact that, to make money in the ways you indicate, money is necessary at the outset. And I have no money.'

      De Batz made short work of that difficulty. He cried out on a note of protest: 'Citizen-Representative! Can you conceive that a man of your shining merits should lack friends to advance you what capital may be necessary?'

      Chabot looked at him, his glance a trifle unsteady.

      'You mean that the Freys ...'

      'The Freys! I am not thinking of the Freys. I am thinking of myself. If you associate yourself with us, it is but proper that I should provide the necessary initial funds. You may draw on me, my friend. I am here to serve you.'

      The wavering gaze of the representative continued to consider the Baron.

      'That would remove a difficulty,' he admitted. 'Well, well, we'll talk of this again after I have taken counsel with Junius Frey.'

      CHAPTER XXII

       BRIBERY

       Table of Contents

      'Will you tell me,' André-Louis begged de Batz, 'who, in the name of Heaven, are these Freys, whom the unspeakable Chabot has dragged so abruptly upon the scene, and by whose opinions he sets such store?'

      He sat once more under the limes, alone now with de Batz, at the table still littered with the remains of the banquet spread for the departed guests.

      De Batz tapped his snuffbox, and supplied the information. The brothers Frey were a pair of Austrian or Polish Jews, bankers by trade, who had come to establish themselves in Paris under a pretence of ardent republicanism, no doubt in the hope of enriching themselves out of the general disorder. It was a proof of courage. Their change of name was a part of their pretence. The rest: the honours and the millions sacrificed, the confidence of the Emperor, and the like, were just so many spurious trappings. They haunted the clubs, particularly the Jacobins, and also the Convention. They had known how to make friends among the members of the Convention, and Lebrun, the minister for foreign affairs, was known to protect these scoundrels.

      De Batz further informed him that with them lodged a fellow named Proly, who, to his knowledge, was a spy in the pay of Austria.

      This, at least, was definite enough for André-Louis. 'That should enable us to absorb these Freys. It becomes necessary, since they influence Chabot.'

      On the morrow he dragged the Baron back to Paris and the Rue de Ménars, despite the Baron's reluctance to return just yet.

      Within two hours of their arrival, this reluctance seemed more than justified by a visit from the Municipal Burlandeux, who had evidently kept the house under observation.

      The burly officer swept aside Biret-Tissot, who opened the door to him, announced truculently that he would be put off by no lies, and swaggered insolently into the Baron's presence. He did not even trouble to remove the great cocked hat that covered him.

      'So, my cockerel, you've come back to your roost, eh? I've a notion that the President of the section will be glad to see you, and will have a question or two to ask you.'

      De Batz contained himself almost with difficulty. 'And the subject, if you please?'

      The municipal laughed coarsely. 'Oh, ho! You play the innocent. You have no suspicion, of course. You'll have no recollection of having been at the Temple some nights ago.'

      De Batz shook his head. 'I have not.'

      'And you never heard of an attempt to rescue the woman Antoinette from her prison, I suppose?'

      The Baron took time to answer, regarding him steadily the while. 'Now I know you for an impostor. It has been established by the Committee of Public Safety that no such attempt was made, and certainly the President of your section never sent you to me on any errand concerned with that.'

      'Ah! Very sure of yourself, are you not, Citizen Aristocrat? If you were to step round to the headquarters of the section with me, we might persuade you that we are not so easily fooled, we other sans-culottes.'

      'Unless you quit my premises immediately, you may find me stepping round to the section on a very different errand, my friend. Come, now. Be off! I've no time to waste on you or your kind.'

      'My kind!' The municipal's voice shrilled up in anger. 'My kind! Why, you damned aristocrat, what kind is mine? I'll tell you, name of a name! It's the kind that sends your kind to the National Barber. I know enough about you to bring your head into the basket. You can show off your airs and graces to Charlot when I've done with you.'

      The door opened behind him. André-Louis, attracted by that storming voice, stepped quietly into the room. The municipal wheeled sharply at the sound. André-Louis's face was solemn.

      'That was an ill-omened name you mentioned, citizen. It is not well to speak so familiarly of the executioner of Paris. It is unlucky, my good Burlandeux.'

      'So it is. So it will be—for both of you, by God!'

      'An idle oath. The Convention has abolished God. But why must you persecute us, who have done you no harm, and might do you much good?'

      'Good? You do me good! I should like to see the good that you can do me.'

      André-Louis preserved his gentleness. 'Should you not account it good to receive a hundred louis?'

      Insult was arrested on the sans-culotte's coarse lips. They parted in astonishment. He stared a moment.

      'A hundred louis!' Then he resumed, with an increase of fury. 'Ah, that! Now I understand! You want to bribe me! You think a true patriot is to be seduced by bribes. But not for two hundred louis would I be false to my sacred duty.'

      'Let us say three hundred, then.'

      Burlandeux stood paralyzed.

      André-Louis became insinuating. 'Oh, and not as a bribe. We know how idle it is to seek to corrupt a true sans-culotte, such as yourself, Burlandeux. It is just a little gift, a little earnest of our appreciation of your friendship, a proof, indeed, of the republican honesty of our own sentiments, which should set all your doubts at rest.'

      'Fine words!' said Burlandeux

Скачать книгу