The Rape Of Venice

Chapter 18

A Tough Nut to Crack

Roger swore, argued, cursed, reasoned and pleaded; but all in vain. He explained that the Wazier intended to bring the Rajah's army over to them; so there would be no fighting. Gunston replied that he would not trust the word of any native, let alone a cross-​eyed one. Roger implored him to at least make a demonstration in force. Gunston countered that it would need only one fool on either side to let off a musket for the demonstration to become a bloody battle. Roger begged for one company of infantry with which to make the attempt himself. Gunston refused on the grounds that they were his troops, his orders were positive and, if even a score of them were used in an act of war, he would be held responsible. Roger called him a coward. Gunston, with commendable restraint, declared that he would not accept a challenge from a man who was out of his mind. Finally, driven to a frenzy by the thought of Clarissa, and that Gunston had the means to save her but would not use them, Roger rushed upon him and attempted to strike him in the face.

Thoroughly worn out, as Roger was, his assault failed dismally. Gunston was fresh from a night's sleep and, in any case, the stronger physically. He seized Roger's wrists and held him off; then bellowed an order that he should be put in irons and taken to a tent. Five minutes later Roger was dragged away, manacled and pushed into a tent, the flap of which was laced up and a guard put on duty outside it.

The tent was a spare officer's quarter what a mat on the floor and a low divan. Choking with rage at having been put in irons, racked with anguish by fears for Clarissa, and utterly-​distraught at the thought that there was now no hope of rescuing her, he flung himself down. Nature, too, had chosen this moment to exact from him the price of his exertions and ordeals. He ached in every limb, he could hardly see out of his eyes, his head seemed on fire and his brain was bemused.

For Roger to lose his temper was a very rare thing. Vaguely he realised that he had been a fool to do so, and that he would not have had he been thwarted by anyone other than Gunston; but, from his school days, the sight of that ruddy, coarsely handsome face had been to him as a red rag to a bull. His mind went back to Sherborne and Gunston's bullying him there snatching and spoiling his small precious belongings, and taunting him into fights he could not hope to win.

It was now more than twenty-​four hours since he had closed his eyes. During them he had ridden nearly eighty miles, and been harrowed by every sort of exhausting emotion. With tenuous memories of his school-​days still drifting through his mind, he fell into a profound sleep.

When he awoke it was night. For a moment he could not think where he was; then, as he moved, the clank of irons that confined his wrists and ankles brought everything back to him. He had been roused by the entrance of a tall figure holding a lantern, who now stood beside the divan. With a groan he stared up into the shadow above the light and made out the face of the officer who had taken him to Gunston's marquee. The young man said:

'The Colonel sends his compliments, Sir; and says that if you are prepared to conduct yourself in a reasonable manner he would be pleased to see you.'

Roger sat up. He had slept the clock round. Owing to the resilience from strain and exertion which came from a naturally vigorous mentality, the habit of facing up to difficult situations, and excellent health, his mind was clear and his body no longer feeling the effects of fatigue. He managed to raise a rather strained laugh, and replied:

'I fear I behaved very badly yesterday or was it this morning? Anyway, if you'll have me relieved of these irons I'll promise not to repeat the performance.'

The officer called into the tent a farrier corporal and, with a twisted smile, Roger watched while, for the second time in twenty-​four hours, fetters were knocked from his limbs; then he accompanied the youngster who had been sent to fetch him to the Colonel's marquee.

Gunston was sitting in an easy chair behind a table that had on it a decanter of Madeira and two glasses. As Roger was shown in, he gave him a sharp glance, dismissed the officer, and said:

'You were not yourself this morning, Brook; but in the circumstances I can hardly blame you. I'd have you, though, remember two things: firstly, that I am not a free agent to do as I wish; secondly, that although we have never had any love for one another, this is no time to quarrel. Sit down now, and join me in a glass of wine. There will be a meal for you presently. I thought you would prefer to feed on your own rather than sup with the rest of us in mess.'

'That was considerate of you,' Roger replied. 'I am in no state to support trivial conversation with strangers. As for this morning, I apologise. You were right about my being out of my mind; but the horrors that threaten Clarissa…'

'I know. I would to God my hands had not been tied by our poltroon of a Governor; but we'll get nowhere by going again into that.' As Gunston spoke he was pouring the Madeira. Setting down the decanter, he added: 'I've despatched a Captain with a troop as escort to inform the Rajah that should one hair of Mrs. Brook's head be harmed we'll hang him from his own gate. But more than that I could not do. I could not demand the surrender of her person, since to do so would have amounted to an ultimatum.'

Roger's throat was parched, so he drank off the first glass of wine in three long swallows. While doing so he considered the possible results of Gunston's move. He feared the probability was that the young Rajah, being under Malderini's influence, would ignore the threat. It was certain, too, that the Captain would mention Roger's arrival at the British camp, and that might invite the Venetian to hasten in his designs against Clarissa.

However, it was clear that Gunston had acted with the best intentions, so Roger tactfully refrained from voicing his thoughts, and said, 'We can only pray that Jawahir-​ul-​daula heeds your warning. You will appreciate, though, that unlike yourself I am not bound by any orders, and cannot possibly sit here with folded hands awaiting events.'

'I would not expect you to; but you can do nothing without help. Your best plan would be to return to Calcutta and induce Sir John Shore to send me fresh instructions, empowering me to demand her release and, if need be, march on Bahna.'

'That seems the only course open to me,' Roger agreed.

'May I take it you would provide me with a guide and escort?'

'Certainly.' Gunston refilled their glasses, and went on after a moment. 'I must warn you of one thing, though. As the old Bible-​puncher never intended me to fight, he did not provide me with a force adequate to do so. My information is that Jawahir-​ul-​daula can put into the field an army of some four thousand men. I have only some eight hundred: a battalion of sepoys much under strength, a single battery, and some details of scouts and sappers. Apart from the officers and a troop of horse, none of them are Europeans.'

Roger shrugged. 'As I told you this morning, the Wazier, Rai-​ul-​daula, will bring the Bahna army over to us.'

'If you prove right in that, well and good. But I'd not trust to it. These native gentry are tricky customers. Should things go wrong, I'd find myself with a battle on my hands that I'd not care to have to fight.'

'I see,' said Roger uneasily. 'Still, in the worst event, we might take the city by surprise in a night attack.'

'That's easier said than done. Once we have shown our hand you may be sure they'll keep the walls well manned. They might even sally out and, having so great an advantage in numbers, overwhelm us. No; the remedy lies in your bringing me reinforcements. A good stiffening of British troops is what I need; and preferably cavalry. Were he able to send me my own regiment of Dragoons, I'd make mincemeat of the whole Bahna army. But they are not available, so you must take what you can get. At a minimum it should be two hundred sabres, two companies of redcoats and another battery of artillery. With less, if your man plays the traitor to us, it could be only a desperate gamble.'

'Very well,' Roger agreed. 'You may be sure I shall secure as large a force as possible. When can I set off?'

'As early as you wish tomorrow morning.'

'Why not tonight?'

Gunston gave a sudden laugh. 'You have only yourself to blame that my hospitality up till now has been so lacking. But you should see yourself in a mirror. You are as haggard as a corpse, and look as though you had been dug up from a grave after being buried in your clothes. You need a bath, a barber. a good night's sleep and a fresh rig-​out before you'll be in a fit state to travel.'

'I've slept all day.' Roger informed him, 'and I've no wounds to plague me. But I'd be grateful for the other things; and the sooner I set out the sooner I'll be back.'

'As you will.' Gunston finished his wine and stood up. 'I'll send my servant. He'll help you to get yourself clean and find you fresh linen; then he'll bring you a meal. Meanwhile, I'll arrange about an escort for you.'

After a good wash down in a canvas camp bath, a change of underclothes, and with his hair freshly combed out, Roger felt fully equal to starting on his journey. While he ate, Gunston had had packed up for him in a haversack some emergency rations, and provided him with a sword and pistols. Then they went out to the guide, who was holding the horse on which Roger had ridden from Bahna, and two troopers who were to act as escort.

Before mounting, Roger held out his hand to his old enemy. Whether or not while in Calcutta Gunston would, if given the chance, have seduced Clarissa, Roger had had no grounds whatever for the murderous thoughts he had entertained against him in connection with her disappearance; so he now felt distinctly guilty about them. More, when in Martinique, there had been an occasion when he had used his authority to force Gunston to give up his command as an alternative to being shot; so after the episode of the morning, Gunston might well have used his authority to revenge himself by much harsher measures-​perhaps keeping him a prisoner in irons for a month. Whereas he had behaved very decently, and was doing his best to be helpful.

Gunston took the proffered hand, pressed it firmly, and said: 'Despite our past differences, Brook, we're on the same side of the fence this time. Get me a few hundred good British troops and another battery of guns and I'll get Clarissa for you in no time. Good luck to you!'

Ten minutes later the glow of the camp fires was fading behind Roger and his companions as they rode eastwards into the darkness. The route they took did not lead up into the mountains, but skirted them through low hills to the south of the range, so the going was comparatively easy. After twenty-​odd miles, they reached the Subarnarekha, roused the ferrymen from their hut, and crossed it in bright moonlight. By ten o'clock in the morning they entered Midnapore. At the good inn there Roger rested his men and horses, lying up through the heat of the day. About six o'clock they set off again, now along the road that Roger had travelled on his outward journey. All through the night they alternately jogged along and rested. Two hours after dawn they reached Ulubaria, on the broad Hooghly, and there Roger was forced to admit that neither his horses nor men were fit to go any farther.

The fact that Calcutta lay only twenty miles up the river made the fact more infuriating. For a moment he contemplated leaving his escort, securing a fresh mount and going on alone. But he knew that he could not. In the past five days and nights, he had ridden nearly three hundred and fifty miles. His muscles felt as though he had been put to the torture on a rack, his thighs were raw, and when he dismounted he could hardly stagger to the inn.

Yet his agony of mind for Clarissa was greater than his agony of body, and he would not give up. While he had been a prisoner he had not been searched and robbed, so he still had a considerable sum in gold in his money belt. After making a handsome present to his escort, he paid the landlord of the inn lavishly to make fresh arrangements for him. They were to have him carried to a boat and put aboard the first passing schooner that was making her way up river to Calcutta.

As it was a Sunday, commercial traffic was at a standstill, but they found for him a native craft and, within few minutes of being helped into her he was sleeping the sleep of the dead on a pile of matting in her stern. Slowly she tacked up the river past Budge-​Budge and Garden Reach. It was three o'clock in the afternoon before she pulled in beside a wharf, and even then the turbaned master of the craft had difficulty in rousing him from his trance-​like slumber.

Stiff as a board, and with every limb complaining, he beckoned up a sedan chair and had himself carried in the sweltering heat to William Hickey's. On the way he was a prey to fears that, as it was the week-​end, this good friend upon whom he relied so much for advice and help would be up at his house at Chinsurah. But his fears proved groundless. Hickey's head boy said that his master had stayed in town to attend a party the previous night, and had gone out only half an hour before to dine with Sir William Dunkin. Roger asked that a message should be sent to inform him that he had returned from Bahna, and wished to see him urgently. Then he subsided on a sofa in Hickey's library and instantly fell asleep again.

The lawyer excused himself from sitting over the wine after dinner, and returned at six o'clock. Although physically still in poor shape, Roger, having slept for the greater part of the day, had recovered mentally sufficiently to pour out to him an account of all that had happened.

It entailed a long story as, until then, Hickey had never even heard of Malderini. When, after numerous explanatory digressions, it was done and Hickey had expressed his deep concern for Clarissa, he said:

'It looks as if Rai-​ul-​daula is toying with the idea of playing the part that Mir Jafer did here in '57, when he was Wazier of Bengal. If he does, that would suit your book; but it is certain that Sir John Shore will see the parallel and. recalling that Mir Jafer afterwards gave great trouble to the Company, he may well hesitate before agreeing to any attempt to assist Rai-​ul-​daula in supplanting his nephew.'

'Such finer policies can play no part in this,' Roger replied angrily. 'The honour and safety of an English lady are at stake, and he must set matters to rights or be shamed before the whole community.'

'That, certainly, is your strong suit. Much as it may go against the grain with him. I think it unlikely that he will refuse you orders for Colonel Gunston that he should demand the handing over of Clarissa. I count Gunston sound, though, in his contention that you should not rely too much on Rai-​ul-​daula's help. However great his goodwill, when it comes to the point he may be in no situation to influence events. It would, too. be typical of such court intriguers did he let a battle start but held his hand until he saw which way it was going. You'll not find it easy to persuade our craven-​hearted Governor to throw down the gauntlet, but if you succeed you'd be wise to make as certain of the outcome as you can by pressing him to let you have the maximum possible number of reinforcements.'

I intend to. And I mean to ask him to let me have Colonel Wesley. Gunston does not lack for bravery, but he is better at chasing the fox than playing the fox. If the odds are against us, shrewd handling of the situation will be half the battle; and Arthur strikes me as a man who combines caution with courage. His counsel could constrain Gunston from any headlong folly, and aid him in selecting the right moment if we have no alternative but to attack.'

Hickey shook his head. 'In that I fear you must resign your self to disappointment. As you must know, my Lord Hobart, while Governor of Madras, has played a part that puts Sir John to shame. Lacking the authority to stop the rot that is undermining British influence among the Indian Princes, he has concentrated his energies against the settlements in the East of the European powers with which we are at war. He has already brought all the old Dutch settlements in Ceylon and Malacca under our flag and seized from them the valuable islands of Banda and Amboyna. This is in confidence, of course, but I had it from one who knows his Lordship's mind that he is now engaged in fitting out an expedition for the capture of the Spanish settlement in Manila, and has asked for Colonel Wesley to command it. In any case, Arthur sailed for Madras two days ago.'

'For me, that is ill news,' Roger remarked glumly. 'I had been counting on his help, if only in a private capacity. Out of respect for a brother officer having distinguished connections,. Gunston would have deferred to his advice, whereas 'tis certain he'll have nought but contempt for mine. Still, I have faith in Rai-​ul-​daula, and doubt if it will come to a fight if only we show sufficient firmness of purpose.'

They had an early supper, then Roger lay for a long time in a hot bath and afterwards, his limbs much eased, flopped into bed, at last making up a good part of his lost sleep.

Next morning he was up early and rode out to his own house on one of Hickey's horses. Having changed his clothes, he collected certain of his private papers, then returned to the city to wait upon the Governor. To avoid working in the heat of the day, most Europeans began to transact their business at seven o'clock, and at a little before eight Sir John Shore had Roger shown in to him.

The Company's ugly, unpopular Chief Representative did not lack politeness, and he rose from behind his desk to return Roger's bow. Then he said: 'I was sorry to learn, Mr. Brook, that you have been having trouble with your wife.'

'Not with her, Sir,' Roger corrected him quickly, 'but on her account.'

Sir John raised a grey eyebrow. 'I was given to understand that some ten days ago she eloped with an admirer, and that you had gone up country in pursuit of them.'

'Far from it. She was abducted with the connivance and assistance of a native Prince; and I am come to require your Excellency's assistance in regaining possession of her.'

'Indeed! Such a charge raises a serious issue. Pray take a chair, and give me full particulars.'

Roger had both an orderly mind and the gift of clear expression but, even so, it took him over twenty minutes to present a lucid account of his entanglement with Malderini in England, then of all that had occurred as a result of following Clarissa to Bahna.

When he had done, the Governor said: 'Mr. Brook, I pray you do not assume that I question your veracity. I would, though, suggest that you have been misled. All of us have heard of mesmerism, but few people can have seen it practised with even moderate success; and I cannot believe that anyone could apply it with sufficient potency to make a happily married young lady abandon her husband and her home against her will.'

From what Hickey had said, Roger had been prepared to find Sir John difficult; but he had not expected to be challenged on what he had come to regard as the accepted facts of his case. Switching his mind swiftly to supernatural matters, he said:

'I was unaware, Sir, that you were an atheist. Since that is so, it would be pointless for me to argue with you about spiritual forces.'

'An atheist!' Sir John exclaimed indignantly. 'I'd have you know, Sir, that I am as firm a believer in the Christian Faith as any man in this country.'

'You surprise me,' came the calm reply. 'How, pray, do you reconcile your Faith with a denial in the power of God to answer prayer?'

'I have done no such thing!

'Your Excellency has done what amounts to that, by implying that the Devil is incapable of responding to the supplications of his worshippers.'

That is a very different matter.'

'Permit me to disagree. Both God and the Devil are fundamental concepts of the Christian Religion. You cannot believe in the power of the one without also granting power to the other.'

I grant your point; but where does this lead us?'

To the fact that you have no grounds for thinking it more unlikely that a Satanist, like Malderini, should receive help and strength from his god than that we should do so from ours. In view of that, are you prepared to maintain that the Devil would never grant one of his disciples exceptionally strong mesmeric powers to enable him to dominate another person's mind for the purposes of Evil?'

The Governor gave a wry smile. 'It seems, Mr. Brook, that you have missed your vocation. You should have gone into the Church and made a name for yourself as a theologian. However, your argument when applied to the present case, breaks down. You have asked me to believe that this man Malderini is a powerful magician, and that he intends to make use of Mrs. Brook in some abominable ceremony; yet you admit that in Lady St. Ermin's house you saw him unmasked as a charlatan.'

'That is true,' Roger admitted, 'but not grounds enough for supposing that Malderini is altogether incapable of securing help from the Devil. You, Sir, if inflicted with some dread disease, might pray for fortitude to support your pains, and have it granted; but if one night you prayed for wings, I greatly doubt if Our Lord would oblige you.'

I fear I am far from being near enough a Saint to expect such a miracle.'

'And, no doubt, if Malderini has not yet qualified for the inner circle of Hell, that would explain why he had to resort to a trick, rather than rely on his Infernal Master, in his attempt to levitate the Princess Sirisha. But of his hypnotic powers I have personal experience. During the duel I told you of…'

Sir John held up his hand. 'That might be accounted for by your having been in low health at the time. But there is no reason to suppose that Mrs. Brook was. Naturally, her departure has been the talk of Calcutta for this past week. Native servants always give a full account of such matters to anyone who will listen to them; so the facts are well known. After an hour's conversation with this man, she personally directed the packing of all her belongings; then, wide awake, without the least indication that she was either ill or unhappy, she mounted into his palanquin and left with him. I cannot credit that any healthy young woman could be arbitrarily hypnotised into taking such a course. No. Mr. Brook. You have my sympathy; but I fear you must accept it that your wife has deceived and deliberately left you.'

Roger fought down a rising sense of alarm. He had not yet even reached the point of endeavouring to persuade Sir John that an ultimatum to the Rajah of Bahna would not necessarily be followed by war, let alone tackled him on the subject of reinforcements for Gunston. Yet in inducing the Governor to adopt an aggressive policy lay his only hope of saving Clarissa. Clearing his throat, he said:

'Nothing can now convince me, Sir, that Mrs. Brook left me of her own free will. But there is a sure way to find out if it is you or I who are in the right of the matter. It is that the Rajah of Bahna should be required to produce her, and that, after an interval sufficient to free her from Malderini's malign influence, she should be asked to speak for herself.'

'The Rajah might well refuse to comply, maintaining that this is a private issue, and no concern of his. What then?'

'Colonel Gunston would then act upon the further instructions that your Excellency would have given him namely to recover her by force.'

The Governor raised his long knobbly hands and gently tapped the tips of his fingers together. 'Come, come, Mr. Brook. We are no longer living in the age when Troy was besieged on account of Helen. You cannot seriously expect me to involve the Company in a war on your behalf because your beautiful young wife has run away with another man.'

Angered by this assumption of Clarissa's guilt, Roger went slightly pale, but he kept his voice level as he replied, This is no question of personalities, but one of principle. The honour and safety of an English woman are involved.'

'You have not yet convinced me that she is in any danger. And, if she is, she has brought it on herself. There can be no justification for calling on men to fight in such a cause; and I have no intention of placing the lives of perhaps several hundred people in jeopardy on account of a truant wife.'

Roger saw now that patient argument would get him nowhere; so he replied with sudden acidity: 'Such righteous sentiments would no doubt be mightily applauded at a meeting of Puritans; but the parable of the strayed lamb would make them difficult for any true follower of Christ to justify.'

Sir! Do you presume to lecture me on my religion?'

'No. Your Excellency's religion holds no interest for me.' Roger's tone had again become mild, but the way in which he steadily returned the Governor's angry stare through half-​closed eyes showed that he was now in a highly dangerous mood. He went on quietly, 'I am concerned only with justice, and the prestige of my King and country. As regards the first, you are guilty of a gross injustice condemning my wife unheard. With regard to the second, am I not right in believing that your real reason for refusing me your assistance is because you are anxious not to give offence to the Rajah of Bahna?'

I am under no obligation to reply to such a question,' Sir John replied stiffly. 'But as I know myself to have been much criticised on that head, I will do so. I am the Servant of the Company. The instructions of their Honours the Directors are that I should avoid all cause for war with the native Princes, and resort to arms only should it be necessary to defend the Company's vital interests. It is my task to carry out those instructions to the best of my ability; not to question them.'

'I disagree. You are ignoring the revolutionary change that has recently taken place in the Government of India. The setting up of the India Board by Parliament has given you two masters. You are now responsible not only to the Company, but also to the Crown. And it is your duty to put the interests of the Crown before those of the Company. I propose to show you a certain paper, and then…'

His ugly face twitching spasmodically, the Governor jumped to his feet and cried: 'How dare you attempt to teach me my business!'

'I pray your Excellency to be seated. When you have seen this paper, I think you will alter your tone.'

'Mr. Brook, you go too far. I'll not read your paper, nor will I discuss these matters with you one moment longer. This interview is ended.'

'On the contrary,' Roger retorted angrily, 'we are but just come to the essentials of it. I, too. have held His Majesty's Commission as a Governor; and, since you clearly need it, I intend to give you the benefit of my experience.'

'You… you! Your insolence is beyond bounds!' Sir John pointed with a trembling hand towards the door. 'Leave the room instantly!'

'I shall leave it when you have written and signed the instructions I came here to get from you; not before.'

'You force me to extreme measures. I see that I must ring for my people and have you arrested.'

Roger made no move to rise. He knew that if he once left the room he would never be given another chance to see Sir John Shore alone. He was fighting for Clarissa's sanity and, perhaps, her life. If he failed now to wring from the Governor authority for the help he needed, all hope of saving her would be done. He had hoped to prevail by argument, but had come prepared to stake everything for her sake. By the step he was now about to take he would, unless he succeeded in breaking the Governor's will, find himself hauled before a court and given a long prison sentence. But it was the only way in which he could force Sir John to listen to him. Without batting an eyelid, he took the plunge, and said sharply:

'In my pocket I have a small pistol. It is loaded and, if your Excellency's hand moves an inch nearer that bell, the Company will be under the necessity of appointing a new Governor.'

Sir John's hand remained poised in mid-​air; then he cried, 'This… this is an outrage!'

'It will not be unless you force me to make it one.'!

'You are mad, Sir! Mad! The loss of your wife has driven you out of your mind.'

'No, I am in full possession of my reason. But it happens that my own interests coincide with those of His Majesty's Government. And, since you are neglectful of the latter, I regard it as my duty to see those interests safeguarded.' As he spoke, Roger put his hand into an inner pocket, and Sir John exclaimed with a sudden show of courage:

'I'll sign nothing; nothing! Not even at the pistol point!'

'I'd be a fool to force you to,' Roger replied, taking out a folded parchment, 'for if you did, you could issue an order for its cancellation within five minutes of my leaving you. I wish only to convince you that, where affairs of State are concerned,, there are times when some people put a certain value on my opinion.'

'I should be much surprised ever to find myself among them.'

'That we shall see. You will recall that half an hour back I told you that it was owing to my duel with Malderini that I had to leave England. This letter was brought out by Colonel Wesley, and it is the clearance for my return.' As Roger laid the letter on the desk, he added casually, 'No doubt you are acquainted with the handwriting of the Prime Minister?'

'The Prime Minister!' echoed Sir John, his mouth dropping slightly open.

'Why, yes. Mr. Pitt has been my master for many years; and a: you will see from that he looks upon me as a trusted friend.'

Sir John adjusted his steel-​rimmed spectacles and his glance ran swiftly down the parchment. After a moment, Roger said, 'Permit me to direct your Excellency's special attention to the postscript.'

'I have read it.' The Governor's voice was sharp and querulous. 'May God give me patience. To think that Mr. Secretary Dundas should intend to ask you for a report on the state of things in India. What can you know of this vast country? You who have been in it less than a week for every year I have spent here!'

'Three months in a country is more than enough for anyone to learn if its government is strong or weak.'

'You can have formed your judgment only from malicious tittle-​tattle, and that is no proper basis to go upon. Even if you were better qualified, that a Minister of the Crown should seek information behind the Company's back in this way is positively scandalous.'

'Your Excellency appears to forget that, as Chairman of the India Board, Mr. Dundas is responsible to His Majesty for the security of British interests in India. From having been a servant of the Company for so many years, your loyalty to it is understandable. But you must not expect me to share it; and it does not excuse British prestige having fallen so low during your stewardship. You talk of tittle-​tattle, but it is far more than that when over their wine every night of the week men damn you for policies that bring shame upon our nation. Your betrayal of the Nizam of Hyderabad destroyed throughout India all faith in the British word, and but three nights ago a petty princeling, only a score of miles beyond the frontier of Bengal, treated your name with derision, declaring to me that you would not dare to lift a finger against him.'

'Enough! Enough!' cried the tortured Governor. 'I have followed the instructions of my masters. I have brought in many excellent reforms. I work far longer hours than any of my staff. I have near wrecked my health in service to the people of this country. And what is my reward? To have you. who are ignorant of all this, hold me up at pistol point in order that you can fling these terrible accusations at me.'

Roger shrugged. 'I have no pistol. I pretended that I had one as the only means of preventing you from having me thrown out. I endeavoured to show you that letter earlier, but you would not let me. Your seeing it was my only hope of bringing you to reason.'

'And now that I have.' the Governor gave a bitter laugh. 'I am faced with not a pistol but a cannon. Clearly you are offering me the choice of doing as you wish or, should I refuse, returning to England and doing your utmost to hound me out of office.'

'Say rather that, as in the case of Mr. Warren Hastings and with far better reason, I will have you impeached for treason.'

This is no less than blackmail it could be, but it happens that I have scruples.' Roger told the glib lie because he wished to save the wretched man's face. I’ll put no pressure on you, and give you my word that when I make my report to Harry Dundas it shall be a fair one, untinged by malice. I ask only that your Excellency should consider the advice which I propose to offer you.'

Sir John looked at him in astonishment and, after a moment, replied: 'In view of what has passed between us, you are now acting with considerable generosity, Mr. Brook. Having read this letter, too, I must concede that you are a man of much more consequence than I thought. I would that I had let you show it to me earlier, for it is a clear testimony that the highest personages set value on your opinions.'

Now that the tension was relaxed, both men again sat down, and Roger said: 'It may on first thought seem an impertinence for one who has been Governor only of a West Indian island to air his views to a man of your Excellency's exalted station and far great experience; yet I am convinced that the art of government remains the same whatever the size of the state.

'When I arrived in Martinique, it had recently been taken from the French, and nine-​tenths of its white population are of that nation. The island was in a state of acute unrest, and a revolt aimed at turning us out could be anticipated at any time. My predecessor had resorted to fiercely repressive measures, but that had led only to further antagonising the inhabitants and paralysing the trade of the island.

'I reversed that policy and, like yourself, initiated one of appeasement. In every issue I went as far as I could to meet the wishes of the French. I revoked many restrictions that irritated them, bettered the lot of the workers, and stimulated commerce. In fact, I ruled with a velvet glove. But I kept a hand of steel inside it. The least infringement of my orders and the offender got no second chance. Those who were caught talking sedition against the British rule I treated without mercy. It may well be that I had hanged a score of innocent men; but by that I stopped revolts which might have led to the deaths of many hundreds.

'May I suggest, Sir John, that you have been ruling with the velvet glove, but without the steel hand inside it?'

The tired man on the other side of the desk nodded slowly. There is much in what you say. But my instructions from the Company…'

'Let us forget the Company,' Roger cut him short, 'and think only of what British rule should be. Justice, the freeing of the people from oppression by the native rulers, the introduction of better methods of agriculture, the stabilisation of currency, and encouragement of the exchange of goods between provinces; all this, but also death for those who foment discontent or, through personal ambition, threaten the progress of peace and prosperity.

'In the matter of Bahna, you have to your hand a situation which, if you handle it rightly, can rehabilitate you in the eyes both of your fellow countrymen and the native potentates. This vicious young Rajah owes the Company twelve lakhs of rupees. He has refused to pay it, and is confident that you will not dare to use force to collect it. I suggest that you should order Colonel Gunston to advance on Bahna and demand both the money and my wife. I go further. I suggest that you should entrust me with an order to depose Jawahir-​ul-​daula and appoint a suitable successor. For him to pay at this late date is not enough. Only by occupying his capital and making an example of him will you receive the full credit for having acted, however belatedly, with real resolution to restore your lost authority. Do this and the news of it will run round India in a week. From Kashmir to Travancore it will be realised that you are not, after all, a man to be trifled with.'

They argued the matter for another half-​hour, but in the end Roger got his way. Sir John Shore penned a despatch giving fresh instructions to Gunston, and signed and sealed for Roger a commission as an agent of the Company authorising him to make such changes in the government of Bahna as he saw fit. Apart from policy, the question of reinforcements for Gunston was outside his province, but he gave Roger a letter to the Commander-​in-​Chief, informing him of his decision to reduce Bahna to obedience, and requesting that British troops should be despatched as soon as possible to strengthen the force that Gunston was commanding on behalf of the Company.

Mentally stimulated by his triumph after this long battle, Roger took leave of the Governor and had himself carried in a chair through the noisy, crowded, smelly streets to the Red Fort, in which General Sir Alured Clarke had his headquarters.

The General kept him waiting for half an hour but then, having met him at numerous bachelor evening parties, greeted him as an old friend. Having read Sir John Shore's letter he exclaimed, 'Drat me! What can have come over that moribund cuss that, for once, he's willin' to let us chastise one of these insolent coffee-​coloured gentry?'

Tactfully, Sir Alured refrained from enquiring about Clarissa, so Roger did not use her situation to urge the necessity for acting with speed. Instead, feeling that he had let the Governor down lightly, he did not scruple to imply that if matters were delayed Sir John might change his mind; as he knew very well that the soldier would go to any lengths rather than lose this unexpected chance to re-​establish British prestige. He learned, though, to his dismay, that this question of speed raised a new and tricky problem.

Sir Alured had far fewer troops than he really needed to 'show the flag' and, if need be, help to defend the Indian States on which, since Clive's day, the Company had imposed a vague over lordship embodied in some form of alliance. Most of these, too, were stationed up in Oudh, or in the distant Carnatic, and recently he had had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for troops to make up Colonel Wesley's force that was mustering at Madras for the expedition to Manila. The only unit he could offer, which could be on the way in forty-​eight hours, was a squadron of hussars from the Headquarters’ garrison. Neither artillery nor British infantry could be made available under a fortnight, as both would have to be composite units formed from details got together in the depots.

Roger's choice, therefore, lay in either taking the cavalry only, with which he could rejoin Gunston in a week, or waiting for at least a fortnight, then making a slower march at the pace of the infantry, which meant that the best part of a month must elapse before he could hope to rescue Clarissa. As cavalry was the arm Gunston had said he needed above all else, and Roger still had faith in Rai-​ul-​daula bringing the greater part of the Bahna army over to them as soon as the British appeared in front of the city, he hesitated hardly a moment before deciding to make do with the hussars.

Knowing that Calcutta must by now be humming with the news of his return and a fresh wave of speculation about Clarissa's disappearance, he felt it would be highly embarrassing to meet their acquaintances; so he made only one visit, which was to his old friends the Beaumont’s, and poured his woes into their sympathetic ears. Moreover, the idea of returning for two nights to his own house, where he had known so much joy with Clarissa, was intolerable to him; so he rode out there only to give Chudda Gya a month's wages for the servants then went to cover for the rest of the time in the mansion of the ever hospitable Hickey.

Early on the Wednesday, still a prey to great anxiety about Clarissa, but physically again in good shape after his two days of recuperation, he set off with the squadron of hussars. They were commanded by a Captain of near his own age, named Philip Laker; a short, dark, good looking young man, with the typical slightly bow-​legged swagger of a cavalry officer. From the start they took a liking to one another and, as Roger trotted once more across the long dusty plain, with its endless vistas of ryots cultivating their fields, humped oxen drawing high-​wheeled carts and women with bundles on their heads, he told Laker the whole story of his involvement with the abominable Malderini.

As the pace had to be kept down to one which would not tire unduly the least good mounts of the squadron, instead of making the journey, as Roger had, in little over two days, it took four; so it was in the mid-​morning of Sunday that they came in sight of the camp outside Bamanghati. Much to Roger's surprise, he saw that only a remnant of it remained, and it was obvious that the greater part of Gunston's force had vacated it. A quarter of an hour later, an Ensign who had been left in charge of the sick and stores told him that the Colonel had received an urgent despatch on Thursday evening and set off in the direction of Bahna early on Friday morning.

Roger had known that Gunston would receive his new orders from Sir John Shore several days before he could rejoin him, but had not expected him to move off before he had received his reinforcements. However, that he had done so now appeared all to the good, as Laker's hussars could make the march through the hills much faster than Gunston's sepoys and artillery; so, by the latter having moved up to an advance base, a day would be gained.

As the midday heats were now increasing with the advance of spring, the track through the mountains would from ten o'clock onwards be sizzling with heat, and the glare on the bare rocks most tiring to the men; so Roger and Laker decided to rest the squadron at Gunston's old camp that afternoon, then break the back of the thirty miles they had to go by a night march. By dawn on Monday they reached the lower slopes on the far side of the range, but were much surprised to find no signs of Gunston's advance base there.

After a two-​hour halt for the men to have a meal, they moved on down into the plain. Three miles farther on they got their first distant sight of the city; but they had to ride another two before they came upon one of Gunston's pickets. A sepoy then led them along a track through a wood to a great sprawling collection of buildings the size of a hamlet, but in one irregular mass, instead of being dotted about. It was a typical dwelling under the Indian patriarchal system, by which one family, often of as many as a hundred people, all lived and farmed together.

The sound of hoof-​beats brought Gunston out from the doorway of one of the larger buildings and, with a wave to Roger, he cried, 'Well, I never expected to see you back so soon; but I suppose you were too impatient to wait for infantry and guns.'

'That's so,' Roger replied, dismounting; and, after he had introduced Laker, he went on, 'For my part I never expected to find that you had left your camp; much less that you would have advanced so near the city. They can't possibly fail to know you are here, and that will have given them time to prepare to resist us.'

Gunston shrugged. 'Of course they know. Old man Shore's despatch was perfectly clear. I was ordered to demand payment of the money and the return of Mrs. Brook, coupled with the threat that in the event of a refusal I would come and get them. As the Rajah had already refused to pay up when I sent to demand the money three weeks or more ago, the only chance of making him change his mind was by a display of force. It has not come off, though. I sent Captain Jeckles in yesterday morning. All he got was a flat refusal, and not long after his return the Rajah's army began to pour out of the city in battle array. Naturally I made no move to attack, and nor did they. But they have come out again this morning. Come up to the roof and have a look at them.'

Much perturbed, Roger followed Gunston inside, up a rickety stairway and out onto the flat roof. The sight that met his eyes shook him badly. On the far side of a shallow stream, not much more than a mile away, the Bahna army had taken up its battle positions. Gunston had placed its strength at four thousand, and it certainly could not have been less. Great groups of white-​clad figures, their spears and scimitars glinting in the sun. sat cross-​legged on the ground. In the centre were a core of elephants, the howdahs on them full of men with long-​barrelled muskets. On each wing there were bodies of several hundred horsemen, and with them were war chariots mounting pennants that fluttered in the breeze.

'Fine spectacle, isn't it?' remarked Gunston. 'And one can't doubt that the Rajah is spoiling for a fight.'

'It certainly looks like it,' Roger agreed glumly. 'However, I have faith in Rai-​ul-​daula. I am certain he means to bring the bulk of the army over to us.'

Gunston shook his head. 'No; there's now no hope of that. I sent him a letter by Jeckles; and it seems the result was unfortunate.'

'What's that you say?' Roger exclaimed. 'D'you mean you compromised him?'

'Well, perhaps. I don't really know. My letter may have had nothing to do with it. But last night we captured a merchant who was leaving the city. On questioning him we learned that, soon after Jeckles had left, the Wazier was relieved of his office and Malderini appointed in his place.'

'Oh why, in God's name, did you…' Roger broke off with a groan. 'Still, it's no good crying over spilt milk. Our best plan now, then, is an attempt to surprise them by a night attack.'

'That's it,' Gunston agreed. 'When do you expect your infantry and the guns to come up?'

Roger turned to stare at him. 'I… I thought… surely I made it clear that the squadron was the only reinforcement immediately available, and you said you needed cavalry above all else. To wait while other troops were mustered in the depots would have meant that we could do nothing for the best part of a month.'

Gunston returned his stare with an angry frown. 'Then you've made a mess of things. You've lost us three or four days while I send back to the General asking him to put the muster in hand after all.'

'D'you mean that you'll not attack without more troops?'

'Have some sense, man!' Gunston snapped, pointing at the Bahna host. 'I'll not see my men massacred, and I've no mind to commit suicide myself. All we can do now is to retire on the camp at Bamanghati and wait there till Sir Alured has sent up the guns and men for which I asked.'