Flashman in the Peninsula Read Online Free PDF Page B

moment, as though thinking back, and then said slowly as though trying to remember, ‘I think I did meet her at a party a while back.’
    ‘In December last year,’ he said referring to his notes.
    ‘Yes, it could have been,’ I conceded.
    ‘We believe that the plot to ruin His Royal Highness’ reputation was hatched by the conspirators in December.’
    ‘Well that had nothing to do with me,’ I stated firmly, trying to sound outraged. I felt a cold clammy feeling now in the pit of my stomach. ‘That was all Wardle’s doing and I don’t think I have even met that villain.’
    ‘We are taking care of Wardle and we have interviewed Sir Richard Phillips who was also closely involved. Yesterday he sat where you are now and told me that Thomas Cochrane and you were the real instigators of events.’
    ‘That is outrageous!’ I exclaimed, standing up again. ‘He is just trying to deflect the blame from his own nefarious activities.’
    ‘Sit down Mr Flashman,’ said Tasker wearily. ‘I have already spoken to Captain Cochrane and he assured me that you have never spoken to him about the matter. I am inclined to believe him.’
    ‘Then why am I here?’
    ‘Because I know that Phillips is not smart enough to think this through, so someone must have done it for him.’ He paused and then added slowly ‘Perhaps someone who has a grievance against the army, someone used to plotting and intrigues in India, and someone who knows lots of opposition members of Parliament.’
    ‘Or perhaps it was Mary herself,’ I countered, having every confidence that the truth would be the one thing he would not believe.
    I was not disappointed. ‘Clarke’s skills, such as she has any, are employed when she is lying on her back,’ he snarled. Incidentally he was wrong about that; she had skills in all manner of positions. He added, ‘There is no way she could come up with a scheme like this.’
    Before I could stop myself I responded ‘So it was the duke who came up with idea to take bribes was it?’
    Tasker slammed his fist down on the desk. ‘That is a slanderous comment and you will withdraw it at once.’ He took a breath and calmed himself before continuing, now with a slight smile of triumph. ‘You show your true colours now I think. A man with means and motive to do the duke damage; a man who mixes not only with radicals but with poets and degenerates. Was that where the plot was hatched?’
    ‘I have no idea what you are talking about,’ I responded coldly
    ‘I have a witness who tells me that you were seen talking to Mrs Clarke at a party given by Lord Byron at Dorant’s Hotel. Do you deny it?’
    ‘No, that is the one time I met her, I have already told you that. But there were a dozen people there. I imagine that lots of them spoke to Mary... err Mrs Clarke.’
    ‘Who else did you see speaking to her?’ I thought back and remembered Hobhouse’s sneering and‘man of bones’ comment. The stuffed shirt would be appalled to get involved in a scandal like this, so it seemed an ideal opportunity to pay him back.
    ‘I saw Cam Hobhouse speaking to her at one point.’ I paused as though trying to remember, ‘Yes, they were talking for quite some time over by the window, away from everyone else.’
    ‘Really, Cam Hobhouse,’ he repeated as he wrote at the bottom of a sheet of paper containing what looked a list of names. He looked up again and studied me carefully. ‘We will find out who is behind this Mr Flashman, I have been charged by His Royal Highness not to rest until the culprits have been ruined and disgraced. You remain near the top of my list,’ he said, tapping with his finger on the paper before him. ‘So I suggest you remain close as we might want to question you again.’
    I took my leave then and walked back through the hallway thinking through my position. There was no way that Tasker could prove my involvement but I was not naive; I knew how the world worked. He refused to accept that the