The Ravishing of Lady Mary Ware Read Online Free PDF Page A

forward to this speciality of Madame Blanchard’s.
    A few hours later, rested and refreshed, Roger and Georgina were happily despatching a pair of fine ducks with their host and hostess; and washing them down with a good vintage Burgundy. Innkeepers have their fingers more firmly than other men on the pulse of public opinion and Roger never failed to get a sound assessment of feeling in Paris from Maître Blanchard. When asked about it now, he replied:
    â€˜
Monsieur le Colonel Baron
, I cannot complain. There is plenty of money about and no lack of food to be had at reasonable prices. But the people are not happy. In the bad old days, when the churches had been turned into gaming-hells and brothels, the populace were half-starving and the city one great slum, but at least the citizens did not lack
joie de vivre
. As the ragged bands of volunteers marched to defend France from the armies of the Kings who would have crushed the Revolution, they laughed and sang. Later, as you will know, when the news used to come in of victory after victory gained by the “Little Corporal”, we had good reason to cheer and, whenever he came to Paris, the people went wild with excitement. But that is so no longer.
    â€˜Apart from that short break in 1803, we’ve been at war for seventeen years. And what good has it done us? Saving your presence, it is no doubt a wonderfulexperience for the Emperor, his Marshals and high officers like yourself to ride in triumph into Milan, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid and all those other cities. But, for all but a few, these great campaigns mean death, to be crippled for life or, at best, years at a stretch marching with heavy equipment, along endless roads, living in great discomfort, often existing only on vegetables stolen from some wretched peasant’s garden and, above all, separated from those they love.
    â€˜Time was when my wife and I used to think that
Le Bon Dieu
had treated us harshly by denying us sons. Today we thank Him that He did not. By now they would be dead, handicapped by some awful injury or far away with but only half a chance of our ever seeing them again.
    â€˜For two years past a great part of the drafts to the colours have been made up of youngsters who should still be finishing their schooling, instead of being sent to fight and kill their fellow men. And even the supply of these is drying up.
    â€˜Yet, on the Emperor’s return to Paris, he insisted that the gaps in his armies must be filled. For the purpose he ordered Marshal Moncey to take special measures. As you must know, deserters have become legion. No-one reproaches them any more. On the contrary, everyone helps them to get back to their homes, or hides them and gives them work to do at night. Now they are being flushed out by the thousand. In every city, town and village throughout France, Monceys
gendarmes
are carrying out house-to-house searches, and thrusting their bayonets into the hay in the barns. Every man between the age of sixteen and sixty has to give a satisfactory account of himself. If he can’t, he gets a brutal beating and is dragged off to the nearest barracks. Can you wonder that people no longer cheer the Emperor, and that many wish him dead?’
    The duck was followed by a flaming
omelette au rhum
,and they rounded the meal off with pre-Revolution Calvados. When they went up to bed, Georgina having every confidence in Roger’s ability to take care of her, was tired but happy. He, on the other hand, although their cheerful evening with the Blanchards had caused him for the moment to put aside thoughts of the future, was far from being so.
    The mysterious deaths of von Haugwitz and Lisala ware so sensational that the story might already have reached Paris. In any case, it was certain that when the voluble Augereau paid his respects to the Emperor he would give him an account of the affair. What view he would take of it was quite unpredictable. Napoleon justifiably prided