MV02 Death Wears a Crown Read Online Free Page B

capable of far more traitorous acts than we have presumed.” She paused for a moment and sipped wine while her thoughts formed into words. “They may seek to damage the Consulate or even Napoleon Bonaparte himself.” Victoire took a deep breath as the full implications of what she had just said struck her; she steadied herself and went on. “We have been assuming all along that these few English are here because they want to end the negotiations with Holland: there were too few of them to do much to the fleet. That is our assumption, and it is a mistake to assume anything. Events have shown that what we expected has not occurred. Therefore we must begin again, and avoid the error of deciding in advance what their purpose may be. Let us reconsider what we know, not what we suspect. We know that a sloop from England landed and that a small party of men came ashore. Père Antoine says that some of them spoke French and some spoke English, for he heard them as he returned from blessing the lobstermen’s boats. You say that he estimates a party of twenty.”
    “That is what he guessed,” said Vernet, trying to match her precision.
    “If they were determined to damage the fleet, they might have done it more easily landing in Holland, at Zoutelande, or perhaps at Oostende in Belgium. There would be fewer restrictions on them, and they would not be at risk as they are here.” She began to move her first finger on the tablecloth as if writing. “But suppose they are not interested in the negotiations or the fleet. Twenty men are a small force for such a task, but if they were sent here to lead a rising of the remaining Aristos, or as assassins—”
    “Victoire! For Saint Dennis!” He looked around to be certain they were not overheard and encountered one startled stare from a ruddy-faced dealer in leather goods.
    “Sir,” said the merchant’s agent, his broad features darkening, “it is hardly fitting to speak to your wife in such a tone.”
    Vernet realized it was his own outburst that had caught the man’s notice, and he made a gesture of agreement. “I offer her and you my apology.”
    The merchant’s agent nodded twice and returned to his cheese.
    Victoire had been speaking softly, but she lowered her voice. “Let us suppose that there are no other landings to concern us.” She watched him until he nodded. “It would appear that this may be a scouting mission, but if it is, they are not scouting here, or someone would have seen something. So we have to consider the possibility that they are not here at all.”
    “And how do you propose we find them?” he asked her.
    A fine vertical line formed between her pale brows. “It would probably be wise to warn the mission in Holland, and your superiors in Paris. That for a start, at least. If it turns out that the English have merely gone to ground here, then they can be apprehended by local officials. But if they have left this area, we must assume that they are bound for other places. Why come to France unless their target is in France?” Her question hung between them.
    “I take your point, my love,” Inspector-General Vernet said to his wife. “All right. I will spend one more day in a search for the English. I want to find them. Père Antoine should be able to tell me something. If there is no more information, then I will do as you suggest.” He reached across the table and laid his hand over hers. “I do not want to seem to be an alarmist.”
    “That may be sensible,” she said slowly. “But do not delay in dispatching warnings if you do not locate at least one or two of the English in the next twenty-four hours. It would be unwise not to alert—”
    “Yes, yes,” he said, agreeing with her, little as he wanted to. He wanted the time not only to search for the English, but to examine the implications of the theory Victoire had just put forth. It was one thing, he decided, to apprehend spies. Assassins were another matter entirely.

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