The Emperor's Assassin Read Online Free Page B

the
Bellerophon
in the company of Captain Maitland, I believe. There was a great row—”
    “And a woman was drowned!” Arabella interjected.
    Darley nodded, the quiet satisfaction that he habitually displayed dissolving into a look of utter desolation. “Yes, very sad. With her child looking on.”
    Morton found himself affected by Lord Arthur's sudden show of feeling for a woman he certainly did not know. But then Darley shook it off and smiled at his guests, his eyes glistening just noticeably.
    “And what will they do with him, do you think— Bonaparte?” Morton asked softly, trying gently to steer the conversation away.
    Darley shrugged. “It is the subject of intense debate, I can tell you, though little more.”
    “He knows more than he is saying,” Arabella stagewhispered to Morton.
    Darley's playful smile returned. “If I knew half as much as you believe, my dear, I would be the bestinformed man in England.”
    “The papers say that Bonaparte wants to live quietly in England.” Morton sipped his port.
    Darley laughed. “Well, you can be sure that will not be allowed. No, he will be transported—somewhere remote, I think.”
    “But why not imprison him here?” Arabella asked. “Would that not be the safest course?”
    Darley turned to her, shifting in his chair. “Undoubtedly, but there is a small matter of English common law. You see, according to our own laws, no man, no matter his nationality, can be imprisoned without first being convicted of a crime by a court of law. And it is very doubtful that Bonaparte could be so convicted under our present laws.”
    “Even though he has made war against us for twenty years?” Arabella said.
    “Oddly, war is not a crime. Bonaparte was the head of a foreign state.”
    “Then we can do nothing to him?” Arabella looked a little disgusted by this foolishness.
    Darley held up a finger. “Ah, but that is the very centre of the debate. Bonaparte is not on English soil. Not really in England, or so His Majesty's government claims. He is, at present, subject to the law of the Admi-ralty—which is very different from the laws that govern you and me, as Mr. Morton will no doubt tell you.”
    Morton leaned forward in his chair. “But I have read that some, even prominent men of law, say that the gov-ernment's argument is fallacious. That I, for instance, could arrest a man on a ship in Plymouth harbour with every expectation that he would go to trial. Various authorities claim that the government considers Plymouth Sound part of England at their convenience, but at the moment it is not convenient, so they have excluded that bit of water from our borders.”
    “But the argument is even more specific than that.” Darley was clearly fascinated by this debate. “The government claims that the
ships
of the Royal Navy are excluded from the laws of England, whether in an English harbour or not. And certainly Mr. Morton could not go aboard the
Bellerophon
and arrest a man, even a murderer. The navy have their own courts and due process. And upon this fact lies the government's case.” Darley waved a hand in the general direction of Cornwall. “Bonaparte, of course, wants to be allowed ashore. He wants—I daresay, even expects—the protection of English law. But I do not think he shall have it. No, our deposed emperor shall be sent off to some remote place to live out his days under guard.”
    “But can we even do that?” Morton wondered aloud. “We return prisoners of war to their country of origin once the war is concluded. Should we not do the same with Bonaparte?”
    “The French don't want him. Are afraid of havinghim in the country, in fact. But it is an interesting argument. I should point out, however, that the war with France was already over when Bonaparte surrendered to Captain Maitland.”
    “Well, if he is not a prisoner of war,” Arabella said, “then what is he?” She was clearly less interested than their host in the finer points of