The Hundred Days Read Online Free Page B

surprise, even displeasure,
turn to the grave, unobtrusive consideration that now surrounded him - that
must in decency surround him, like a pall, ever since his loss became public
knowledge. It could not be otherwise: his presence was necessarily a
constraint: levity, even good-fellowship, certainly mirth, were
as much out of place as reproof or unkindness.
    Kent cleared his throat, and
the Admiral’s secretary, excusing himself, withdrew. ‘Yes, sir, the treasure,’
said Kent; and after a slight pause, ‘Mr Dee and I were discussing a scheme
planned by Dumanoir and his friends - a scheme to drive a Muslim wedge between
the suspicious, slow-moving Austrian forces and the lingering Russians,
preventing their junction and thus disrupting the planned meeting of the Allies
on the Rhine.’ Another pause. ‘You will recall that
Bonaparte professed himself a Muslim at the time of the Egyptian campaign?’
    ‘I remember it, sure. But am I mistaken when I say
that it was of no consequence at all, apart from damaging his reputation still
farther? No Mahometan I ever met or heard of was much elated. The Grand Mufti
took no notice whatsoever.’
     ‘Very true,’
said Dee, his old voice stronger
now. ‘But Islam is a world as varied as our own miserable congeries of hostile
sects, and some of the more remote did in fact hail the news of his conversion
with delight. Among these were people as widely separated as the Azgar, on the
edge of the desert, and certain heretical Shiite fraternities in European
Turkey, particularly Albania, Monastir, and a region close to the northern
frontier, whose interpretation of the Sunna, read without the usual glosses,
points to Napoleon as the Hidden Imam, the Mahdi. The most extreme are the
descendants and followers of the Sheikh-al-Jabal.’
    ‘The Old Man of the Mountains himself? Then they
are the true, the only genuine Assassins? I long to see one,’ said Stephen,
with a certain animation.
    ‘They are indeed; and although they are by no means
so prominent as they were in the time of the Crusades,
they are still a very dangerous body, even though the fedais, the experts, the
actual killers, amount to only a few score. The rest of the mercenaries in the
plan we are discussing, the rest of the potential mercenaries, though willing
and eager to massacre unbelievers, are not moved by so pure a religious fervour
that they will venture their skins free, gratis and for nothing. The three
related fraternities throughout European Turkey all agree: the men are there,
and as soon as they see two months’ pay laid out
before them, they will move. But not otherwise.’
    ‘Is the sum very great?’
    ‘Enormous: in the present state of affairs, when
gold is at such a very shocking, unheard of premium, and credit is virtually
dead. Far beyond anything the French can put down immediately: for, do you see,
this sudden incursion must be very well-manned, with former Turkish
auxiliaries, bashi-bazouks, tribal warriors, bandits and the like, all members
of the Muslim fraternities or provided by them - a very formidable body indeed
if it is to succeed in its aim- if it is to wreck the Allied plans and to give Napoleon
the chance of engaging the weakest of the opposing armies and destroying it, as
he has done before.’
    ‘Certainly,’ said Stephen. ‘But am I right in
supposing that the Assassins’ role is something more subtle than the wild
impetuous assault of the bashi-bazouks?’
    ‘Yes: and a truly devoted band of fedais might do
Napoleon’s cause an incomparable service by removing Schwarzenberg or Barclay
de Tolly or an imperial prince or indeed any of the thinking heads. Yet even so
there would have to be the massive intervention, preferably by night, and some
truly bloody fighting for the full effect of panic, mutual distrust
and delay.’
    ‘Where is the money to come from?’
    ‘The Turk reluctantly shakes his head,’ said Mr
Dee. ‘The Barbary states will provide volunteers and
one