Ramage & the Renegades by Dudley Pope Read Free Book Online Page B

‘this Bonaparte.’ His armies probably total a million men. You’d be lucky to raise an army of a thousand—”
    â€œNico!” she said angrily. “Many more than that!”
    â€œ
Cara,
you must be realistic,” he said, choosing his words very carefully: he wanted to convince her, but if she lost her temper it was impossible to reason with her. “While you have been in exile, the French will have set up a government, as they did in Genoa, and new leaders will have emerged in Volterra prepared to work with them. There—”
    â€œYou are not suggesting my people would cooperate—”
    â€œI am not suggesting it, I am telling you. There are always men who cooperate with an occupation army. If Bonaparte had ever occupied Britain there would be men—perhaps even people you know—eager to cooperate to get some personal advantage. It is the same in Volterra. Some of those who did not choose to escape with you when Bonaparte’s Army of Italy marched in—why did they stay?”
    He waited for the question to sink in. After several long moments she said: “They had land, family, responsibilities …”
    The Countess said: “Gianna, you know that’s not entirely true; you’ve complained to me about some that you suspected were staying to collaborate with the French.”
    Gianna nodded miserably. “Yes, but it is hard to believe people can be so wicked!”
    Ramage said harshly: “They can be and they are. Bonaparte obviously set up a puppet government in Volterra formed by people you know. If they heard you were coming down the Via Aurelia in your carriage, you’d meet with a fatal accident before you were within a hundred miles of the city gates.”
    â€œBut supposing I keep my arrival secret?”
    â€œAssassins would find you in the palace corridors.”
    â€œThen why did not the British insist that Bonaparte withdraw his armies from Italy?”
    â€œWe’re not strong enough. When a peace treaty is negotiated, the country with the biggest army and navy has the most say.”
    â€œBut you have just been saying that Hawkesbury—”
    â€œYes,” Nicholas interrupted, “Bonaparte has the biggest
army,
but we have the biggest
navy,
and our blockade of France has left his dockyards empty of timber to build and repair ships, rope and canvas. France is short of food. That’s why Bonaparte started the peace talks: he wants a year or two of peace.”
    â€œA year or two?” Gianna exclaimed. “Then what happens?”
    â€œAs soon as his warehouses are restocked Bonaparte will declare war again. There are still places for him to conquer. Britain, for example, quite apart from Egypt and India.”
    â€œThen why does Britain accept his terms? Why negotiate? Why not continue the war?”
    â€œBecause this present government is weak and doesn’t believe we can finance the war any longer.”
    â€œFinance it! Which would Addington and Hawkesbury prefer—to be bankrupt or prisoners of Bonaparte?”
    The Admiral coughed and everyone glanced at him. “The fact is,” he said, “most of the present government don’t have the imagination to see that ultimately that’s the choice. The people in the country towns and villages can understand it but not the Addingtons and Hawkesburys. Pitt has many faults, but when he’s sober he is a brilliant treasurer.”
    By now Gianna was weeping and both had the embarrassed attitude of men facing tears. Nicholas deliberately avoided saying anything to comfort her because the “this Bonaparte” attitude had to be changed, for her own peace of mind and safety.
    â€œSo traitors rule Volterra,” she sobbed. “Perhaps even my own cousins … Yes, they would do anything to hold on to their wealth and lands …”
    â€œAnd get control of yours, too,” the Admiral said quietly.