Ramage's Devil by Dudley Pope Read Free Book Online

is regarded as an enemy of the state. He was denounced and the authorities in Paris sent orders to the
chef d’administration
in Rennes to arrest him.”
    â€œWhere is he being confined?”
    â€œAh, that’s my next piece of information. He will be confined in the château in Brest, the naval headquarters. He and many others not yet brought in.”
    â€œWhat others?”
    â€œLandowners like the Count who returned from exile, people who in the past year or so have fallen out of favour with Bonaparte or the local
préfet
or even a local chief of police. Priests who have spoken out too boldly. People to whom some of those in authority owe money …”
    â€œWhy the château at Brest—to be near a convenient ship?”
    Gilbert nodded. “They will be transported to Cayenne as soon as a ship (a frigate, the cavalry captain said) can be prepared.”
    â€œSo the Count had how long—a year?—back in his home …”
    â€œEleven months, sir. Now, concerning you. The officer knew you had been staying here but Edouard was naturally a great supporter of the Republic and told the officer that you had received a warning yesterday evening and fled, leaving your trunks behind. This was confirmed by the Count, who was still in the room.
    â€œThe Count pretended anger—he said you were under the protection of
passeports
issued by Bonaparte. The cavalry officer just laughed and produced a handful of papers and read them to the Count—I think because he had some idea that the authorities could blame him for your escape.
    â€œAnyway, the first was a letter from the
préfet
at Rennes addressed to you by name, milord, telling you of a decree dated a few days ago. It enclosed a copy of the decree that made you a prisoner of war, from the second
Prairial
in the eleventh year of the Republic, which is a few days ago. The decree was signed by the First Consul, and with Bonaparte’s signature was that of M. Marot, the Secretary of State.”
    â€œAnd her ladyship?”
    â€œNo mention of wives, milord. Edouard had the impression that the letter was simply a copy of one being sent to all foreign males. He thought that women and children were not affected.”
    Ramage looked squarely at the little man. “What it means now, Gilbert, is that you and Edouard and the rest of the staff are harbouring enemies of the Republic. You could be guillotined. We must go.”
    â€œI assure you Edouard and I are true patriots, milord; we are not harbouring enemies of the state because this house has already been searched carefully by a company of cavalry which had ridden specially from Rennes.”
    Ramage held the man’s shoulders. “Gilbert, thank you. But there is too much risk for you.”
    â€œSir, please stay. The Count would wish it. England gave me a home, as well as the Count, when we were refugees. And there is no risk now for you or us: the house has been searched. And we are already making inquiries about their intentions for the Count and to see if it is possible to hire a fishing-boat to get you to England, or even the Channel Islands.”
    â€œWho is making inquiries?” Ramage asked.
    â€œThe second cook and her husband, Louis, a gardener, always take a
cabriolet,
how do you call it—?”
    â€œA gig.”
    â€œâ€”ah yes, a gig. Well, they go into Brest each week to buy fish and other things. The
gendarmes
at the Landerneau Gate—that’s where everyone has to show papers when entering or leaving Brest—”
    Ramage was curious and interrupted: “Is it possible to get into Brest without papers? No one asked us.”
    â€œBut of course, milord. You rode across the fields without knowing. Otherwise you simply leave the road half a mile before the town gates and go round them through the fields. There are gates on the road but no wall round the town. The risk now the war has begun is being stopped later