V for Vengeance by Dennis Wheatley Read Free Book Online

allowed a longer time to elapse before calling upon you; then you would have been more yourself. But, in view of the news which we all received this morning, I felt that perhaps it was particularly appropriate that I should choose this evening for my endeavour to bridge any misunderstanding which may lie between us. With Marshal Pétain’s declaration and by his wise decision this terrible war is now over. Within a month or so at the most the world will have peace again.’
    Madeleine was biting her lip, so before the girl could burst out afresh Madame Lavallière turned quickly to their visitor.
    â€˜The request for an armistice does mean an end, then, to the fighting everywhere? The Government, after all, are not going to transfer themselves with the Fleet to North Africa?’
    â€˜No, no!’ exclaimed the Mayor in shocked surprise. ‘Thank goodness sane counsels have prevailed. Such a move could only prolong the war indefinitely and bring endless misery to us all.
Monsieur le Maréchal
spoke for the Empire, as well as for France, when he asked for an armistice.’
    â€˜Are you—are you absolutely certain of that?’ Madeleine whispered.
    â€˜Of course! I have it officially. The terms of the armistice are not yet agreed, but there is no question of hostilities being continued in any portion of the French Empire.’
    â€˜But that is shameful!’ Madeleine cried. ‘We have immense resources outside France, and for us to throw our hand in altogether like this is the worst possible treachery to our Allies.’
    Luc Ferrière shrugged his lean shoulders. ‘Be reasonable, Madeleine. Of what do our Allies consist? Norway, Belgium, Holland—all those countries are beaten already. Their armies are defeated, and although their Governments have fled to Britain, what can a handful of exiles possibly do there against our late enemies?’
    â€˜There is still the British Empire,’ said Madeleine hoarsely. He gave a little cynical, high-pitched laugh.
    â€˜Surely, my dear, we have learnt our lesson in that direction? In two wars now the British have used us for their own selfish reasons to bolster up their top-heavy Empire. But in the recent campaign they revealed themselves in their true colours at last. After fighting in Belgium for a fortnight, they left us in the lurch, and scrambled home as quickly as they could. Now that our wise leaders have seen that peace is more valuable to the world than massacring thousands of men for platitudes, Britain will sue for peace within a week.’
    â€˜I wonder?’ said Madeleine slowly. ‘Perhaps they let us down but I don’t think they did so intentionally. To have done so just wouldn’t have made sense. Perhaps they’re not strong enough to fight alone, but they’ve still got their Navy, and they’re such strange people—even Napoleon said that they never know when they’re beaten,’
    Luc Ferrière’s nasal laugh came again. ‘That was a long time ago. The British were different then. They hadn’t got soft from too much prosperity.’
    Madame Lavallière raised herself a little on her pillows. She was desperately afraid that at any moment Madeleine and the Mayor of Batignolles might begin to quarrel violently, and her eye lighted on the clock. With sudden relief she stretched out her hand to the wireless beside her bed and turned the knob, as she said:
    â€˜It’s just time for the British news bulletin. Madeleine speaks excellent English and she will be able to tell us what they have to say themselves about Marshal Pétain’s speech this morning.’
    Luc Ferrière nodded. ‘I too know quite enough English to understand what they say on the wireless.’
    The announcer was already speaking. A German station was trying to jam the B.B.C. with music, but the jamming was not very effective, and they heard him say that before the news listeners