Read Online Napoleon Must Die by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Bill Fawcett - Free Book Online
Authors: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Bill Fawcett
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She has learning and wit. You’re not to underestimate her.”
“No woman is clever,” Roustam-Raza informed Berthier. “But her husband may be, and if she is obedient, she will be hard to defeat.” He fondled the hilt of the long dagger in his belt. “If she is stubborn, I will do what must be done to persuade her.”
“No,” said Berthier emphatically. “There’s to be nothing of that sort. You are to watch her, to see what action she undertakes and to stop her from moving the valuable thing beyond our reach.”
“I will consider what you tell me,” said Roustam-Raza, his tone not very promising. “Who is this clever woman?”
“She is the wife of Gendarme Major, Inspector Lucien Vernet.” He studied the back of his hand, frowning at the nails. “He is acting Inspector-General.”
“Gendarme officer,” said Roustam-Raza with the manner of someone given a plate of rotten meat. “Such men should not betray.”
“Yes. Precisely.” Berthier sighed. “His wife, Madame Vernet, must be watched. She is not to be permitted to assist her husband.”
“It is fitting for a woman to assist her husband,” said Roustam-Raza with sudden stubbornness. “There are a few things women must do; they must be mothers and they must obey the will of their fathers and husbands. Anything else is unnatural.”
“Very true,” said Berthier, and for an instant thought only of his own fruitless love of a married aristocratic woman whose name he dared not speak aloud for fear of compromising her. “But women are such ... whimsical creatures.”
“Exactly why it is necessary they obey men,” said Roustam-Raza, satisfied that he and Berthier understood one another. “I will not do anything that will lead a woman away from her tasks. I will do nothing to incite her to set aside the will of her husband. But anything short of that I will do.” He regarded Berthier ferociously. “I will permit no danger to Napoleon. I have sworn this.”
“So you have, so you have.” He rose. “She is coming here when she is through tending the wounded. She ought to be here shortly.”
“Tending the wounded is worthy,” said Roustam-Raza, “so long as she is not in blood herself. A woman in blood will cause men to bleed as well.”
Berthier colored. “I know nothing about that,” he said stiffly.
“It would be wise to learn.” Roustam-Raza touched the weapons he carried, a wickedly curved sword and two well-oiled pistols of English make, and nodded. “What will her husband say when he learns of this?”
“He won’t learn of it. And even if he does, he’ll say nothing,” said Berthier with certainty. “He is in enough trouble as it is.”
“A wise man does not behave in any way that will cause others to question his character,” Roustam-Raza declared. “How is it that this man can be under suspicion and have advanced so far, and with a silly wife?”
“She isn’t silly; I’ve warned you about that. He cannot account for his time when the ... object was taken. We all stood there together and only we knew of it. The others have someone to vouch for them. Other than just a wife.” Berthier fingered the back of his chair. “And of all of them, he has the least money and the poorest expectations. His father-in-law left his daughter an independence but it is not enough to support a military officer.”
“So he is nothing more than a thief,” said Roustam-Raza contemptuously. “He is not deserving of his advancement.”
“If he is the thief, you are correct,” said Berthier. “But until I am certain that he took the object, I will not act against him, nor encourage anyone else to.” He gave Roustam-Raza a long, hard stare. “If you alert them, you will share the burden of their guilt.”
“Of course,” said Roustam-Raza. “That is correct.” He sank down onto the floor of the tent, his legs crossing as he made himself comfortable.
Berthier did his best to contain his misgivings. “You must treat
“No woman is clever,” Roustam-Raza informed Berthier. “But her husband may be, and if she is obedient, she will be hard to defeat.” He fondled the hilt of the long dagger in his belt. “If she is stubborn, I will do what must be done to persuade her.”
“No,” said Berthier emphatically. “There’s to be nothing of that sort. You are to watch her, to see what action she undertakes and to stop her from moving the valuable thing beyond our reach.”
“I will consider what you tell me,” said Roustam-Raza, his tone not very promising. “Who is this clever woman?”
“She is the wife of Gendarme Major, Inspector Lucien Vernet.” He studied the back of his hand, frowning at the nails. “He is acting Inspector-General.”
“Gendarme officer,” said Roustam-Raza with the manner of someone given a plate of rotten meat. “Such men should not betray.”
“Yes. Precisely.” Berthier sighed. “His wife, Madame Vernet, must be watched. She is not to be permitted to assist her husband.”
“It is fitting for a woman to assist her husband,” said Roustam-Raza with sudden stubbornness. “There are a few things women must do; they must be mothers and they must obey the will of their fathers and husbands. Anything else is unnatural.”
“Very true,” said Berthier, and for an instant thought only of his own fruitless love of a married aristocratic woman whose name he dared not speak aloud for fear of compromising her. “But women are such ... whimsical creatures.”
“Exactly why it is necessary they obey men,” said Roustam-Raza, satisfied that he and Berthier understood one another. “I will not do anything that will lead a woman away from her tasks. I will do nothing to incite her to set aside the will of her husband. But anything short of that I will do.” He regarded Berthier ferociously. “I will permit no danger to Napoleon. I have sworn this.”
“So you have, so you have.” He rose. “She is coming here when she is through tending the wounded. She ought to be here shortly.”
“Tending the wounded is worthy,” said Roustam-Raza, “so long as she is not in blood herself. A woman in blood will cause men to bleed as well.”
Berthier colored. “I know nothing about that,” he said stiffly.
“It would be wise to learn.” Roustam-Raza touched the weapons he carried, a wickedly curved sword and two well-oiled pistols of English make, and nodded. “What will her husband say when he learns of this?”
“He won’t learn of it. And even if he does, he’ll say nothing,” said Berthier with certainty. “He is in enough trouble as it is.”
“A wise man does not behave in any way that will cause others to question his character,” Roustam-Raza declared. “How is it that this man can be under suspicion and have advanced so far, and with a silly wife?”
“She isn’t silly; I’ve warned you about that. He cannot account for his time when the ... object was taken. We all stood there together and only we knew of it. The others have someone to vouch for them. Other than just a wife.” Berthier fingered the back of his chair. “And of all of them, he has the least money and the poorest expectations. His father-in-law left his daughter an independence but it is not enough to support a military officer.”
“So he is nothing more than a thief,” said Roustam-Raza contemptuously. “He is not deserving of his advancement.”
“If he is the thief, you are correct,” said Berthier. “But until I am certain that he took the object, I will not act against him, nor encourage anyone else to.” He gave Roustam-Raza a long, hard stare. “If you alert them, you will share the burden of their guilt.”
“Of course,” said Roustam-Raza. “That is correct.” He sank down onto the floor of the tent, his legs crossing as he made himself comfortable.
Berthier did his best to contain his misgivings. “You must treat
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