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Authors: Winston Graham
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the Duchess of Gordon's party.'
'Yes, of course. And since somewhere, I can't recollect where.'
'Si r Humphry?' said Demelza.
'He was knighted last year. And is recently married.'
'To a widow,' Ross added. 'Does she not also have money?'
'A considerable fortune. But I believe they are truly in love.'
'Money doesn't prevent that,' said Ross.
'No, but it can give rise to unworthy gossip ... They were here in Cornwall in May, visiting his parents in Penzance. George Warleggan and Harriet invited them to spend a night at Cardew. We were asked to sup there.'
'Well, I suppose Davy is now the foremost scientist in England.'
Dwight took a nut and cracked it, but did not put the kernel in his mouth.
'When I met Davy at Cardew he told me of an invitation he had received from France. He has kept in touch with most of the leading French scientists through these latest years of the war. Scientists of note like Ampere, Giiy-Lussac, Laplace. Early last year Napoleon himself heard of Davy's discoveries and achievements, and at once offered Davy unconditional permission to visit Paris and to travel through France and anywhere else in Europe he chose. It is a notable recognition of his achievements. And I think also a notable testimony to Buonaparte's breadth of vision that in the middle of so bitter a war he should make such an offer to a national of his bitterest enemy.'
'And Davy? He did not accept the invitation?'
'Not then. But it was an open invitation, and he thinks of accepting it this autumn.'
Demelza took a sip of port, but no one spoke.
Then Ross said: 'It's a different situation now for Napoleon. Then he was riding high, true master of Europe. Now he's between two fires. I should ask for a further assurance if I were Davy.'
‘I don't believe Napoleon would go back on his word.'
Don't forget the end of the Treaty of Amiens,' Caroline said. 'Ten thousand British tourists interned as prisoners of war. Yourself arid Ross escaping back across the Channel by the skin of your teeth. And me alone in this house carrying Sophie!'
'And this letter you have had from Sir Humphry?' said Demelza, seeing already how the land lay.
Dwight smiled. 'He has been told he may take his wife, a couple of servants, one or two friends of like mind.'
'Such as who?'
'What?'
'Such as what friends?'
'Oh ... a chemist, a scientist perhaps, n ot more than two or three. As you will have guessed by now, he has asked me if I would like to be one of them. He suggests that as a medical man I could be of value to them, travelling as they are as a small group in a foreign and hostile country.'
Ross glanced at Caroline, who was frowning with concentration at a black grape. 'A dilemma.'
'The letter only reached me yesterday. It is a delectable thought to be able to meet all those French scientists on their own ground. Even to see Paris again, right in the depths of the war ... But I believe Humphry Davy intends to go on to Italy after his stay in Paris; he has some plans to visit the Auvergne and even go as far as Naples, which would mean his being away at least a year. And that would not be feasible - or tolerable - for me.'
Caroline said: I wonder what the French authorities would feel about it if Sir Humphry brought with him an escaped and unransomed prisoner of war!'
‘I doubt, my dear, if they would be likely to discover it after eighteen years.'
'Caroline has a long memory,' said Demelza. 'We both have! And little wonder.'
There was a tap at the door and Myners came in. 'Dr Enys, sir. Mr Pope is sick again. A messenger has just come from Place House. It is Music Thomas, who says it is urgent, but of course ...'
The implication was that Music Thomas was not the most reliable of informants.
Dwight said: 'Tell Tresidder. Ask him to saddle Parsee. And tell Thomas to go back and say I am coming at once.'
'Very good, sir.'
When they were alone Caroline said: 'D'you know it is just about a year ago, isn't it, that this happened before? You
'Yes, of course. And since somewhere, I can't recollect where.'
'Si r Humphry?' said Demelza.
'He was knighted last year. And is recently married.'
'To a widow,' Ross added. 'Does she not also have money?'
'A considerable fortune. But I believe they are truly in love.'
'Money doesn't prevent that,' said Ross.
'No, but it can give rise to unworthy gossip ... They were here in Cornwall in May, visiting his parents in Penzance. George Warleggan and Harriet invited them to spend a night at Cardew. We were asked to sup there.'
'Well, I suppose Davy is now the foremost scientist in England.'
Dwight took a nut and cracked it, but did not put the kernel in his mouth.
'When I met Davy at Cardew he told me of an invitation he had received from France. He has kept in touch with most of the leading French scientists through these latest years of the war. Scientists of note like Ampere, Giiy-Lussac, Laplace. Early last year Napoleon himself heard of Davy's discoveries and achievements, and at once offered Davy unconditional permission to visit Paris and to travel through France and anywhere else in Europe he chose. It is a notable recognition of his achievements. And I think also a notable testimony to Buonaparte's breadth of vision that in the middle of so bitter a war he should make such an offer to a national of his bitterest enemy.'
'And Davy? He did not accept the invitation?'
'Not then. But it was an open invitation, and he thinks of accepting it this autumn.'
Demelza took a sip of port, but no one spoke.
Then Ross said: 'It's a different situation now for Napoleon. Then he was riding high, true master of Europe. Now he's between two fires. I should ask for a further assurance if I were Davy.'
‘I don't believe Napoleon would go back on his word.'
Don't forget the end of the Treaty of Amiens,' Caroline said. 'Ten thousand British tourists interned as prisoners of war. Yourself arid Ross escaping back across the Channel by the skin of your teeth. And me alone in this house carrying Sophie!'
'And this letter you have had from Sir Humphry?' said Demelza, seeing already how the land lay.
Dwight smiled. 'He has been told he may take his wife, a couple of servants, one or two friends of like mind.'
'Such as who?'
'What?'
'Such as what friends?'
'Oh ... a chemist, a scientist perhaps, n ot more than two or three. As you will have guessed by now, he has asked me if I would like to be one of them. He suggests that as a medical man I could be of value to them, travelling as they are as a small group in a foreign and hostile country.'
Ross glanced at Caroline, who was frowning with concentration at a black grape. 'A dilemma.'
'The letter only reached me yesterday. It is a delectable thought to be able to meet all those French scientists on their own ground. Even to see Paris again, right in the depths of the war ... But I believe Humphry Davy intends to go on to Italy after his stay in Paris; he has some plans to visit the Auvergne and even go as far as Naples, which would mean his being away at least a year. And that would not be feasible - or tolerable - for me.'
Caroline said: I wonder what the French authorities would feel about it if Sir Humphry brought with him an escaped and unransomed prisoner of war!'
‘I doubt, my dear, if they would be likely to discover it after eighteen years.'
'Caroline has a long memory,' said Demelza. 'We both have! And little wonder.'
There was a tap at the door and Myners came in. 'Dr Enys, sir. Mr Pope is sick again. A messenger has just come from Place House. It is Music Thomas, who says it is urgent, but of course ...'
The implication was that Music Thomas was not the most reliable of informants.
Dwight said: 'Tell Tresidder. Ask him to saddle Parsee. And tell Thomas to go back and say I am coming at once.'
'Very good, sir.'
When they were alone Caroline said: 'D'you know it is just about a year ago, isn't it, that this happened before? You
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