The Twisted Sword Read Free

been landowners, magistrates, masters of the hunt, patrons of the church, small but fairly worthy notables in the county of Cornwall for over three hundred years. She so very badly wanted to talk it over with Ross but knew she could not. Instinctively she knew he must never know. But she wanted to say to him: is it something we have done wrong? Have we not taught our children properly? Did they never learn the ten commandments or understand that they must be treated serious? Has it all been too easy for them, too easy-going, come-as-you-please, go as you please, a philosophy of kindly liberty leading to licence? She herself had been dragged up anyhow, strapped whenever he could catch her by her drunken father. According to Ross, his father had been insensitive towards his only son, cold and rough most of the time. Compared to his parents, Jeremy had been reared in a hothouse of kindly comfort and gentle caring. And he had seemed a typical product of such an upbringing: artistic, amusing, roused only to anger by cruelty to animals, absenting himself when a pig was to be killed, highly talented in engineering - indeed something more than talented ... tall, gangling, listless at times but good tempered, witty, kind. How did such a young man step so utterly out of character?
    II
    Ross had finished the letter. She brought her mind back to the present, to the lesser apprehensions. He half folded the letter, turned it over, then handed it to her, at which Lieutenant Phillips raised his eyebrows. She read:
    Dear Captain Poldark, You will remember the conversation of 24th November last when the matter was discussed of your going to Paris on a special mission. It was left between us that you let me know not later than late February whether you would wish to accept this mission, should His Majesty's Government still feel that some proper purpose might be served by it. Since then events have moved rapidly forward. Peace with America has brought, and will continue to bring, lasting benefits to both countries. But the situation in France has become still more confused. These are matters on which as you may imagine I am well briefed, but it seems to me that it could be of value to have a detached observer reporting his own personal impressions directly to me. France is her own mistress again - there are no foreign troops anywhere within her frontiers - but how she solves her problems is of the utmost importance to the rest of Europe. The Duke of Wellington has been appointed to take Viscount Castlereagh's place at the Congress of Vienna, and will stay there as long as the Congress lasts, which may well be a further three months. The Duchess will remain in Paris. Therefore everything will be at the Embassy as it was expected to be when I first put this proposal to you. Our Minister Plenipotentiary will be Wellington's relative and aide-de-camp at Bussaco, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, whom you know and who will welcome you. Your duties - should you accept them - will be strictly informal. It would help if your wife and family were with you to give the appearance of your taking a three-month holiday - but guided by the advice you receive on the spot you will visit various sections of the French army - suitable excuses can easily be found - and will report directly to me whatever sentiments you feel reflect the prevailing mood. Ample funds will, of course, be supplied for this purpose and for the board and sustenance of yourself and your family in comfortable style. It may well be that your stay in Paris would not have to be so long - again one can only be guided by results - but I do feel the value of these inquiries lies in their beginning as soon as possible; so I would want you to be in Paris not later than the second week of February. To this end I am sending this by special messenger, and he has instructions to wait twenty four hours for your answer. I realize it is shorter notice than was envisaged in November but I trust that in the weeks