Chapter 17 – A ruse by any other name…
Jason Cavendish and Luciano Monteverdi had become good friends since their first meeting. Monteverdi hardly raised an eyebrow in response to Jason’s confession about how that first meeting had come about. Monteverdi mentioned that Jason’s apologies were unnecessary. After all, Jason’s report to the king regarding Monteverdi had contained nothing incriminating.
Another surge of horror stories regarding the violent excesses of the republican reign of terror in France began to circulate throughout Montuga. French citizens were reportedly being executed at the drop of a hat, and often on the flimsiest of grounds. Trials were rare and justice in such trials was rarer still. No one was safe as the system originally established to cull the nobility was now employed by ordinary citizens against each other in a bid to eliminate enemies, both political and otherwise.
‘Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,’ Monteverdi said as he entered Jason’s cabin on board the Phoenix. ‘I have recently received the information that the republicans have held their congress at the city Hall. They have voted to resume the protests on their own.’ He paused to insert a footnote. ‘As you are aware, there is much bad blood between us and the republicans.’
‘Without your supporters, the republican numbers in Montuga are surely not large enough to be of concern to anyone,’ Jason replied as he poured drinks for the two of them. He turned to consider Monteverdi thoughtfully. ‘However, I assume that you have come to tell me that the republicans can expect some assistance from our northern neighbour.’
‘Exactly! I have the informants. Three French frigates are now in Nice. They wait for the carrier pigeon recently delivered to Monte Vista. It is their plan to force the royal guards to, how you say, to over-react to the republican protests. The republicans plan to shoot one or two of the bystanders when the royal guards arrive. This they will do so that they can put the blame for these deaths on the Montugan royal guard. They will say the shot bystanders are republicans, no matter whether they are or not. They will say these republicans have been killed on the orders of our oppressive king. The French ships will arrive to protect the republicans from such a king.’ Monteverdi looked quizzically at Jason. ‘You do not seem surprised.’
‘I have been waiting for something like this since the end of the war between France, Prussia and Austria,’ Jason responded. ‘France now has time for Montuga.’ Jason downed his drink quickly. ‘I thank you most kindly for this information. But now you must excuse me. There are things to arrange. By the way, for when is the protest planned?’
‘Friday afternoon. It is already Tuesday. I am afraid it is not much time. What is it that you plan to do?’
‘We shall see,’ Jason responded with a knowing grin, but without answering.