***
Shortly afterwards Jason sent for Colonel Petard and Major Clemmens of the Royal Guard. Jason met separately with the two officers.
‘First of all, there is a Captain in your command who requires our urgent attention. He performed a warts and all confession to a Bishop, and then foolishly accepted the Bishop’s invitation to repeat the confession to the Cardinal, outside of the confessional. I need not tell you of the position the monarchy has been placed in as a result.’
‘Indeed not,’ stated the Colonel. The exchange of shocked glances between the Colonel and the Major confirmed Jason’s suspicions that the revelations had clearly come as news to the two officers.
‘I relied upon both of you to prevent anything like this from happening. I trust it is unnecessary for me to convey the extent of my disappointment in regard to both of you.’
‘Your highness, you have my word that the Captain will be dealt with appropriately,’ the Colonel replied.
‘Good. I will leave you to attend decisively with him this afternoon. See to it that the Captain encounters some misfortune of a significant and irreversible nature. In addition, I shall require your return here this evening at eleven o’clock. Bring a few trusted men. They need to be people who are not averse to dispensing with some clerics who have apparently sworn allegiance to France instead of to Montuga.’
‘I assume that your royal highness is referring to the Cardinal and to some bishops who are loyal to him?’ Petard asked cautiously.
‘Yes. I have written proof that he and four of his French speaking Bishops are conspiring with France against Montuga. This is treason for which there can only be one penalty.’
‘Your highness,’ the colour drained away from the Colonel’s face. ‘There is almost nothing which I would not do for your majesty. But as a religious man, I have some uneasiness about, how shall I put it …disposing of men of God. And finding men who do not share my misgivings will not be easy.’
‘Colonel, do you propose that I should permit the clerics to continue their treasonous activities. Is it your desire for this kingdom to fall under French or under republican rule?’
‘Of course not, your royal highness,’ Petard replied with an appropriate expression of horror.
‘Then I suggest that you overcome any uneasiness about the matter in order to perform your sworn duty to protect this kingdom,’ Jason growled. ‘And need I remind you that I have had to make certain sacrifices at your insistence, in exchange for which the two of you swore your enduring loyalty and obedience to me.’
‘Quite so, your highness,’ Petard conceded. ‘Your highness need go no further. We shall make it our business to return tonight with the right men for this task.’