17 January 2019
My Answers to 10 of Proust’s questions use in the story
- being thought a fraud
- cars
- courage
- friendly
- sympathetic
- depression
- steadfastness
- Stephen Maturin
- caregivers
- Things turn out as they do
Maturin’s Mission
It wasn’t the way things were supposed to be. Maturin had taken great pains to hide his tracks and insure he was not followed. It was not the case as he found out later. He had just returned to the cove to rendezvous with the ship after slipping ashore in the dead of night a fortnight ago. This time he had brazened it out by going straight into Paris disguised as an iron trader from Bilbao. That explained his Spanish accented french.
He made sure that he arrived in grand style by hiring the best coach he could find along with a brace of 4 horses and a driver. He had swept up to the hotel Carillion in a cloud of dust clambering down before the doorman could reach him, cape flying behind. His trunk was handed down by the driver as Maturin dispensed a golden livre to the Doorman and told him to house the horses making sure they were put into clean stalls and see to their feed while he was there.
With that he strode into the hotel.
Ahh Monsier he was greeted by the owner, To what do we owe the honor of your visit.
I am here to provide iron for the Emperors cannons. But it has been a long and tedious journey so first I want to have you best room and please see to having a hot bath ready.
You are Monsieur….?
“ De Sere from Bilbao. And also please have a nice meal brought up, I am famished after a long day in the coach.”
His act had gone over well as the proprietor grovelled appropriately at the thought of the gold coming his way. He also made a mental note to relieve the doorman of the piece he had seen Maturin hand him as he entered. Way to much for the fool to have. He’d just end up being drunk and not managing his tasks,
As he knew it would, word spread quickly that someone with money and willing to spend had arrived. So that by the time Stephen had changed and left the hotel for a walk along the Seine, a line of beggers, thieves, and women followed in his wake. As well as the leutenant inspector of the guard nationale. Emile Jalabert
The following day he took his carriage to the headquarters of the Ministry of war. He gave his card to the major domo controlling the entrance and strolled casually into the main reception room. As he had assumed, his arrival yesterday had been reported and he was quickly shown up the stairs to the office of the assistant to the secretary.
After the preliminary pleasantries, the assistant finally asked, And what can I do for you Monsieur.
Ah, but it is what I can do for you. You are aware, that we in the Basque country produce over 2/3rds of the iron ore in europe. With the English invasion of Spain, the continuing supply of the iron is threatened. I came here to determine how much support I can depend on to insure that my furnaces will not fall into their hands. It would greatly reduce the english supply line for cannons and armaments if they could take over our facility on the mainland. I’m sure you would not want that to happen.
And it had gone from there. Over the next few days, Maturin had been passed ever further up the chain of command ultimately to the Minister himself. He was only too glad to show M. De Sare the locations of the major french armies in the region to assure him that there was no chance of the roast beefs taking the valuable resources of the Basque land. Why the Emperor himself was fully in charge and personally managing the war further down the Spanish peninsula.
Well then, perhaps you might be interested in making an order for supplying the Emperor with cannon and shot. We could deliver it directly and save much time. That had been the carrot that Maturin had used to gain information on the status of the emperor’s supplies and supply line. He had left the Ministry with the details he needed to provide Wellington with his enemy’s status, locations and equipment.
Now it was time for him to go back to the coast, and board the ship that would take him down to Wellington. His carriage was arranged for and he was to leave early the next morning. All the details were recorded in his personal code and secreted in the hidden pouch he had built into his exquisite boots. Everything had gone well, almost too well.
What he had not anticipated was the thoroughness of the inspector of the guard, Jalabert.
He had sent inquiries by telegraph to San Sebastien asking for any information on a M. De Sere and his foundry from Bilbao. It was not however until after Stephen had left that Jalabert received a return message that there was no such De Sere known in the iron business. He had discovered a fraud.
A troop of horsemen were dispatched with Jalabert to pursue the imposter and bring him back to Paris.
Stephen had planned his route back to the coast with care having fresh horses ready at stops along the way. However, he had also decided as he neared the britany coast line to send the coach on without him. A horse was left stabled in a small farm. He had paid well for it to be ready as the coach passed with barely a moment, stopping unobserved. The sympathetic widow who owned the farm had let it be known that she was no fan of Napoleon as he had cost her her husband and 2 sons in his wars. It would be better for France if the wars were ended.
Jalabert had eventually caught up with the coach and a few minutes of threats to the driver revealed where Stephen had been left off. The troop doubled back to pick up his trail.
Madame Dupless was in her farm yard when Jalabert road up.
Have you seen a man with cape and a sharp nose, black hair. Madame.
I am all alone here Monsieur as you can see. I have seen no one for two days.
He commanded the men to search the house and grounds. It was the Sargent who came running back to Jalabert. Leutentnant. There has been a horse stabled in the barn. The crottes is less than a day old.
Jalabert turned on the woman. You said you had seen no one for two days. I know you are lying. Tell me the truth or it will not go well for you.
I know nothing Monsieur.
We will find him anyway, yelled Jalabert. Your courage will get you nothing. Pulling out his pistol, he fired at her and she went down in a heap as he pushed his horse back into a gallop.
The ships launch was waiting for him as Stephen arrived at the cove at the appointed hour. Thank goodness Aubry was always on time. The ship sailed as soon as he was on board and the messages regarding the french army were delivered within two days to Wellington. It gave him the edge in the fight pushing the french army back up into France and Napoleon’s eventual abdication
It was only later, after the war, that Stephen had gone back to contact the lady at the farmhouse. He found it taken over by another family who told him the story of how she was shot covering for a spy to France. The people that were casualties of war and of his actions brought on a depression that never really left him. But then, things turn out as they do. Some things are just beyond your control.