Campbell was trying to lead them back to the matter in hand by mentioning Carebago, Spalato, Ragusa and other ports on the Adriatic shore - if once the French were out they would represent a great danger - few sea-officers reliable, if any
He had some success, and in time Stephen was conscious that all three had in fact returned to naval matters; but much of his mind was still far down in the recent past when the voice of Kent pierced through with remarkable clarity. ‘...a very important point is that eventually one or another of these ships might protect or even carry the treasure.’
‘The treasure, sir?’
He saw the three faces turned towards him and at almost the same moment he saw their expressions of surprise, even displeasure, turn to the grave, unobtrusive consideration that now surrounded him - that must in decency surround him, like a pall, ever since his loss became public knowledge. It could not be otherwise: his presence was necessarily a constraint: levity, even good-fellowship, certainly mirth, were as much out of place as reproof or unkindness.
Kent cleared his throat, and the Admiral’s secretary, excusing himself, withdrew. ‘Yes, sir, the treasure,’ said Kent; and after a slight pause, ‘Mr Dee and I were discussing a scheme planned by Dumanoir and his friends - a scheme to drive a Muslim wedge between the suspicious, slow-moving Austrian forces and the lingering Russians, preventing their junction and thus disrupting the planned meeting of the Allies on the Rhine.’ Another pause. ‘You will recall that Bonaparte professed himself a Muslim at the time of the Egyptian campaign?’
‘I remember it, sure. But am I mistaken when I say that it was of no consequence at all, apart from damaging his reputation still farther? No Mahometan I ever met or heard of was much elated. The Grand Mufti took no notice whatsoever.’
‘Very true,’ said Dee, his old voice stronger now. ‘But Islam is a world as varied as our own miserable congeries of hostile sects, and some of the more remote did in fact hail the news of his conversion with delight. Among these were people as widely separated as the Azgar, on the edge of the desert, and certain heretical Shiite fraternities in European Turkey, particularly Albania, Monastir, and a region close to the northern frontier, whose interpretation of the Sunna, read without the usual glosses, points to Napoleon as the Hidden Imam, the Mahdi. The most extreme are the descendants and followers of the Sheikh-al-Jabal.’
‘The Old Man of the Mountains himself? Then they are the true, the only genuine Assassins? I long to see one,’ said Stephen, with a certain animation.
‘They are indeed; and although they are by no means so prominent as they were in the time of the Crusades, they are still a very dangerous body, even though the fedais, the experts, the actual killers, amount to only a few score. The rest of the mercenaries in the plan we are discussing, the rest of the potential mercenaries, though willing and eager to massacre unbelievers, are not moved by so pure a religious fervour that they will venture their skins free, gratis and for nothing. The three related fraternities throughout European Turkey all agree: the men are there, and as soon as they see two months’ pay laid out before them, they will move. But not otherwise.’
‘Is the sum very great?’
‘Enormous: in the present state of affairs, when gold is at such a very shocking, unheard of premium, and credit is virtually dead. Far beyond anything the French can put down immediately: for, do you see, this sudden incursion must be very well-manned, with former Turkish auxiliaries, bashi-bazouks, tribal warriors, bandits and the like, all members of the Muslim fraternities or provided by them - a very formidable body indeed if it is to succeed in its aim- if it is to wreck the Allied plans and to give Napoleon the chance of engaging the weakest of the opposing armies and destroying it, as he has done before.’
‘Certainly,’ said Stephen. ‘But am I right in supposing that the Assassins’ role is something more subtle than the wild impetuous assault of the bashi-bazouks?’
‘Yes: and a truly devoted band of fedais might do Napoleon’s cause an incomparable service by removing Schwarzenberg or Barclay de Tolly or an imperial prince or indeed any of the thinking heads. Yet even so there would have to be the massive intervention, preferably by night, and some truly bloody fighting for the full effect of panic, mutual distrust and delay.’
‘Where is the money to come from?’
‘The Turk reluctantly shakes his head,’ said Mr Dee. ‘The Barbary states will provide volunteers and one tenth of the total when they see the rest. Morocco wavers. Their real hope is the Shiite ruler of Azgar, in whom they put all their trust. It is reported on very good authority that the gold has been promised and that messengers are to be sent - perhaps have been sent - to arrange the transport, probably from Algiers.’
‘I speak as a man wholly ignorant of money-matters,’ said Stephen. ‘Yet I had always supposed that even moderately flourishing states like Turkey, Tunis, Tripoli and the like, or the bankers of Cairo and a dozen other cities could at any time raise a million or so without difficulty. Am I perhaps mistaken?’
