Camille Penurot
: The Coming Conquest Of EnglandWhen Heideck and his prisoner, Penurot, reached the Gefion he found the
Commander on deck, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour. He reported
himself, and asked him to treat Penurot as a guest.
"I was getting anxious about you," said the Captain, "and was on
the point of sending the steam pinnace after you. Have you found out
anything important?"
"I believe I have. The two rascals whom I
belong to the ordinary class of spies. They are the skipper Brandelaar
and the man I have brought with me."
"Didn't you arrest the skipper as well?"
"I intend to use them in our interest, and hope that Admiral Hollway
will find himself caught in his own net."
"Isn't that rather a risky game? If the fellows have betrayed Admiral
Hollway, you may rely upon it they will do the same by us."
"I trust to their fears and selfishness more than their honour. To take
information about us to the English they must return here again, and so
I hold them in my hand."
"But the converse is true. I confess I have very little faith in such
double-dealing spies."
"Of course, I feel the same; but I believe I have at last found the way
to the headquarters of the English system of espionage. In order to
get to the bottom of the matter I cannot do without the aid of the two
spies."
"The headquarters?"
"Yes. The underlings who risk their lives are always of subordinate
importance. It is, above all, necessary to find out the persons
of higher rank who prudently contrive to keep themselves in the
background."
"I wish you success."
"Before going to Antwerp, whither M. Penurot is to accompany me
to-morrow, I should like to make a report to the Imperial Chancellor.
May I ask you to let me have a boat to-morrow morning to go to
Flushing?"
"Certainly. You can have any boat you like."
"Then I should like the steam pinnace."
"Perhaps you know whether the Chancellor intends to stay long at
Flushing?"
"I cannot say. In many ways Antwerp would certainly be a better place;
but he has gone to Flushing to make a demonstration."
"To make a demonstration?" repeated the Commander in a tone of
astonishment.
"The English, of course, know that he is there, and his presence at
Flushing is bound to strengthen their belief that our main base of
operations will be the mouth of the Schelde."
"Is it not surprising that our Chancellor is always at the centre of
operations, though he is neither a general nor an admiral?"
"We have seen the same before in the case of Bismarck. If we follow the
history of the wars of 1864, 1866, and 1870-71 we get the impression
that Bismarck was in like manner the soul of all the operations,
although his military title was only an honorary one."
"That is true; but the circumstances are essentially different. Bismarck
was a trained official, diplomatist, ambassador, before he became
Chancellor. His authority was great in military matters, independently
of the generals; but our new Chancellor comes from quite a different
sphere."
"But he has the power of a strong personality, and it is that which
turns the scale in all great matters. The fine instinct of the people
feels that the Emperor has chosen rightly, and the Chancellor's general
popularity insures him powerful support even against the generals.
Besides, everyone must admire his practical understanding and his wide
range of vision. Is not the occupation of Antwerp a fresh proof of it?
The rest of Belgium is occupied by the French army, but the Chancellor
has arranged with the French Government for us to hold Antwerp, since
our fleet is in the Schelde. And I am sure we shall never give it up
again."
The Commander shook his head doubtfully.
"You really think we shall be able to keep Antwerp without further
trouble?"
"We must, and shall, have Antwerp. Belgium and the Netherlands may
continue to exist, for we cannot with any justification annex them. But
the Netherlands and Antwerp will enter into closer political relations
with the German Empire for the sake of their own interests. Their
Governments are too weak to put down revolutionary movements in their
countries for any length of time. We are moving irresistibly towards
the formation of larger states. The fact that war in its attendant
manifestations is a means of promoting the union of peoples seems to me
to some extent to mitigate its cruelty."
"That sounds very fanciful, Herr major," said the Captain, turning the
conversation. "But what sort of information do you propose to send by
your agents to Dover?"
"I propose to confirm the Admiral in the idea that we intend to leave
the Schelde with the fleet and a number of our private companies'
steamers, and, with the support of the French fleet, to throw an army
across to Dover."
"I am surprised that the English have not even attempted to force our
positions. One is almost tempted to believe that the English navy is as
inefficient as the English army. If our enemies felt strong enough,
they would have appeared long ago before Brest, Cherbourg, Flushing,
Wilhelmshaven, or Kiel. Heligoland could not stop a fleet of ironclads
from forcing its way into the Elbe; it ought rather to be a welcome
object of attack for the English fleet. If I were in command, I should
set out against Heligoland with the older ironclads--Albion, Glory,
Canopus, Coliath, Ocean, and Vengeance. The little island could
hardly resist these six battleships for long, and the German North
Sea fleet--supposing one to exist--would be obliged to come out from
Wilhelmshaven to save its honour."
"The reason they do nothing of the sort is not so much the consciousness
of their own weakness, as the fact that they have no one whose genius
would be equal to the situation. Certainly, they have several capable
admirals, but there is no Nelson among them. Perhaps our war also would
have remained in abeyance, had not the Emperor discovered in our new
Chancellor the genius needed by the times. The wars against Denmark,
Austria, and France would hardly have taken place without Bismarck's
initiative. Even under a most wretched government which commits
the grossest blunders great states can exist for a long time; but
advancement, real progress is only possible through the intervention of
a strong personality."
"I am not quite of your opinion. I am convinced that it is economic
conditions that from time to time force on great revolutions. Do you
think, for instance, that the Russians would have conquered India if the
economic conditions of the natives had been better?"
"Certainly not. Even a great man must have the soil prepared on which to
prove his strength. And I think that our Chancellor has appeared on the
scene just at the right moment."
Heideck took leave of the Commander and retired to his cabin to draw up
a report and take a well-deserved rest.
When he sent for M. Camille Penurot on the following morning, he found a
striking alteration in him. That foppish gentleman no longer showed
the dejection of the day before, his dark eyes were bright and full of
confidence. By daylight, Heideck saw that his captive was a good-looking
man about thirty years of age, more like a Spaniard than a Netherlander.
He bowed politely to Heideck and then asked, with a certain amount of
confidence, "Pardon me, Herr major, if I serve the German Empire well,
may I count on an adequate reward?"
"I have already told you, M. Penurot, that we are prepared to pay more
than the English."
"Oh, that was not what I meant. You mustn't class me with Maaning
Brandelaar and people of that sort."
Heideck smiled.
"Will you be good enough to tell me, then, M. Penurot, with whom I am to
class you?"
"I am willing from this moment to devote all my energies to the cause of
the allies."
"Granted. But what are your wishes in the matter of reward?"
"I should like you to use your influence to obtain me the honour of an
order."
Heideck was unable to conceal his astonishment at this strange request.
"Such distinctions are, as a rule, only given in Germany for acts of
bravery or for services which cannot be adequately requited in hard
cash."
"What I am willing to do requires bravery."
"You are only going to help me to find out the spies in Antwerp."
"But they are dangerous people to make enemies of--people whose tools
would be capable of anything."
"Rest assured, M. Penurot, that your reward will correspond with the
services rendered. You know that I have no order to bestow, and besides,
I do not quite understand of what importance a decoration can be to
you."
"You rate my sense of honour too low, Herr major! But in order that you
may understand me, I will tell you a secret. I am in love with a lady of
very good family, and her people would be more ready to welcome me, if I
had an order."
"Then you have fixed your affections very high, I suppose?"
"That's as one takes it. In the matter of birth, I am in that painful
situation which is the inheritance of all children born out of wedlock.
My mother was a Spanish dancer, my father is the wealthy Amelungen. He
is fond of me and provides for me. It was he who bought the business in
Breskens for me. But his wife, who is English, has no liking for me."
"I understand you even less than before. If you have such resources at
your disposal, why on earth do you mix yourself up in such dangerous
undertakings?"
"Herr Amelungen wished it."
"So, then, he really is the guilty party?"
"For God's sake, Herr major, you won't abuse my confidence. I should
never forgive myself if anything I said were to harm Herr Amelungen."
"Do not be unnecessarily anxious. Nothing will happen either to you or
to Herr Amelungen, if you can induce him to change sides and help us for
the future instead of the English."
Penurot hung down his head and remained silent.
"And how about Herr van Spranekhuizen in Rotterdam?" continued Heideck.
"Of course he belongs to the league."
"He is my father's brother-in-law. His wife is an Amelungen."
"And what is the real reason why these two gentlemen, who I hear are
wealthy merchants, have undertaken to act as spies for England?"
"Oh, there is nothing so wonderful in that, Herr major. France has
occupied Belgium, Germany the Netherlands. Of course they are very
bitter about it."
"That may be. But well-to-do merchants are not in the habit of risking
their lives out of pure patriotism in such circumstances. As a rule,
only those people do that who have little to lose."
"I have already told you that my father's wife is English. For love of
her he does a great deal which certainly nothing else would induce him
to do."
At this moment Heideck, being informed that the pinnace was ready,
requested Penurot to accompany him on board. In the harbour of Flushing
he took leave of him for a while, with instructions to call upon him in
an hour at his office, having told him exactly where it was. He had no
fear that Penurot would attempt flight. He felt absolutely sure of this
gentleman.
More
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