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Chapter 7 – The Spanish decision

  On a rainy spring morning in 1793 duke Le Riche joined the king for breakfast in the Chamber of knights.

  ‘Tell me, your grace, how long has it been since Louis’ execution?’

  ‘Over three months, your majesty.’

  ‘That is correct. And still we have no word from France,’ the king lamented. ‘Since the news of the execution, not a day has passed without my expecting a despatch or an emissary from Paris.’

  ‘The silence is most perplexing, your majesty. Hopefully the new French government is too preoccupied with securing its grip on power in France to concern itself with us.’ The duke hesitated momentarily. ‘We should also remember, your majesty, that Republican France is also still at war with Austria and Prussia.’

  ‘Yes, yes,’ the king sighed impatiently. ‘But how much longer am I to live with this uncertainty? I cannot be expected to make any decisions without knowing whether or not France has decided to honour the treaty.’ The king paused to stare at one of the windows of the chamber as a fresh burst of wind driven spring rain pelted against it. His attention swiftly returned to the duke. ‘Has your grace managed to learn anything more about the sacking of Montugan owned properties in Paris?’

  ‘Unfortunately not, your majesty.’

  ‘It would be most revealing to learn whether the French government approves of the destruction of these properties,’ the king observed while rubbing his chin. ‘Perhaps we could force the issue by sending an envoy to Paris to demand compensation on behalf of the Montugan aristocrats who may have suffered any losses.’

  ‘I shall take the liberty, your majesty, of assuming that your majesty does not seriously propose to provoke a reaction from the French government.’

  ‘With France being at war, I have wondered whether now might not be a good time to make some demands.’

  ‘France has managed to repel the Austrians and the Prussian advance, despite the assistance the latter received from many French royalists. In fact I understand that the French forces are now prosecuting the war immediately outside of the French borders. Under these circumstances, your majesty, the French are likely to have their tails up and they are unlikely to regard any Montugan demands as constituting a threat.’

  ‘You are probably right, your grace. It may indeed be wiser to let sleeping dogs lie,’ the king said. ‘We shall have to content ourselves with the hope that French inaction on this issue implies the absence of any future design regarding Montuga.’