Free The Twisted Sword by Winston Graham

brawling men and crowded taverns, open sewers and villainous soldiery and beggars, beggars everywhere, until quite suddenly their coach was through the worst of the old town and rattling out into a great open space which was the Place de la Concorde.
    'Bella,' said Ross, 'this is where the guillotine was. See that railing, surrounding that small square. That is where the King died - the former king - and all the aristocrats, and Danton and Robespierre in their turn and many thousand more. I am sorry it has been removed, but that at least is one good thing Napoleon did.'
    'Oh what a shame!' said Bella. 'I'd've loved 'You've seen it working.'
    'And by God he has done more than one good thing,'
    added Ross, looking around him after twelve years. 'This is almost a new city! All this part. Dwight will be surprised when he sees it.'
    Ill
    The British Embassy was in the rue du Faubourg St Honore. A huge handsome building originally belonging to the Princess Pauline Borghese, it had only recently come into British hands, Wellington having taken it on himself to buy the mansion on behalf of the British Government. It was said he had paid nearly a million old francs for it. They turned in through high open portals, the driver spoke to a guard, then they clattered into the courtyard, with stables on the right, and what looked like kitchens on the left, drew up in front of a handsome curved stone staircase leading to the front door. Travel-stained and tired, with a maid and two children in attendance, feeling shabby and dirty and uncouth, greeted by a smartly dressed secretary called McKenzie, and with two liveried footmen in scarlet cloaks and white wigs to escort them upstairs to their rooms and to carry their baggage, Demelza felt as out of place as at any time in her life. On the other hand Mrs Kemp, having clearly wished for the last three days that she had never taken a single step beyond the Tamar, was impressed and encouraged by the magnificence. This was what she had hoped for, and perhaps some of the discomforts and fatigues of the last two weeks would eventually be forgotten. Two large rooms had been put at their disposal on the second floor, with an extra dressing-room if needed, and while they were going about the first motions of unpacking valises and boxes and another footman was making up the fires, a slim pretty girl of about twenty-one came in and greeted them. This was Fitzroy's wife, Emily, who had been a WellesleyPole and therefore a niece of the Duke. On her heels came the acting British Ambassador himself. Fitzroy Somerset was young, handsome, fresh-complexioned, with penetrating eyes and the high-beaked nose of his Boscawen mother. Later they supped together and met the Duchess of Wellington, a plain, grey-faced, spinster-like lady who was probably no older than Demelza but looked a generation away. It seemed that only yesterday she had received news of the death of her favourite brother in the unnecessary battle for New Orleans, bought after peace had been agreed, and this was reason enough for her to take little part in the conversation. The Minister's second man, a Mr Charles Bagot, was also at the table. Fitzroy Somerset exchanged pleasantries with his guests about Tregothnan and the Falmouths, assured Ross he was quite recovered from his wound at Bussaco, told them he was giving a reception on the following night, at which there would be various people present whom it would be useful to meet; while Lady Fitzroy Somerset advised Demelza that they had taken an apartment for them on the rue de la Ville l'Eveque, which was not very far from the Embassy, but suggested they should spend a second night at the Embassy to give themselves time to settle in. The ladies soon left, and the three men took to the port. After a few moments Somerset abruptly said: 'I know roughly the purpose of your visit, Poldark, and I will help in any way I can.'
    "Thank you. I'm relieved to know it.'
    'Relieved?'
    'Yes. If the Government