Free The Magician's Wife by Brian Moore Page A

forceful and filled with conviction.
    ‘Gentlemen, we know why we are here today but perhaps Monsieur Lambert does not know how badly I need his help. I believe that some months ago Colonel Deniau asked you to assist us and that, for good reason, no doubt, you refused.’
    ‘If Your Majesty will excuse me,’ Lambert said. ‘I did not realize that the request had come from Your Majesty.’
    ‘But you were right, my dear fellow. The request did not come from me. I was unaware of the proposal at that time. Now let me explain why I see this as an important project. As all of France knows, our armies have given us a great victory in the Crimea. Generals MacMahon and Pelissier will be honoured by me in a special ceremony on my return to Paris next week. Our soldiers will also be decorated and rewarded. The Army has fought hard and well and because of that’ – he looked at Colonel Deniau – ‘I have informed our Governor-General in Algeria that I do not want us engaged in what I hope will be the final struggle for the conquest of that country until our troops have enjoyed a period of rest at home. Accordingly, I told him he must wait until spring before we commit our armies to this task. However, I can understand why Governor-General Randon is worried about this delay. He fears that a certain powerful and dangerous marabout could launch a holy war before then. You are the Arab expert, Colonel. What do you think?’
    ‘There is that risk, Your Majesty,’ Deniau said. ‘And if the final campaign is to be delayed until spring, all the more reason for us to try the gambit I have proposed.’
    The Emperor turned to Emmeline. ‘This must be confusing for you, my dear. I don’t know how much you have been told.’
    Emmeline, having learned her lesson at luncheon, smiled and nodded vaguely, whereupon the Emperor lit a long cigar and blew the match out with a whistling sound. ‘Never mind,’ he said. ‘It will become clear soon enough. Now’ – he turned to Lambert – ‘I know that what you showed us the other evening is but a fraction of your talents. What we need to convince the Arabs is something even more spectacular, something which will both frighten and amaze them. Colonel Deniau tells me that you are our man. He says he has seen you demonstrate illusions so astonishing that even we might be tempted to believe you have supernatural powers.’ The Emperor laughed, puffed on his cigar and turning to Emmeline, winked at her like a wicked uncle. Then, leaning back in his chair, he said to Lambert, ‘Let me explain what I have in mind. I have great plans for Algeria. I see it as the meeting ground between East and West and the key to our empire’s economic expansion. Next year, in the spring, I will bring our armies to Africa, subdue the Kabylia region and complete our conquest of the entire country.’
    The Emperor looked at Deniau. ‘Now, Colonel – tell us about the marabout.’
    ‘The marabout, Your Majesty? First let me explain that Muslim countries are very different from ours. There, marabouts or saints have a political and spiritual influence which is greater than the power of any ruler.’
    The Emperor blew smoke. ‘An unfortunate situation for the sheikhs.’
    ‘Indeed. And because of that, only the marabout can proclaim a jihad or holy war against us. At the moment, Your Majesty, all of Algeria is in thrall to a certain Bou-Aziz, a charismatic marabout who has risen up in the South and is said to possess miraculous powers. Because of his influence, should he call for a holy war, the Arabs will believe that God is on their side and that, if they fight, they will defeat us. It was my suggestion, and Governor-General Randon agrees, that if we can bring Monsieur Lambert to Algeria to put on a series of performances for native audiences, we may convince them that Islam is not alone in possessing miraculous powers. In other words we will present him as a greater marabout than Bou-Aziz and convince them that