Subterfuge: A Story of Espionage in the Age of Napoleon by D.P. McCandless

Author:D.P. McCandless [McCandless, D.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-23T04:00:00+00:00

12. A Man of Science

If Philip truly had been pulling the strings on a clandestine puppet show, then Clement Thibault would be considered one of its principal players. Observations from the literary and art critic for Le Journal helped explain subtleties of French society and politics to the young British agent. However, Clement was unaware that Philip was anything but a naive émigré and supplied most of his information while drinking — which he was only too happy to do.

The two were conversing in a tavern one afternoon when Philip mentioned his intention to write about the sciences for Le Journal.

“What do you know of the sciences?” Clement asked.

“And what do you know of the arts?” Philip countered. “I have no recollection of your works hanging in the Louvre during my last visit, and my shelves contain none of your poetry.”

Clement conceded the point. “It matters little anyway,” he said. “Our weasel publisher will give you what you wish after you lick his boots.”

Philip chose to ignore the jibe about his pandering to Felix Debraux and instead explained why he wanted to write.

“Paris is the center of scientific thought, and I can think of no better pursuit than sharing the wonders of the modern world with Frenchmen,” he said. “I believe my lack of education in the subject is not a hindrance, but rather a benefit in attempting to explain the latest marvels to ‘Citizen Jacques.’ ”

Clement’s glassy eyes told that he was losing interest.

“In addition, Bonaparte’s fascination with the sciences is widely known, and it would serve our newspaper well to promote his ideas,” Philip added quickly, trying to recapture his friend’s interest.

“Ah, so here is the point of it all: You wish to curry favor with Debraux in order to advance yourself,” Clement said, now engaged again. “You have ambition, young one.”

Philip emptied his wine on the floor unnoticed, ordered more and sat back while Clement began a lecture on Bonaparte and the sciences.

“You fail to see that he is interested in science only as it applies to war. So he extols the splendor of antiquities from other nations, but he sees them only as a way to fund his conquests. Cartography is only a means to create maps to help him select his battlefields. He promotes chemistry to make the weapons of war.”

“And what of art?” Philip asked, knowing already what the answer would be.

“He uses it as propaganda. Have you seen Jacques-Louis David’s ridiculous painting of Bonaparte crossing the Alps? Is that art, or is it one man’s vanity brushed upon a canvas?”

Philip nodded his agreement, then casually mentioned that he had become interested in the work of Robert Fulton.

“He has no chance of achieving his dreams in France,” Clement said. “For one thing, Bonaparte distrusts foreigners. But in the end, what dooms Fulton is that he is a dreamer. Bonaparte has no time for those seeking Utopia, only for men who provide him with a practical use of their discoveries.”

“The practical use being war,” Philip said, finishing the thought.

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