wouldn’t express such a view in front of those whose help we will need in the days to come.’
‘I understand.’ Napoleon eased himself back in his chair.‘Who else is in on your plans?’
‘Two of the Directors, Sieyes and Ducos. We’ve sounded out Talleyrand, Joseph Fouche and some of the other ministers. They’re all for a change in government and want a new, more powerful executive in its place. The thing is, many of them are afraid of using a soldier as the putative leader of the coup.’
‘Very wise of them. And at the same time they’re being foolish. They want a centralised government with the authority to act swiftly and decisively, and at the same time they’re afraid of the consequences of such a move.’ Napoleon shook his head with contempt. ‘They can’t have it both ways.’
‘They know that,’ said Lucien. ‘That’s what has been paralysing them for months. The trouble is with Bernadotte and Barras circling like wolves their hand is finally being forced.You weren’t their first choice. Sieyes wanted Joubert, but he was killed at the battle of Novi and you’re our last chance. Sieyes isn’t keen on you. He is worried about your “incendiary temperament” as he put it, and your ambition.’
‘Then he’s no fool.’
‘We must handle him carefully, brother.’
Napoleon nodded. ‘When do we make our move?’
‘I’ve thought about that. Not until after your official reception by the Directors. We have to see how they react to your popularity.They might question your reasons for abandoning the army in Egypt. They may try to fling some shit at you and hope enough sticks to taint your public image.’
‘A compelling vision, Lucien, but hardly poetic.’
Lucien slapped his hand down on his thigh in irritation. ‘This isn’t a game, Napoleon! We are playing for the highest possible stakes. We foul this up and it might cost us our lives.’
‘You know, if we succeed, it might also mean the fall of the revolution.’
‘Perhaps, but anything is better than a return to the monarchy. Almost anything.’
Two days later, Napoleon presented himself, in full uniform, before the Directors in the audience chamber of the Luxembourg Palace. There were far fewer officials there to witness the meeting than there had been on his last such appearance.The president of the Directory, Louis Gohier, greeted Napoleon cordially and offered him the congratulations and gratitude of the Directors, on behalf of the people of France. Then he glanced at Barras, and Napoleon noted that Barras gave a slight nod before Gohier turned back and continued.
‘The Directory, like all France, greets your unanticipated return with pleasure mingled with a little surprise. Only your enemies, whom we naturally regard as our own, could put an unfavourable interpretation on the patriotic motives which induced you to abandon your army.’
Napoleon felt his blood surge with anger but managed to keep his tone calm and respectful as he replied. ‘Citizen, the news that reached us in Egypt was so alarming that I didn’t hesitate to leave my army, but set out at once to come and share your perils.’ Napoleon grasped the hilt of his sword. ‘I swear that this sword will never be drawn except in defence of the republic, and its government.’
Barras leaned forward and smiled. ‘We are comforted to hear that, General. And we will endeavour to find a new command suited to a man of your talents and ambitions just as soon as we can, so that you might be spared the interminable politics that bedevil Paris.’
The words were spoken with such deliberate emphasis that Napoleon suddenly felt that his facade of loyalty was as transparent as the finest blown glass and that his ambition was on view for all to see. The ceremony ended and he approached the Directors and embraced each one of them in turn, in a frosty gesture of fraternity. As he left the palace the sentries at the gate presented arms and chorused, ‘Long live Bonaparte!’The cry was echoed by the dense crowd of civilians who pressed around his coach as it passed through the gates and on to the street. Napoleon smiled and waved to his public and wondered how many of them would still be so enthusiastic in their support for him in a month’s time.
‘It has to be soon,’ Napoleon said firmly as he looked round at the men in his study. ‘The Directors dare not discipline me now, for fear of the public reaction. But the moment my popular support fades they will move against me, and I will have no chance of leading the coup.’
Sieyes stirred uneasily.‘This isn’t about your salvation, General Bonaparte. It is about the salvation of France.’
‘Of course it is,’ Napoleon agreed readily. ‘I understand that, citizen, as I understand that I am merely the instrument through which our cause will achieve its aim. No man shall rise above his peers.’
‘Quite,’ Lucien intervened. ‘And that point must not be forgotten, whatever else happens. But my brother is right.We cannot wait any longer. Bernadotte is building his support amongst the Jacobins in the Council of the Five Hundred. Unless we move first he will be ready to act within a matter of weeks. Of course, the Directors will oppose him, but if he has the Council, and the mob, then they are finished, and we will have lost our chance. That being the situation, I say we make our move early in November. I have already won over General Moreau to our cause and most of the other generals in Paris will follow my brother.’
‘Until we have a new constitution,’ Sieyes reminded him firmly. ‘Then the general will step aside and return power to a civil authority.’
‘Of course.’ Napoleon nodded.
Sieyes gave him a searching look for a moment and then turned his attention back to Lucien. ‘When do we do it?’
‘November the ninth. My brother will be breakfasting with the officers of the Paris garrison before he goes on to inspect some new regiments. That will keep him at a distance while we neutralise the Directory.’
‘How can we achieve that?’ Ducos spoke for the first time, and Napoleon had to hide his instinctive dislike of the man.Thin and wheedling, Ducos embodied the worst of the politicians who had undermined the revolution. ‘We need three of the five Directors to authorise any votes put in front of the deputies and the senators. Sieyes and I can’t do it by ourselves.’
‘You won’t need to.’ Lucien smiled. ‘On the day, you two will go to Barras.You will offer him a deal. Bribe him if necessary. He is to resign his office for a suitable fee, or be placed under arrest along with Gohier and Moulin. Either way you two will be able to initiate the votes we will need to push our reforms through. November the ninth,’ Lucien repeated. ‘Are we agreed?’
There was a brief silence as the plotters considered the plans. One by one they nodded their assent, and Lucien stood up.‘Then there is no more to be said. On the tenth, if all goes to plan, France will wake to find itself with a new government.’
‘If all goes to plan?’ Sieyes shook his head ruefully.‘When does anything ever go to plan?’
‘Well, pray that it does.’ Napoleon forced himself to smile. ‘Otherwise that day may well be our last.’
Chapter 51
‘Barras cost us more than we anticipated,’ Lucien explained. ‘He wouldn’t go for less than two million francs.’
‘Two million!’ Napoleon whistled appreciatively. ‘I had no idea that a man’s principles were worth so much.’
‘Neither did he, I suspect.’
‘What about the others?’ Napoleon asked anxiously.
‘Moreau has placed Gohier and Moulin under house arrest. Lannes and Marmont have troops in place covering the entrances to the Tuileries. Moreau has the Luxembourg Palace surrounded and we have troops at Versailles and Murat’s cavalry detachment at St-Cloud. The Jacobin club has been closed and Bernadotte and the ringleaders of his group are being held on the premises.There have been no reports of any resistance so far. So, all is going well, and it’s time for your appearance before the senators.’
Napoleon looked at his brother.‘Are you certain that they will support us?’
‘Of course! We’ll have a clear majority, but there will be a few opponents. As for the rest, they won’t know which way to jump and won’t cause us any problems. Are you ready to go?’
‘As ready as I ever will be.’
‘Good. Come then, brother, it’s time to change the world.’
