'Don't even think such things,' said Talleyrand. 'He was genuinely looking forward to facing Wellington. He feels cheated that they never met on the field of battle.'
'Not an agent of the Emperor then,' said the Doctor.
'Certainly not,' said Talleyrand.
'How about an agent of the Countess?' asked Serena.
Talleyrand seemed to freeze for a moment. He looked from one to the other of them, a look of piercing intelligence.
'How much do you know?'
'I know a good deal about the Countess,' said the Doctor.
'I believe she meddles in the affairs of France for her own amusement, and that her influence upon the Emperor is evil.'
'You know, Doctor,' said Talleyrand. 'I am inclined to agree with you.' He resumed his seat and began speaking in measured tones. 'Over the years I have seen her influence upon Napoleon grow stronger. She has become the Emperor's confidante, his unofficial adviser. A position I once used to consider exclusively my own. There are rumours that he plans to divorce Marie Louise and marry her.'
'Marie Louise?' asked Serena. 'What happened to Josephine?'
Talleyrand waved a dismissive hand. 'Oh, she went a good five years ago. The Emperor needed an heir and a suitably aristocratic wife to provide one. He divorced Josephine and married the Princess Marie Louise of Austria, who duly obliged. Now she may soon be ousted in her turn, by the Countess.'
'And Napoleon follows the Countess's advice rather than yours?' asked Serena.
'On most occasions. Oh, he still relies on me for practical details, the negotiation of the different clauses of a treaty. But on broader matters, questions of policy, he listens to her.'
'And what sort of advice does she give?'
'Always to attack, to expand, to be aggressive. It's what the Emperor wishes to hear, so he tends to follow it. My own advice tends always to moderation. To give a defeated enemy generous terms can turn him into a future ally. These days I am seldom listened to.'
'This matter of the assassination...' said the Doctor.
Talleyrand paused for a moment, then evidently decided to speak. 'She came to me with the proposition some time ago.
She hinted at her plans, just a few enigmatic clues. She enjoyed shocking me I think, and she wanted to boast. I told her that I wished to know nothing about it. I advised her not to suggest it to the Emperor. She went away laughing. Soon afterwards the Duke of Wellington was dead.'
The Doctor leaned forward urgently. 'Will you tell me those hints, all that she told you?'
'Why?' asked Talleyrand bluntly.
'So that I can undo the harm she has done.'
Talleyrand shook his head. 'No, Doctor, I will not. What is done is done. We can't change the past.'
'Suppose that wasn't true? Suppose the past could be changed?'
Talleyrand laughed. 'Then you would be a magician indeed, Doctor. But I still wouldn't tell you.'
'Why not?'
'Because the death of the Duke of Wellington meant victory for Napoleon and for France. However much I deplore the method, I would not wish to change the result. But this is idle talk.'
'No,' said the Doctor, 'it is not. If I could convince you, give you absolute proof, that the Countess's actions will do nothing but harm to France, to the world, now and in the future and that the evil she has done can indeed be undone would you tell me then?'
Chapter Twenty-five.
Arrest
There was a moment of silence while Talleyrand considered.
'I might,' he said at last. 'But since no one can really know the future, and certainly no one can change the past, what you suggest is impossible.'
'It is not impossible,' insisted the Doctor. 'I can show show you the future ' you the future '
He broke off as not one but two familiar figures came into the room. The first was Napoleon, still wearing the colourful uniform he had worn during the morning's victory parade.
Behind him was the Countess, as graceful and elegant as ever, in a sumptuous velvet gown. Jewels sparkled in her cloud of black hair. Just as they had once sparkled in Josephine's, remembered Serena.
Talleyrand leaped to his feet, and bowed. The Doctor and Serena stood up too. The Doctor bowed, Serena curtseyed.
Napoleon ignored them. In fact he didn't even seem to see them. He had altered little over the years, a little stouter, the hair a little thinner. The main change was in his bearing. He was glowing with confidence the confidence, thought the Doctor, of the victor of Waterloo. He believed he was invincible.
Napoleon said, 'Talleyrand I need you the Countess has suggested a most excellent plan. A diversionary attack on Austria and the main thrust of the Grand Army in an invasion of Russia. We shall attack in spring, not winter, take them by surprise and avenge the disaster of my retreat from Moscow! What do you say to that?'
Talleyrand looked appalled. 'I should respectfully urge caution, sire. Your later victory was achieved at tremendous cost. The Grand Army suffered many losses, and the people are weary of war. We need a period of peace and stability.'
'Give our enemies peace and they will use it to recover and rearm. We must catch them off balance ' He broke off, seeming to notice the Doctor and Serena for the first time.
'Who are these people?'
'Surely you recognise the Doctor and Lady Serena, my dear?' said the Countess. 'Old friends, from many years ago.'
Napoleon stared at the Doctor and frowned. 'I thought for a time you had been killed, Doctor, but I learned that you left Paris very suddenly against my orders, as I recall.'
The Doctor bowed again. 'My humble apologies, sire.
Urgent business called me away. May I congratulate you on your splendid victory at Waterloo?'
Napoleon nodded in acknowledgement. Losing interest in the Doctor much to the Doctor's relief he turned to Talleyrand. 'Come to my study and we'll discuss the Countess's plan.'
'If Your Majesty will permit me a moment to say farewell to my guests?'
Napoleon nodded again and strode from the room.
The Countess lingered for a moment. 'Well, Doctor? I told you I would win the last battle.'
'Indeed you did,' said the Doctor sadly.
Serena said angrily, 'You haven't '
The Doctor held up his hand, silencing her. 'It's no use, Serena, we must admit defeat.' To the Countess he said, 'I'm sure you understand. I just had to see for myself.'
'And now you have seen? What will you do, Doctor?'
'Go back and report my failure, I suppose. I'm not looking forward to it.'
The Countess studied him thoughtfully. 'Yes, go back, Doctor. Go back to wherever you came from. Don't cross me again, or I shall crush you. Don't keep the Emperor waiting, Prince.'
She turned and swept out in a rustle of velvet skirts.
'Likes a good exit line, doesn't she?' said the Doctor.
Serena said, 'I only wanted to tell her she hadn't won yet.'
'I know you did, that's why I stopped you. We can only win in the end if the Countess is convinced that we've lost. Well, Prince Talleyrand, what do you think of the Countess's plan?'
'Disaster,' said Talleyrand. 'Total disaster! She'll bring the Empire crashing down in ruins. Napoleon doesn't realise how fragile was his victory. England still commands the seas. He's still got every power in Europe ranged against him, all determined to bring him down. He can only survive if he takes time to consolidate his gains.'
'But the Countess won't let him,' said Serena.
'She'll urge him into one mad scheme after another, till it all ends in disaster,' Talleyrand agreed sadly.
'Then help me to stop her!'
Talleyrand paused, considering. 'You were talking of proof, Doctor. I must go to the Emperor now, but perhaps later...'
'There's a little park called the Parc Montsouris.'
'I know it, I think.'
'Could you meet us there later tonight about dusk?'
'Very well. Your proof is in a park, Doctor?'
'It is indeed, Prince Talleyrand. A positive fountain of truth!'
The Doctor and Serena sat on a stone bench by the little fountain in the Parc Montsouris. Dusk was falling, but the summer evening was still mild and pleasant.
They had enjoyed an excellent dinner in a quiet little backstreet restaurant.
'The big famous places will all be full tonight,' the Doctor had said. 'And I think it might be sensible to keep out of sight.
I didn't like the look in the Countess's eye when she left us.'
Now they were waiting for Prince Talleyrand.
'Do you think he'll come?' asked Serena.
'I think he might. I already had him about halfway convinced. That little performance by Napoleon and the Countess was the clincher. Talleyrand's a brilliant diplomat, remember. All his instincts warn him that the Countess is leading the Emperor to disaster.'
Serena looked baffled. 'I've been thinking about that.
Why? When she went to so much trouble to make Napoleon a winner, why does she want to ruin everything?'
'I've been thinking about that myself. It's all part of a bigger scheme, I think. What did she call it? Her Grand Design.'
'How are you going to convince Talleyrand?'
'I've been thinking about that too. That's why I asked him to meet us here and here he is!'
A big, black, closed carriage was drawing up outside the park gates.
'Odd looking coach for him to use,' said Serena.
'Perhaps he's just being discreet.'
Serena frowned. 'It looks more like a police van.'
Which is exactly what it was. The back doors burst open and half a dozen very big men leaped out and ran into the park. They wore plain black clothes and carried truncheons.