The Generals

‘I don’t like the look of this,’ Lucien said quietly. ‘The delay is giving the Jacobins a chance to get organised. They could cause us a problem in the house of deputies.’

‘But you’re the president of the chamber,’ said Napoleon.‘You can control the debate, make sure it goes our way.’

‘I’ll do my best, of course, but the vote will be close. I think it best if you remain outside the chamber today. This lot have more balls than the senate and won’t be quite so easily impressed by your presence.’

As soon as the halls were prepared Lucien and his followers ushered the deputies inside, and as they took up their seats it was clear that many of them regarded him with open hostility.When the last of them was in position, the doors to the hall were closed and Napoleon joined the officers and men waiting in the courtyard of St-Cloud. As soon as the debate opened the cheers and roars of protest occasionally carried outside to those waiting for the outcome, where Napoleon paced anxiously up and down the flagstones round the long ornamental pond. At noon, Junot rode into the courtyard and dismounted. He marched to Napoleon’s side.

‘What’s the news, sir?’

‘Nothing! They sit there on their fat lawyer arses and talk and talk. God! It’s a wonder that the government ever decides on anything.’ He shook his head in frustration. ‘And Paris, Junot? What is the reaction on the streets?’

‘They’re tame enough. Rumours are circulating, but that’s all. We control all the streets around the Tuileries and the National Assembly. There won’t be any uprising, or protest that we can’t handle.’

‘Good . . . That’s something at least.’ Napoleon stared at the hall housing the deputies and slapped his hand against his thigh in irritation. ‘Damn it, why can’t they just get on with the vote?’

Junot was silent for a moment, then glanced round to make sure that he would not be overheard before he spoke in a low voice. ‘Sir, may I ask what the orders will be if the vote goes against us?’

Napoleon looked at him. ‘It won’t go against us.’

‘But what if it does, sir? What then?’

‘I tell you it won’t, and I’ll make sure of that right now.’ Napoleon turned to the nearest group of grenadiers, who were talking quietly as they puffed on their pipes. ‘You men, form up! You’re my escort to the debating chamber, so put those pipes out and smarten yourselves up!’

‘What are you doing, sir?’ Junot muttered.

‘It’s time I spoke to our worthy deputies myself, and put them right on a few issues.’

‘Is that wise, sir?’ Junot asked anxiously. ‘If you intervene, they will be calling you a tyrant on the streets of Paris before the day is out.’

‘Better that, than let those fools ruin everything that we have gained so far.’ Napoleon turned to the squad of soldiers formed up at his back and snapped his fingers. ‘Follow me!’

He led them inside the house, and up the flight of stairs that led to the debating chamber. Two men from the national guard stood outside the doors and they moved uncertainly to block Napoleon’s path.

‘Out of my way!’

‘General, you ca

‘Then it’s time we opened the debate up,’ Napoleon replied and pushed the men aside. They were too shocked to react as he grasped the handles of the doors and thrust them open, so hard that one crashed back against the doorframe. Inside the ballroom hundreds of faces turned towards the doorway. Lucien, sitting on a large chair at a long table on a dais, glared at his brother. The speaker at the lectern pointed towards Napoleon. ‘What is the meaning of this intrusion, General Bonaparte? Why are there soldiers with you?’

Napoleon ignored the speaker as he marched into the chamber and indicated that his soldiers should form up beside the platform on which the lectern rested. He turned to Lucien. ‘I request permission to address the assembly.’

Lucien glanced round the hall. Most of the deputies seemed too stu

‘The Assembly recognises General Bonaparte, and will hear him speak.’

Napoleon bowed his head. ‘Thank you, President.’ He climbed the three steps to the platform and strode towards the lectern. The speaker still stood there, and Napoleon gestured to the steps on the other side of the platform. ‘Return to your seat . . . please.’

For a moment Napoleon was worried that the man might defy him and refuse to give up the platform, but then he took a pace back and retreated towards the steps, causing a ripple of whispering and angry muttering to sweep through the hall. Lucien banged his gavel down several times until the chamber was silent again. When all was still, Napoleon gripped the edge of the lectern and stared out over the anxious white faces that surrounded him like a field of te

‘Citizens, my soldiers and I have been waiting for a decision for over three hours. I . . . we ca

A man in the front row of seats to the left of the platform jumped up and stabbed his finger towards Napoleon.‘You do not speak for France! You are a soldier, a subordinate of the state. We are the voice of France!’

As the chamber filled with cries of support for the deputy, Lucien hammered his gavel furiously until silence returned.‘I am sure that General Bonaparte is aware of the authority of the Assembly of Deputies. He will not need reminding again. Please continue, General.’

Napoleon gave the deputy who had interrupted him a withering stare, then resumed. ‘Every man in this room, from the president of the chamber down to the most junior of my grenadiers there, speaks for France, and desires only that she might vanquish her enemies and improve the lot of her people. For that to happen there must be change. That was accepted yesterday by the Directors and the members of the senate.All that remains is for this chamber to complete the process by voting for the provisional government.’ He thrust a hand out and pointed at the audience accusingly. ‘If you fail to do that, and do it immediately, then you fail your people and you fail France herself !’

The deputy was on his feet again, and took several steps towards the platform as he shouted, ‘How dare you address the house in such a fashion!’

More cries of protest echoed round the chamber and several of the Jacobins stood and waved their fists in the air. Napoleon regarded them with a cold expression and folded his arms while he waited for them to fall silent again as Lucien hammered away. But the clamour just grew and now most of the deputies were on their feet and pressing forward towards the platform. The sergeant in charge of the grenadiers glanced round at Napoleon, waiting for instructions. For the first time Napoleon felt a prickle of anxiety at the base of his spine and he nodded to the sergeant and indicated the front of the platform. The sergeant barked an order to his men and they thrust their way through the crowd until they formed a cordon between Napoleon and the deputies. Lucien gave up his attempt to restore order and hurried over to his brother.

‘We have to get out of here. Now.’

‘I’m not afraid of these fools.’

Lucien grabbed his arm and hissed, ‘It’s you who are the fool! Because of you we risk losing everything! Now let’s go before they tear us to pieces.’

Napoleon glanced back at the deputies and saw that a number of them had drawn knives and were brandishing them overhead, their faces contorted with anger. Their cries of rage and protest filled the hall and assaulted him from every side. He turned to Lucien and nodded. ‘Let’s go.’