Napoleon noticed the slight hesitancy before the Tsar addressed him by title, and fought back his anger over the man’s reluctance to accord him the honour he was due. For an instant he was reminded of the ridicule he had endured at school in Brienne, when he had been mocked by the sons of aristocrats for his provincial background. However, he took a sharp breath and calmed himself before he replied, the welcoming smile still fixed on his face.

‘It is the work of my engineers. They are capable of turning their hand to almost any task.’

‘So I can see.’

‘Please come this way.’ Napoleon gestured towards the door, then led the Tsar inside the apartment and indicated the seats on either side of the table.

Alexander laid his hat on the table and then eased himself cautiously on to the chair, as if expecting some kind of French treachery. Napoleon could not help smiling at his suspicion. It would only help to keep the Tsar preoccupied while he conversed, and again hand the initiative to Napoleon. Flicking back his coat-tails, Napoleon sat down, and the two rulers looked at each other unflinchingly for a moment in silence. Napoleon waited for the other man to begin, and in due course the Tsar cleared his throat.

‘I have come here to discuss peace.’

‘It is what we both desire,’ Napoleon responded. ‘I can assure you that whatever my enemies say, I am a man of peace.War profits no man and is the regrettable outcome of poor communications. Why, here we sit, as easily as two old friends. Peace is a natural state of affairs between such powers as ours, would you not agree?’

‘Yes, that is so.’ Alexander nodded. ‘Though there are other nations in Europe who would seem to hold on to warfare as a drowning man might a lifeline.’

‘Ah, you speak of Britain.’

‘I do.’

‘As pernicious a race of shopkeepers as ever existed,’ Napoleon continued. ‘They fight to make the rest of the world customers for their goods and they will not rest until their industries dominate all of us, no matter how many men must be killed in order for them to succeed.’

‘That is so.’The Tsar nodded.‘I have only to consider the efforts that they have taken to curtail Russian interests in the Mediterranean and in India. I can assure you that I hate the British as much as you do yourself.’

Napoleon leaned a little closer as he replied, ‘If that is the case, then peace is already made between France and Russia.’

The Tsar could not hide the look of relief that flitted across his face. ‘Peace.Thank God!’Then his expression hardened and he continued in a more even tone, ‘On what conditions?’