‘Even if you do not provoke a war with Spain, you will earn their bitter resentment.They are a proud people, sire, and they will be shamed by a French army marching across the breadth of their country. Besides, our men are accustomed to living off the land. If our soldiers do that in Spain they will make us enemies wherever they pass. Sire, you cannot do this. I implore you. I will not have any part in such a scheme.’

‘Then I will have to entrust the task to another man.’

The Emperor and his foreign minister stared at each other for a moment in silence, each waiting for the other to respond. At length Talleyrand shook his head in despair.

‘So be it.’ He pushed his chair back and stood up. For a second there was silence around the table as the others regarded the foreign secretary with surprise. He drew a deep breath and composed himself before he spoke again. ‘Sire, I regret that I can no longer serve you as foreign minister.You ignored my warnings over a treaty with Russia and now this . . . I am compelled to tender my resignation.’

Napoleon forced a smile. ‘My dear Talleyrand! There is no need for such drastic action. If you have no wish to oversee this aspect of our foreign relations, then let another handle the matter for you. I can see you are tired, and no wonder after all the hard service you performed on behalf of your country at Tilsit.’

‘Enough!’ Talleyrand raised his hand to silence the Emperor. ‘Sire, you ignored my advice at Tilsit. I tell you again, no good will come of our treaty with Russia. Now you are intent on dragging France into another conflict. Sire, your wars are bleeding the nation dry.The Grand Army is like a great beast devouring gold and men and leaving nothing but a wasteland where it passes. War is the greatest evil to afflict men, yet it appears to me that you worship at its altar.Where will it end, sire?’ He shook his head and sighed. ‘I am no longer prepared to share the responsibility for your policies. I will not serve you as your foreign secretary.You will have my letter of resignation before the day is out.’

Before Napoleon could respond, Talleyrand turned and stumped across the room, leaving the others staring after him in shocked silence. As the door closed behind him, Napoleon collected himself and sneered. ‘It seems that Talleyrand lacks the stomach for a fight.’

Lucien leaned across the table and fixed his older brother with an intense stare. ‘You cannot let him leave your service.’

‘It is his choice whether he leaves or not.’

‘But Talleyrand has connections in every country in Europe. He is well known in every court. Brother - sire, we need him.’