‘I do not know,’ Arthur replied. ‘But I do know that I no longer want to live in a state of war. I feel that with all my heart. I ask you . . . I beg you, put an end to this conflict now. Spare the lives of your people. Spare the lives of your enemies. Take this chance to be remembered for having done the right thing when you could still choose to. Agree to that and I will do all that is in my power to find you a respectable place of exile in which to end your days. It will not be Elba. Make no mistake, it will be a prison, and you will be closely guarded. If you refuse then you must take your chances with England’s allies.’ Arthur looked at the Emperor earnestly, hoping that he would see the futility of continued resistance.

Napoleon folded his hands together and leaned forward to rest his chin on them. He stared back into Arthur’s eyes with the penetrating stare that had so intimidated his generals and ministers. The Englishman did not flinch.

‘I cannot accept such terms. I am Napoleon. What will history say of me if I flinched at the end?’

‘If you fight on, beyond the point of reason, and have more men die for nothing, then history will surely brand you a tyrant. . . and a monster.’

‘I wonder?’ Napoleon smiled.

Arthur felt a surge of anger at the other man’s preoccupation with his place in history. How many more men would be buried in the foundations of such posterity? He stood up and looked down on Napoleon. ‘There is nothing more to say. This meeting did not take place, as far as I am concerned. I had hoped to save the lives of my men, your men, even you. But I can see that you will not let that happen.’

Napoleon shook his head.‘I have not given you permission to leave.’

‘Permission? I do not need your permission.’

‘I can order my men to prevent your leaving.’

‘I was given your word that I would be allowed to pass freely.’

‘Is that what Colonel Chaumert said?’ Napoleon smiled thinly.

Arthur felt bitterly sad that it had come to this. There was no end to Bonaparte’s lack of integrity. He looked squarely at the other man. ‘If you don’t care for your own reputation, that is one thing, but would you dishonour Colonel Chaumert too? And to what end? Even if you refuse to let me go, your defeat is assured. And you would add the weight of eternal shame to that of eternal tyranny. That will be what you are remembered for.’

Napoleon breathed in deeply and was silent for a moment.‘Go then. We shall not meet again.’

‘I have no desire to,’ Arthur replied. He made his way to the door, opened it and stepped out into the moonlight. Colonel Chaumert looked at him expectantly.