‘Why should he be permitted such an end? After all the death and destruction that he has dealt out to the people of Europe? Marshal Blücher demands that he be handed over, tried and executed. This, he richly deserves.’

‘Oh, doubtless.’ Arthur nodded. ‘We must, however, consider the wider context, my dear Müffling.’

‘Wider context?’

Arthur took a brief moment to form his argument. ‘What is the point of executing Napoleon now? What good would it do? It would only satisfy the desire for revenge, that is all. That is not a good enough reason to shed any further blood. It is not . . . civilised.’

‘Forgive me, your grace, but that is an easy thing for the English to say. They have been spared the presence of French soldiers on their soil. I wonder how reticent your countrymen would be if England was not set apart from the rest of Europe by the sea?’

It was a fair point, Arthur conceded. He had seen at first hand the cruelties inflicted by the enemy, and could readily understand the rage of those who had suffered under French occupation. He cleared his throat and spoke.

‘Be that as it may, the execution of Bonaparte will not serve any of us well once revenge has been satisfied. His death at our hands would outrage many in France, and beyond. I dare say there will be people who will say that he did not deserve to be defeated. There will be others who will seek revenge. Then neither I, nor you, nor Marshal Blücher, will sleep easily in our beds as long as allied forces occupy Paris. It is far better to let Bonaparte fade into obscurity. Then when he dies it will not be an event of note, but a mere detail, as the rest of the world lives in peace,’ Arthur concluded.

Müffling was silent for a moment as he stared back at Arthur. Then he nodded faintly. ‘Obscurity? I wonder if that will really be his fate.’

‘I hope so. As I hope that Europe will learn never to endure another such.’ Arthur stroked his jaw. ‘If he is not to be cast into obscurity, then let him at least be remembered as the first general in all the world.’

Müffling looked surprised. ‘Surely you, or Blücher, might assume that title with just cause, in the wake of Waterloo?’

‘Perhaps. It is customary for the victors to write the history, and on the day I outfought Bonaparte.’ Arthur turned to gaze out of the window. ‘Yet I cannot easily believe that so singular a genius, and so cruel an ambition, will ever release his grip on posterity . . . For my part, I am not sure that I care. I have played my role, served my country, and now I am done with soldiering. Whatever history eventually makes of me, I know that I have earned my peace.’

Author’s Note

Author’s Note