‘Of course.’ Napoleon nodded.

Sieyès gave him a searching look for a moment and then turned his attention back to Lucien. ‘When do we do it?’

‘November the ninth. My brother will be breakfasting with the officers of the Paris garrison before he goes on to inspect some new regiments. That will keep him at a distance while we neutralise the Directory.’

‘How can we achieve that?’ Ducos spoke for the first time, and Napoleon had to hide his instinctive dislike of the man.Thin and wheedling, Ducos embodied the worst of the politicians who had undermined the revolution. ‘We need three of the five Directors to authorise any votes put in front of the deputies and the senators. Sieyès and I can’t do it by ourselves.’

‘You won’t need to.’ Lucien smiled. ‘On the day, you two will go to Barras.You will offer him a deal. Bribe him if necessary. He is to resign his office for a suitable fee, or be placed under arrest along with Gohier and Moulin. Either way you two will be able to initiate the votes we will need to push our reforms through. November the ninth,’ Lucien repeated. ‘Are we agreed?’

There was a brief silence as the plotters considered the plans. One by one they nodded their assent, and Lucien stood up.‘Then there is no more to be said. On the tenth, if all goes to plan, France will wake to find itself with a new government.’

‘If all goes to plan?’ Sieyès shook his head ruefully.‘When does anything ever go to plan?’

‘Well, pray that it does.’ Napoleon forced himself to smile. ‘Otherwise that day may well be our last.’

Chapter 51

Chapter 51

‘Barras cost us more than we anticipated,’ Lucien explained. ‘He wouldn’t go for less than two million francs.’

‘Two million!’ Napoleon whistled appreciatively. ‘I had no idea that a man’s principles were worth so much.’

‘Neither did he, I suspect.’

‘What about the others?’ Napoleon asked anxiously.

‘Moreau has placed Gohier and Moulin under house arrest. Lannes and Marmont have troops in place covering the entrances to the Tuileries. Moreau has the Luxembourg Palace surrounded and we have troops at Versailles and Murat’s cavalry detachment at St-Cloud. The Jacobin club has been closed and Bernadotte and the ringleaders of his group are being held on the premises.There have been no reports of any resistance so far. So, all is going well, and it’s time for your appearance before the senators.’

Napoleon looked at his brother.‘Are you certain that they will support us?’

‘Of course! We’ll have a clear majority, but there will be a few opponents. As for the rest, they won’t know which way to jump and won’t cause us any problems. Are you ready to go?’

‘As ready as I ever will be.’

‘Good. Come then, brother, it’s time to change the world.’