They were pursued out of the chamber and the deputies only gave up when Napoleon, Lucien and their escort hurriedly retreated down the stairs. Shaken, the two brothers emerged into the courtyard where hundreds of other soldiers and officers had gathered in response to the deafening howls of protest from the chamber. They stared at their commander in shock and Lucien gripped his arm.

‘Speak to them! Say something quickly!’

‘Say what?’

‘Napoleon, for God’s sake, all will be decided in the next few minutes.We’ve lost the debate. Now we must use force.The men are waiting for a lead.You’d better give it right now, or everything is lost.’

He gave his older brother a gentle push and Napoleon stepped forward, on to the edge of the flight of steps that looked out over the courtyard. Napoleon drew a deep breath and thrust out his arms towards his men.

‘Soldiers! We are betrayed. The deputies have defied the will of the Directors, the senators and the people of France! They would seek to sell their loyalty to our enemies. They even attempted to assassinate the president of the chamber and me just a moment ago. I wanted to speak to the deputies and they answered me with daggers!’ Napoleon beat his fist against his chest. ‘I have served the revolution since the first. I have shed my blood on the battlefield for the revolution and you all know how many victories I have won for the honour of France.Yet they call me traitor! They are the traitors! The crisis is at hand, my comrades. If we hesitate now then all France is lost! We must clear out that nest of traitors.’ He stabbed a finger towards the debating chamber and many of the soldiers cheered.

Lucien noticed that a good many still did not look convinced. He stepped forward and drew Napoleon’s sword and held it aloft. ‘Soldiers! Soldiers, hear me! I am Lucien Bonaparte, brother of the general. I love him as dearly as my life itself, yet I swear to you that I would run him through with this blade if ever he threatened the liberty that we have gained through the revolution!’ His voice trembled with emotion and the men in the courtyard were visibly moved by his words. Lucien pressed on. ‘The revolution is in grave danger, soldiers. The royalists are on the verge of victory. Only we can stop them.The cry once more is, To Arms! Long live General Bonaparte! Long live the revolution! Long live France!’