‘No it hasn’t. Your forces are still there. A handover within three months, you said. Then you said you could not leave until a Grand Master of the order had been named. When the Pope sanctioned the new Master, you refused to ratify the appointment. When I offered to permit Neapolitan troops to provide a neutral force of occupation, you refused to let them land on the island.’ Napoleon paused and sighed.‘Lord Whitworth, France has acted with great patience in this matter, but her patience is not without its limits. So, tell me, when will England return Malta to its rightful owners?’

‘Ah, well,’ the ambassador responded awkwardly. ‘The thing is that His Majesty’s government has decided that since the initial period of three months has expired the terms of the treaty no longer apply.’

‘What?’ Napoleon responded sharply. ‘Explain yourself.’

‘It is, of course, our honest intention to quit the island. However, given that the terms of the treaty have failed to cover the present situation, England asserts that it is within its rights to retain possession of Malta.’

‘What rights?’ Napoleon snorted. ‘You have no right to be there.’

‘I beg to differ, sir.’

‘Your continued occupation breaks the spirit and the letter of the treaty and you know it.’

‘That is your opinion.’

‘It is the opinion of every rational man in Europe!’

Before Whitworth could respond to the sudden flaring up of Napoleon’s temper Talleyrand interrupted. ‘The First Consul is right, my lord.There is no worth in your government’s position, and everyone knows it.Yet I can understand your attachment to Malta. It holds a certain strategic importance to the Royal Navy, and as the new Grand Master happens to be Tsar Alexander, you are understandably nervous about providing Russia with access to the Mediterranean, especially given her interest in the disintegration of the Turkish empire.’ Talleyrand paused, and then smiled. ‘Is that a fair approximation of your government’s concerns?’

Whitworth gave a slight nod of assent. ‘I will agree that it is, for the sake of argument.’

‘Then, for the sake of argument, will you not also accept that the possible benefits of continued occupation would be as nothing compared to the vast cost in lives and wealth - should your failure to honour the treaty provoke a renewal of hostilities?’

‘Are you threatening England, sir?’ Whitworth’s tone was angry. ‘Do you desire war?’

‘No, my lord. Do you?’

‘Of course not.’

Napoleon stabbed a finger at him. ‘Then give up Malta.’

Whitworth shook his head. ‘England will not agree to that. Not yet at least.’

‘If not now, when?’

There was a brief pause before Whitworth replied, ‘Not for seven years.’

‘Seven years?’ Napoleon’s eyes widened in surprise and anger. ‘Seven years! You are joking, my lord. Surely?’

‘I assure you I am not, sir.’