Cirrus@Austlit

The return of Napoleon to Paris in 1815 to Paris sirs up enemies and plots by Fouche, Diderot and Voltaire against him. Tale centers on Henri, a soldier with unacknowledged noble connections, his rescue and meetings with a noble and beautiful lady, Theresa de Fleury; his friendship with an old soldier - a friend of his father's - and their loyalty to Napoleon. Theresa has been adopted by his unknown grandson and they fall in love though their positions seem far apart. Attempts to save Napoleon from the plot include a chase to the Belgian frontier; various attempts on Henri's life; being taken prisoner by the Prussians. Escaping despite his wounds he is helped by French peasant and rejoins the French army. He is sent to Napoleon as a courier and fights in his Old Guard at the Battle of Waterloo. Henri is wounded and escapes from the battlefield by night, meets his old friend, returns to a now Royalist Paris and is saved from a mob by Theresa ... Her story of an abused childhood adoption and villainous brother are the prelude to a marriage. (PB)