This is quite a good short novel about a French aristocrat, de Laval, in exile in Kent after the revolution, who returns to serve Napoleon as he is convinced that the Corsican is the epitomy of the spririt of France. There is some good drama here, with chases across misty marshes, treachery, double dealing, murder and (a small amount of) romance. Although de Laval is the hero of the novel, the real central character is Napoleon himself and he is depicted quite clearly in all his colossal strengths and humam foibles, being both worshipped and feared. The ending was perhaps slightly rushed and trite, but this was good stuff. Incidentally, there is a soldier here called Gerard, but he is a real historical character and not the hero of Conan Doyle's short stories about a fictional Brigadier Gerard. 4/5 ( )