CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

1808–1809

A YEAR OF ANXIETY

The Erfurt Conference--Joséphine Left at Paris--Napoleon Opens His Heart to Alexander--Talleyrand Instructed to Begin Negotiations for an Alliance--Napoleon’s Letters to Joséphine--He Leaves for Spain--The Peninsula Campaign--Pursuit of the English--Bad News from Paris--The Emperor’s Correspondence--His Return to Paris--Scene at the Tuileries--The Succession Plot--Joséphine’s Revelations--She Accompanies Napoleon to Strasbourg--The Emperor Wounded at Ratisbon--His Letters During the Campaign--End of the War--Napoleon Leaves for Fontainebleau 271