ABSTRACT
On 24 January 1809, Napoleon, angry and impatient, was back in Paris. To his mind, la guerre d'Espagne was finished and he was ready to bleed Austria for her impertinence. 1 He deflated the “succession plot” by blaming Talleyrand, to whom he bawled “You are just—in a silk stocking,” and dismissed him from the post of grand chamberlain, but did not deprive him of his title (prince) or properties. Talleyrand betrayed Napoleon almost immediately by selling information to Austria.
