It was unnerving to find, after a week in the hospital, that there were two men there who claimed to be NAPOLEON. At first I found this disconcerting but I was soon convinced that they were either fraudulent or deluded. One of them was tall and blonde. The other could speak no French, and neither had ever even visited Corsica.

Until it happens to one, it is difficult to imagine how upsetting it is to be impersonated. In those first weeks of insecurity I was constantly tempted to argue the issue but fortunately I resisted the impulse so that my secret remained safe. Who knows the consequences had I inadvertently let slip my own identity? What assassin may have been placed in readiness among the staff? May Wellesley himself not have been lurking among the patients, ready to do his dastardly worst?

After a time I began to realise that the presence of the two imposters was a positive aid to my cause. Any enemy stumbling upon my location could only have been confused by their claims.....