The book opens in 1809 with Napoleon returning to Paris from Spain, hearing the reports of his various ministers, and departing for Germany to lead his armies against Austria, once again, in the campaign that would culminate in the Battle of Wagram. In Germany, we are introduced to two twin brothers, Louis and Paul Richard, both Lieutenants in the French Army, and a young German student, Frederick Stilts, and his fiancée, Margaret. Frederick is involved in anti-French conspiracy of German nationalist students, and attends a meeting in which the students decide to assassinate Napoleon.
