Joseph then instructed the Minister of Trade, "Mr. Bayei, I will receive those three parliamentarians from the Canton of Bern the day after tomorrow. I hope you can attend as well. After all, you are the only senior official in our country they have had contact with."
Bayei froze slightly and said in surprise, "Your Highness, are you preparing to agree to their demands?"
"Why not?"
"Your Highness, accepting Bern will do nothing but drag down our finances, and it will also provoke fierce opposition from Vienna."
Originally, Switzerland had been the buffer zone between Austria and France. Now that buffer zone was about to become France's fist; Austria certainly would not sit by unmoved.
Joseph, however, smiled. "Oh, I'd almost forgotten there was a benefit in that regard as well.
"Very well, it's decided. Please prepare your remarks in advance."
Yes, he had been worrying about lacking an excuse to keep hammering Austria. If the situation in Switzerland could prod Franz II's sensitive nerves, it would definitely be a good thing for France.
An hour later, Joseph was trying on the formal attire for the wedding at the Petit Trianon when Eman leaned in and whispered, "Your Highness, Viscount Besançon is here."
Joseph nodded. Only after he had finished trying on the final suit of clothes did he return to his reception room.
The chief of the Police Department hurried forward and bowed. "Your Highness, you sent for me?"
Joseph gestured for him to sit. "Have you heard about the matter of the three Swiss Parliamentarians being cheated out of 400,000 francs?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Viscount Besançon sounded somewhat nervous. "I received the report... but at present we can only confirm that Viscount Norbert knew nothing of it..."
As for "the stupid Swiss people being swindled," everyone up and