Finally he had this to consider, that so long as France was discussing terms with him, there was no danger of their accepting the Russian proposal for a congress.

Probably the one contingency which did not occur to him was that which, in fact, was nearest to the truth, namely, that Napoleon did not care much for any recompense, and that he had not seriously considered what he ought to demand.
He was, however, prepared for the case that France should not be accommodating.

He determined to enter on separate negotiations with Austria.

As he could not do this directly, he let it be known at Vienna by way of St.Petersburg that he was willing to negotiate terms of peace.

At Brunn, where he was living, he opened up a new channel of intercourse.