Madame de Staeel and her party attempted it.

This secret negotiation was concerted amongst Madame de Staeel, M.de Narbonne, M.de La Fayette, and M.de Talleyrand.

M.de Custine, son of the general of that name, was chosen to convey to the duke of Brunswick the wishes of the constitutional party.

The young negotiator was well prepared for his mission: witty, attractive, clever, an intense admirer of Prussian tactics and the duke of Brunswick, from whom he had had lessons in Berlin, he inspired confidence into this prince beforehand.

He offered to him the rank of generalissimo of the French armies, an allowance of three millions of francs, and an establishment in France equivalent to his possessions and rank in the empire.