The negotiations at Chatillon had ended on March 19th, that is, nine days later than had been originally fixed by the allies.  The extension of time was due mainly to their regard and pity for Caulaincourt; and, indeed, he was in the most pitiable position, a plenipotentiary without full powers, a Minister kept partly in the dark by his sovereign, and a patriot unable to rescue his beloved France from the abyss towards which Napoleon’s infatuation was hurrying her.  He knew the resolve of the allies far better than his master’s intentions.  It was from Lord Aberdeen that he heard of the failure of the parleys for an armistice:  from him also he learnt that Napoleon had written a “passionate” letter to Kaiser Francis, and he expressed satisfaction that the reply was firm and decided.[430] His private intercourse at Chatillon with the British plenipotentiaries was frank and friendly, as also with Stadion.  He received frequent letters from Metternich, advising him quickly to come to terms with the allies;[431] and the Austrian Minister sent Prince Esterhazy to warn him that the allies would never recede from their demand of the old frontiers for France, not even if the fortune of war drove them across the Rhine for a time.  “Is there, then, no means to enlighten Napoleon as to his true situation, or to save him if he persists in destroying himself?  Has he irrevocably staked his own and his son’s fate on the last cannon?”—­Let Napoleon, then, accept the allied proposal by sending a counter-project, differing only very slightly from theirs, and peace would be made.[432] Caulaincourt needed no spur.  “He works tooth and nail for a peace,” wrote Stewart, “as far as depends on him.  He dreads Bonaparte’s successes even more than ours, lest they should make him more impracticable."[433]

But, unfortunately, his latest and most urgent appeal to the Emperor reached the latter just after the Pyrrhic victory at Craonne, which left him more stubborn than ever.  Far from meeting the allies halfway, he let fall words that bespoke only injured pride:  “If one must receive lashes,” he said within hearing of the courier, “it is not for me to offer my back to them.”  On the morrow he charged Maret to reply to his distressed plenipotentiary that he (Napoleon) knew best what the situation demanded; the demand of the allies that France should retire within her old frontiers was only their first word: Caulaincourt must get to know their ultimatum:  if this was their ultimatum, he must reject it.  He (Napoleon) would possibly give up Dutch Brabant and the fortresses of Wesel, Castel (opposite Mainz), and Kehl, but would make no substantial changes on the Frankfurt terms.  Still, Caulaincourt struggled on.  When the session of March 10th was closing, he produced a declaration offering to give up all Napoleon’s claims to control lands beyond the natural limits.