 General Bazaine, besieged with a large part of the remaining French army in the fortification of Metz, had secret talks with Bismarck's envoys on 23 September.The idea was for Bazaine to establish a conservative regime in France, for himself or for Napoleon's son.Bazaine's envoy, who spoke to Bismarck at Versailles on 14 October, declared that the army in Metz was still loyal to Napoleon.