Bonaparte but the nominal head. Events showed how badly he was
mistaken.

Imbued with this notion, Sieyès, through the intermission of
the Corsican deputy, Salicetti, sent a reliable secret agent to
Egypt, to inform General Bonaparte of the troubled state of France,
and propose to him that he should come back and place himself at the
head of the government. Having no doubt that Bonaparte would accept
readily and return promptly to Europe, Sieyès put everything in
motion to assure the execution of the coup d'état which he was
planning.

It was easy for him to convince his fellow director, Roger-Duclos,
that their power was slipping away daily, and that the country being
on the brink of complete disorganisation, the public welfare, and
their personal interests, demanded that they should take part in the
establishment of a strong government, in which they would contrive to
place themselves in a less precarious and more advantageous position.

Roger-Duclos promised his agreement to the proposed changes; but the
other three directors, Barras, Gohier and Moulins were unwilling to
give up their positions, so Sieyès and the leaders of his party
resolved to go over their heads, and to sacrifice them after the
event.

However, it would be difficult, not to say dangerous, even with
the presence of General Bonaparte, to overthrow the Directorate,
change the constitution and establish a new government, without the
support of the army, and, above all, that of the division which
occupied Paris. To be able to rely on this, it was necessary to be