Tallyrand's Secret Meeting in the Palace

In the early days of the estates general atallyrand was, of course, the liberal noble minority of the first estate. He prudently remained one step behind the rush of events and only took his seat in the national assembly after the bouched royal session in june 17 89. Despite all his enlightened rationalism and embrace of reform, talleyrand was not a revolutionary. Revolution is way too messy and unpredictable. You never know which one might grow a life saving vine for you down the road.