Weepingly the Chevalier made his distressing confession to Beaumarchais, admitting that he was a woman, and drawing so touching a picture of his misfortunes that no sooner had his interlocutor returned home than he wrote to the King: “When it is considered that this creature, so persecuted, is of a sex to which all is forgiven, the heart is touched with gentle compassion.... I venture to assure you, Sire, that by treating this wonderful creature with tact and kindness, even though she be soured by twelve years of adversity, she will be easily prevailed upon to be submissive.” Beaumarchais, then, was completely duped by d’Eon, as his friend Gudin was also. Their mistake makes it easier to understand how the King and his minister could be deceived, in their turn, by the positive assertions made to them in regard to a matter which had already been confirmed in England by public opinion. Besides, had not Drouet, three years previously, made the same surprising communication to the Comte de Broglie, who had attached sufficient importance to it to inform Louis XV.? Moved by d’Eon’s situation, Beaumarchais, therefore, resolved to intervene in his behalf. He proposed to Vergennes that he should resume the negotiations, which he hoped to bring to a successful issue. The minister gave his consent and specified the conditions of the agreement. With regard to the financial question, he directed Beaumarchais “to let things take their course, so as to be in a position to dictate terms,” adding: “M. d’Eon is of a violent disposition, but I believe him to be an honest fellow, and I will do him the justice to say that I am quite persuaded he is incapable of treachery.” [Illustration: MDLLE. D’EON “RIPOSTING” _From a Contemporary Caricature_] The settling of the amount of the indemnity was the most serious, but not the only, difficulty. For d’Eon had actually claimed the right of obtaining an audience of the King of England on taking leave. Vergennes proved inflexible on that point: “It is impossible,” he wrote, “for M. d’Eon to take leave of the King of England; the disclosure of his sex renders such a thing unpermissible; it would be casting ridicule upon the two courts. The substitution of a written attestation will be a delicate matter; it may be granted, however, provided he remains satisfied with the praise that his zeal, intelligence, and loyalty have merited.” Relying on his instructions Beaumarchais had not much trouble in convincing d’Eon, who himself was quite willing to come to terms. He obtained a first sign of obedience, and thereupon hastened to proclaim his victory to the minister: