Louis XV. thought he had thus guarded against every event, expecting to make sure of Guerchy’s discretion by the semi-confidential attitude he had adopted towards him, and prevent him from imparting his discoveries to the Duc de Praslin. Tercier and the Comte de Broglie were dismayed by the hasty step taken by the King, who informed them of it the following day. They knew that Guerchy was blundering enough to reveal everything inadvertently, even if his attachment to the house of Choiseul did not tempt him to commit an indiscretion which would betray the secret of the King’s private policy. If such disclosures were necessarily mortifying for the King, they were to be dreaded by the secret agents, upon whom the ministers would assuredly vent their rage. Consequently, the Comte de Broglie, much alarmed, at once made known to the King his apprehensions with regard to the instructions sent to Guerchy, and Tercier communicated to him equally pessimistic reflections. Louis XV., relieved at having escaped so imminent a danger, made a point of reassuring his counsellors: “If Guerchy betrays the secret,” he wrote, “he betrays me, and will be a lost man. If he is a man of honour, he will not do so; if he is a knave, he deserves to be hanged. It is very clear that you and the Comte de Broglie are uneasy. Be reassured, I am quite calm.” Guerchy, to do him justice, does not appear to have abused the King’s confidence. Whether he perceived the danger to which disclosures exposed him, or whether he preferred to regard the King’s letter as a mark of confidence of which he wished to prove himself worthy, he divulged the matter only to Madame de Guerchy, who kept the secret loyally. The ambassador was glad enough, moreover, to have at his disposal fresh weapons against d’Eon, for he was at a loss to know what he should do next. Threats having failed, he had tried flattery, suggesting to the Duc de Choiseul that he should write a letter full of promises to d’Eon. The minister had consented, couching his letter in the most affectionate terms: Whatever detains you in England, my dear d’Eon? Abandon the diplomatic career and your ministerial disputes with M. de Guerchy, and join me here, where I intend to employ you usefully in the army. I promise you will be quite free from annoyance in my service. As the military contract will shortly expire, I have requested M. de Praslin to recall you. Nothing should prevent you from coming now, and you will please me greatly by joining me at Versailles without delay. I await you, my dear d’Eon, with the great interest which, as you know, I take in you.