But his wife Adrienne, girl though she was, understood him far better than the rest of the family, and even sympathized with his great desire. “God wills that you should go,” she said to her husband. “I have prayed for guidance and strength. Whatever others think, you shall not be blamed.” Others, however, did have to be reckoned with. Lafayette’s two friends, the Count de Segur and the Viscount de Noailles, both of whom had been so eager to go with him, had found that their fathers would not supply them with the money they needed and that the King would not consent to their going to America. Reluctantly they had to give up their plans. But Lafayette was rich, he had no need to ask for funds from any one; there was no difficulty for him on that score. He was, however, an officer of France, and it was on that ground that his father-in-law tried to put an end to his scheme. He went to the King with his complaint about the wilful Marquis. At the same time the English Ambassador, who had got wind of the matter, also complained to King Louis. And Louis XVI., who had never concerned himself much about liberty and took little interest in the rebel farmers across the Atlantic, said that while he admired the enthusiasm of the Marquis de Lafayette, he could not think of permitting officers of his army to serve with the men of America who were in rebellion against his good friend the King of England. Therefore he issued an order forbidding any soldier in his service taking part in the Revolution in America. The Duke d’Ayen was delighted. He went to Lafayette, and trying to put the matter on a friendly footing, said, “You had better return to your regiment at Metz, my dear son.” Lafayette drew himself up, his face as determined as ever. “No Lafayette was ever known to turn back,” he answered. “I shall do as I have determined.” One of Lafayette’s ancestors had adopted as his motto the words “_Cur non_,” meaning “Why not?” and the Marquis now put these on his own coat of arms, the idea being, as he himself said, that they should serve him “both as an encouragement and a response.” By this time the young republic in America had sent Benjamin Franklin to help Silas Deane in Paris. Franklin heard of Lafayette’s desires and knew how much help his influence might bring the new republic. So he set about to see what he could do to further Lafayette’s plans. At that moment things looked gloomy indeed for the Americans. Their army had been badly defeated at the battle of Long Island, and their friends in Europe were depressed. That, however, seemed to Lafayette all the more reason for taking them aid as quickly as he could, and when he heard that Benjamin Franklin was interested in him he made an opportunity to see the latter.