‘Such is the language of one of those in whose words it is his Majesty’s pleasure that I should place the most implicit confidence!’ observes D’Eon. ‘I weigh it with all the respect due to the throne. The safety of the King’s correspondence, of that of the Count de Broglio, and of my own, is entrusted to me, to my prudence and to my courage. Secretly, my King will support me if I escape out of the hands of his ministers, who will exact from him, though to his regret, the sacrifice of my person. What could be more outrageous! No matter, my mind is made up. My enemies invite me into the arena; I will rush upon them and overwhelm them if I can; but I will not contend except with my own weapons, and I will not expose my sovereign. I am recommended to be bold and prudent. My answer to the Count de Guerchy’s “Contre-Note” will be the publication of my “Letters and Memoirs.” I avenge every imputation and crush my adversary; so much for courage. My chiefs, my relatives, my protectors and my friends speak in my favour by their letters and by mine, and if the base and ridiculous character of my adversary becomes thus revealed, he will only owe the exposure to the pure and simple publication of his friends’ and his own letters; so much for prudence.’ The ‘Contre-Note’[163] was a third pamphlet de Guerchy had the weakness to employ Goudard to write, in vindication of himself and in severe condemnation of D’Eon; it was a retort to the ‘Note’ that had been addressed to him. D’Eon kept his word. The ‘Lettres, Mémoires,’ &c., which made their appearance, in quarto and octavo editions, are frequently referred to in this work. The volume, divided into three parts, opens with a violent and virulent attack on the French ambassador, giving rise, in due course, to an action for libel, and is followed by the Chevalier’s correspondence with the Dukes de Praslin and de Nivernois, M. de Sainte-Foy, the Count de Guerchy, and others. Part II. relates to D’Eon’s personal interests during his residence in London, and Part III. gives some particulars of his services, with copies of certificates, despatches, and letters, all favourable to himself. The epigraph consists of three lines borrowed from Voltaire:— ‘Pardonnez; un soldat est mauvais courtisan. Nourri dans la Scythie, aux plaines d’Arbazan, J’ai pu servir la cour, et non pas la connaître.’ The motto is _Vita sine litteris mors est_, and the post face at the end of Part II. is inscribed:— ‘If the precious selection that forms this little correspondence greatly offends the authors of the injustice from which I am suffering, I will give a second edition of Letters, without extracts and without blanks; the text will be as genuine as the book of Genesis, where the points of the Massorets will not be employed.’