These resolute letters had their consequences. M. Nort was hurried off to London with the King’s secret instructions, taking with him a conciliatory letter from the Count de Broglio, a sum of money for D’Eon, and special directions to effect an arrangement, if possible, between the ambassador and the turbulent captain of dragoons.[176] De Praslin, on his part, had sent his own agent to England, with orders to take D’Eon _alive_, above everything, it being his intention to confine him when secured, in the Bastille.[177] ‘You must admit that his private letters are deserving of this,’ said Louis XV. to Tercier; ‘but it is more essential that he should be conciliated and my papers recovered.’ CHAPTER IX. D’Eon’s intricate situation—Popular indignation in England at the late peace—Letter of gratitude to Louis XV.; of reproach to the Count de Broglio—Sued for libel—Retains the King’s papers as security for his person—Illegal proceedings on the part of the French ambassador—Out of door precautions against being kidnapped—English sympathy for D’Eon—Is found guilty of libel, absconds, is searched after, and outlawed—Confession of Treyssac de Vergy—De Guerchy’s charge against de Vergy. We may well pause awhile to recapitulate, and realise the parts that were being severally played by King, minister, ambassador, and late minister plenipotentiary, in this most extraordinary political drama. In the first place we see the late minister plenipotentiary as the custodian, not only of the King of France’s written secret instructions and correspondence, extending over a series of years, but also of highly compromising documents, the property of his Majesty,[178] of which, had their signification been known to the people of England, still agitated and discontented at the terms of the late peace, would inevitably have plunged the two countries in afresh and sudden war. Then we find the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, the willing instrument of the King’s malicious mistress, employing his old friend, the ambassador in London, to carry out her bidding by seeking to obtain the whole of the plenipotentiary’s papers, first by authoritatively demanding them, then by gentle measures, and afterwards at any hazard. The plenipotentiary and King’s secret agent proves true to his trust in refusing to make any surrender, without the express orders of his sovereign, whose secret commands to that effect he holds. Of this the Minister for Foreign Affairs knows nothing. The plenipotentiary cannot serve two masters, and elects to submit himself to the King’s will, of which he alone is cognisant. For refusing to yield to his superiors in office he is regarded as a rebel, then a traitor, is degraded, disgraced, and to be treated as if he were a common criminal, and this through orders wrested from the King by his minister! Thus Louis XV., a cowardly stranger to every emotion of the heart, suffers his name to be used as the