‘I cannot understand that a secretary of Embassy need resort to the first.’ ‘You do not know but that you may find yourself in a position to have to do so.’ ‘I do not understand this mystery; pray, sir, explain yourself.’ ‘Do you know D’Eon?’ ‘No, sir.’ ‘They are displeased with him at Court.’ ‘Am I to be specially instructed on this point?’ ‘He must be ruined.’ ‘But is he not already ruined, since he has incurred displeasure at Court?’ ‘It is not this ... it is something else....’ ‘I do not understand you.’ ‘It is necessary that he should commit himself so seriously....’ ‘But how is this to be managed?’ ‘I cannot say.’ ‘I think, sir, you should express yourself more clearly.’ ‘I thought you understood me.’ ‘It is really difficult to do so.’ ‘Well, then, M. de Guerchy is under orders to bring D’Eon into disgrace; but a stranger and a skilful hand must do this.’ ‘Do you mean to say, sir, that the man about to replace him should commit a base action?’ ‘I do not mean anything; you misunderstand me....’ An awkward silence of some moments ensued, and the count, rising from his chair and steadily eyeing de Vergy, said, ‘I was under the impression, de Vergy, that you were ambitious, and that you were to be relied upon.’ ‘You are not mistaken, sir, but I cannot stray from what I owe to honour and to my name.’ ‘But you are not required to do anything wrong, only lend yourself to whatever may arise, and take honourable advantage of it. Go to London, await there the ambassador, and see him when he arrives. The secretaryship is yours, but you will have to make yourself worthy of it. You are clever, and I have explained myself.’