Once again was D’Eon admitted into the royal confidence—he had never lost the royal favour—without any knowledge thereof on the part of the King’s ministers, and this by means of the very representative they had themselves nominated to the Court of Great Britain! A few weeks elapsed, and there occurred an incident which seemed pregnant of import to the Duke de Praslin, who put his whole heart into any action that had for its object the pursuit of those rash enough to resist his authority. The event proved to be of passing moment only, but merits notice as receiving importance from the Chevalier’s subsequent history. It was brought to the knowledge of the duke by a French woman named Dufour who kept furnished apartments in London, that the Chevalier D’Eon had been concealed for some days in her house, disguised as a female; that he had been in the habit of corresponding with the Count and the Marshal de Broglio, and receiving money from them. Upon being informed by Tercier, in behalf of the King, of these fresh indications of a possible exposure of their secret transactions, the Count de Broglio flew into a violent passion, and was well-nigh making a clean breast of the matter and admitting his share in them, regardless of all consequences. He wrote to Tercier on October 22:— ‘It must be confessed that in executing the orders which it is the King’s pleasure to convey to us, we encounter the most unforeseen and embarrassing difficulties, but the secret we are keeping is his Majesty’s, and nothing is easier than to make it known, should he desire to do so. One word from him will put an end to the inquisitiveness of his ministers, inquisitiveness of which he not only knows the particulars, but also the motives. Well! supposing M. de Choiseul were to know to-morrow that we are in correspondence with D’Eon! Supposing he were to know that I have elaborated, by order of the King, a plan for the invasion of England, what else could happen but that his Majesty would forbid all reference to the subject? They would no doubt be jealous and uneasy at the confidence with which he would appear to honour us, but I see no harm in this.’