D’Eon never allowed anything to interfere with his first object in life, that of supplying his royal master with the fullest information on every subject of interest; this, however, was not to be effected without resources of some kind; and as it was his misfortune ever to be left without funds, even to not receiving his pension with any degree of regularity, he became fast involved in serious difficulties, which obliged him to live in a state of misery that became a terrible burden for one of his past life and habits to bear. He might have been the possessor of thousands had he been less patriotic, less scrupulous, and less resolved to put up with his every-day distressing privations. Patent as the Chevalier’s condition was to everybody, still did he stand accused of being a confederate in the dishonest transactions of which he was the innocent cause. At length relief appeared to be at hand. Poniatovsky, King of Poland, who had not forgotten the pleasant evenings he had enjoyed at sword practice with D’Eon at St. Petersburg, wrote with his own hand to offer him an asylum and employment, and for the second time, driven by want and despair, did the faithful servant’s loyalty waver, for he asked permission of his cruel master to accept the invitation. But it was not to be, as de Broglio notified in his reply, approved in the King’s hand. ‘... I am not surprised that the King of Poland should have said such kind things to you through his chamberlain. This prince is acquainted with you, has heard you well spoken of in Russia, and knows how useful you might be to him; but you should also bear in mind that you cannot serve the King elsewhere so usefully as in London, especially under present circumstances; nor is there any other place where you can be in greater safety against the malice of your enemies than in London. Continue, therefore, your correspondence with me and his Majesty; it is the wish of the King, who again bids you not leave England without his orders. But his Majesty approves of the correspondence you have been invited to entertain with the King of Poland. There is nothing to be apprehended in this. Being convinced of your attachment and loyalty, his Majesty authorises me to leave you at full liberty in this matter. I have only to call your attention to all that may be of interest to his Majesty, and to assure you that I shall have much pleasure in bringing to the notice of the King your services upon the present and upon all future occasions.’[261]