Much of D’Eon’s correspondence with the King at this time was pseudonymous, the assumed name being William Wolff. There is no probability, whatever, of the subjects of it becoming generally known, but it may be said that the Chevalier saved England, France, and Spain from a ruinous war that was nearly taking place on account of the dispute relative to the Falkland Islands. This was done through his secret communications with Louis XV., to whom he represented the worthlessness of those islands and their barrenness.[262] De Broglio’s letter of May 11, given above, was entrusted to Drouet[263] for delivery to the Chevalier, the startling report he made upon quickly returning to France, as the result of his interview with D’Eon, being immediately communicated by de Broglio to Louis XV. ‘... I must not omit to inform your Majesty that the suspicions entertained on the sex of this extraordinary personage are well founded. M. Drouet, who had received my instructions to do his best to verify them, has assured me, since his return, that he has succeeded and is able to certify ... that M. D’Eon is a female, and nothing but a female (_fille_), of which he has all the attributes ... we must admit that this statement forms the climax to his history.... He begged M. Drouet to keep the secret, justly observing that if discovered his occupation were gone. May I entreat your Majesty to be pleased to allow that the confidence he has reposed in his friend be not betrayed, and that he will have no cause to regret what he has done....’[264] [Sidenote: PERSONAL APPEARANCE.] Let us here note that although D’Eon was described at this period as having a rather effeminate countenance, blue eyes, small features, and as being pale, he had a dark beard, wore a wig and cue, and ever appeared in the same dress—that of an officer of dragoons, red with pea-green lapels and silver lace. He stood about five feet seven inches, and was rather inclined to corpulency.[265] Whether or no de Broglio and the King believed in Drouet’s bewildering assertion, made with so much circumstance, it is certain that no action was taken either to the prejudice or in favour of D’Eon, who was left in trust of his old office, and again forced to appeal pitifully to the count. ‘... I am in want ... having ceded to my mother the whole of my patrimony, and pensioned my old nurse, and having to support my nephews.... I venture to say, that had I been born actually as weak and timid as I appear to have been destined by nature, great evils would have been the consequences. I shall never regret having sacrificed myself to save the counsellor from sorrows and your family from troubles....’[266]