‘I have but one other request to make,’ she continued; ‘I beg that the son of the Count de Guerchy will explain himself clearly and honestly, through you, as I am about to do. I am aware that, accompanied by his mother and by the Duke de Nivernois, he called on the Counts de Maurepas and de Vergennes, to give those ministers to understand that he felt bound in honour to fight me; that those two ministers were good enough to tranquillise Madame de Guerchy by saying that they believed her son to be too just and honourable a man to draw his sword upon a woman, whereupon she withdrew expressing her thanks and greatly comforted. I now wish to give you my true and unchangeable opinion on this matter. I have always respected the birth, the qualities, and the virtues of the Countess de Guerchy. Her son was so young at the time of my differences with his father, that, far from wishing to hurt that dear and only son, I should save his life were it in danger, and in my power to do so. I will never think of attacking him, but I will defend myself at any moment that he may be the aggressor. Nothing can be more just or natural than that the son should take to heart the defence of his father; therefore, that he may feel perfectly easy—should he think that he is in honour bound to vindicate the wickedness and the crimes of the late Count de Guerchy, by resorting to arms, I give him my word of honour that I shall have the pleasure of fighting him whenever he pleases, provided he comes to England, the theatre of the scenes of horror acted to my prejudice, and the best field in Europe for such a proceeding, for you must perfectly well understand that to meet in France, or elsewhere than in my island, would be a delusion and a snare.... I further give him my word of honour not to lay aside my uniform, and will never, from lack of courage, look for protection in the dress of my sex.... I await, through you, a categorical answer, from him, upon a matter of such importance to myself. Through life I have been as touchy on the subject of military honour, as should be a maiden on her chastity....’ Referring to the intemperate language Beaumarchais had employed with regard to the notice in the daily papers:—