with him in the policies on his sex? To which M. de Morande gave an affirmative and unequivocal answer. Whereupon, the Chevalier D’Eon having said that he had too much respect for himself ever to have dreamt of participating in the infamy with which the said Caron de Beaumarchais and the said de Morande sought to cover him, inquired whether, notwithstanding his refusal, he and his friend M. de Beaumarchais had not been foolish enough to deal in the said policies on his sex—to which we heard M. de Morande reply, that such, had in reality, been his intentions; but, to avoid all risks, he had consulted several eminent English lawyers as to whether, in the event of those policies being won, the law would constrain the losers to meet their liabilities, and that a unanimous reply in the negative was alone the cause of his having abandoned the idea of making money by the said policies; and he showed a good deal of ill-humour at the persistent refusal of the Chevalier D’Eon to countenance the disreputable transactions which he, de Morande, and his confederate de Beaumarchais, contemplated, on the female sex of the said Chevalier.[320] ‘JACQUES DUPRÉ. ‘J. DE VIGNOLLES. ‘DE LA CHÈVRE. ‘LE CHEVALIER D’EON.’ ‘London, May 8, 1776.’ CHAPTER XVI. Beaumarchais’ reprehensible behaviour—D’Eon challenges Morande—Miss Wilkes’ curiosity—Feeling against D’Eon—Fresh difficulties with Beaumarchais—Speculators on D’Eon’s sex seized with panic—Lord Mansfield’s decision on the policies effected—D’Eon appears in public as a female—Leaves for France wearing military uniform—The King’s second order to reassume female attire—Marie Antoinette furnishes _Mademoiselle D’Eon’s_ trousseau—Visits her native town—Rejoicings at her appearance—Presented at Court as a lady—The Queen’s household—Deportment in society—Another trial before Lord Mansfield.